The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – April 11, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE…. Candidates, parties and political committees are in a money chase as they get ready for this year's elections. The cash they raise now could be crucial in the coming months to help pay for television ads, mail pieces and get-out-the-vote drives. Details about those fundraising efforts will emerge Monday, the deadline for filing updated campaign-finance reports with the state.

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016

FPL PLANT COMMISSIONED: Florida Power & Light will formally commission its new Port Everglades Next Generation Clean Energy Center, which started producing electricity April 1. (10 a.m., Port Everglades Next Generation Clean Energy Center, 3100 S.E. 14th Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

NATURAL GAS RATES AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a meeting to discuss rate changes requested by St. Joe Natural Gas Company, Inc., which serves customers in Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach, Wewahitchka and unincorporated areas of Gulf County. (Monday, 11 a.m., Gulf County School Board, 150 Middle School Road, Port St. Joe.)

FLORIDA POLY PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO ECONOMIC CLUB: Randy Avent, president of Floroida Polytechnic University, is slated to speak to the Economic Club of Tampa. (Monday, noon, Jackson's Bistro, 601 South Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa.)

BENACQUISTO DISCUSSES SESSION: Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, is expected to discuss the legislative session during a meeting of Lee Republican Women Federated. (Monday, 5:15 p.m., Pinchers, The Marina at Edison Ford, 2360 West First St., Fort Myers.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS: State candidates, parties and political committees face a Monday deadline for filing reports showing campaign-finance activity through March 31.

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

UTILITY RATES DISCUSSED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold customer meetings related to proposed rate changes for Utilities, Inc. of Florida, which provides water and wastewater service. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Summertree Recreation Facility, 12005 Paradise Point Way, New Port Richey. Also, 6 p.m., West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Dr., New Port Richey.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings. (Tuesday, committee meetings start at 9 a.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

ALIMONY BILL TARGETED: The Florida National Organization for Women and other groups will hold a news conference to call for Gov. Rick Scott to veto a bill (SB 668) that would overhaul the state's alimony laws. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Capitol rotunda, Tallahassee.)

APALACHICOLA RIVERKEEPER HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE: The Apalachicola Riverkeeper and other officials will hold a news conference. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Florida Press Center, 336 East College Ave., Tallahassee.)

YOUTH CONSERVATION CENTER OPENS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tampa Electric and The Florida Aquarium will hold an event to formally open the commission's Suncoast Youth Conservation Center. Also expected to take part is House Majority Leader Dana Young, R-Tampa. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, 6650 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach.)

YOUNG SPEAKS TO HILLSBOROUGH GOP CLUB: House Majority Leader Dana Young, a Tampa Republican who is running this year for the state Senate, is expected to speak to the North Hillsborough Republican Club. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Carrollwood Country Club, 13903 Clubhouse Dr., Tampa.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start two days of meetings in Palm Beach County. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside Place, 122 Soundings Ave., Jupiter.)

EFI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HOLDS CALL: The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors' Executive Committee is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 1-800-501-8979. Code: 8344260#)

GULF CONSORTIUM ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Executive Committee of the Gulf Consortium, which works on issues related the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 4 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 998 449 5298#)

UTILITY RATES AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting related to proposed rate changes for Utilities, Inc. of Florida, which provides water and wastewater service. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Marion County Commission Auditorium, 601 S.E. 25th Ave., Ocala.)

BRANDES SPEAKS TO LOCAL GOP: State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is expected to speak to the St. Petersburg Republican Club. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., St. Petersburg Community Church, 4501 30th Ave. North, St. Petersburg.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue two days of meetings in Palm Beach County. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside Place, 122 Soundings Ave., Jupiter.)

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

BRANDES TALKS WITH PINELLAS REPUBLICANS: State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is expected to speak to the Central Pinellas Republican Club. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Seminole Recreation Center, 9100 113th St., Seminole.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

PILON RAISES MONEY FOR SENATE BID: A fund-raising reception will be held for state Rep. Ray Pilon, a Sarasota Republican who is running this year in Senate District 23. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, 7051 Wireless Circle, Sarasota.)

CRISAFULLI, PUTNAM SPEAK TO BREVARD GOP: House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are expected to speak during the Brevard County Republican Party's Lincoln Reagan Dinner. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Melbourne Rialto Hilton, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

ETHICS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Commission on Ethics will consider a series of issues, including a case involving Flagler County Sheriff James Manfre. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

JOBS NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is scheduled to release March unemployment numbers. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016

BILIRAKIS HOSTS VETERANS' EVENT: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., will hold a veterans' resource fair and town-hall meeting. (Saturday, 11 a.m., East Lake High, 1300 Silver Eagle Dr., Tarpon Springs.)