The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – April 25, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, APRIL 22, 2016…. Florida's primary elections are more than four months away, but candidates are fanning out across the state as they seek to build support and raise money. Other than the presidential election, the biggest race in Florida this year likely will be a battle for an open U.S. Senate seat. Two of the Senate candidates, Republican David Jolly and Democrat Alan Grayson, will square off Monday in a debate shown online.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016

MEARS KICKS OFF HOUSE CAMPAIGN: Republican Stuart Mears will hold an event to raise money and help kick off his campaign in Palm Beach County's state House District 86. (Sunday, 7 p.m., California Pizza Kitchen, Wellington Green Mall, 10300 West Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington.)

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

BRANDES SPEAKS TO GOP CLUB: State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is expected to speak to the Downtown St. Pete Republican Club. (Monday, noon, Hofbrauhaus St. Petersburg, 123 Fourth St. South, St. Petersburg.)

SPANO RAISES MONEY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY: State Rep. Ross Spano, R-Dover, is scheduled to raise money for his re-election campaign during a reception hosted by the Alafia Republican Club. (Monday, 6 p.m., Shrimp Boat, 1020 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.)

JOLLY, GRAYSON SQUARE OFF: Republican David Jolly and Democrat Alan Grayson will hold a debate in the race to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. The event will be streamed from a University of Central Florida studio on The Young Turks Internet news channel. The channel is available on YouTube. (Monday, 7 p.m.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016

SPROWLS SPEAKS TO GOP CLUB: State Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, is expected to speak to the Sunrise Leadership Republican Club. (Tuesday, 7:30 a.m., Perkins Restaurant, 2626 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater.)

CABINET CONSIDERS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will consider a series of issues, including candidates to replace outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

AIF HOLDS HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: Associated Industries of Florida will start a two-day "Florida Health Care Affordability Summit" that will include lawmakers and industry officials. Participants Tuesday will include Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando; Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens; Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park; Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa; and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Dr., Orlando.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Lake Eva Banquet Hall, 799 Johns Ave., Haines City.)

KIRTLEY DISCUSSES EDUCATION ISSUES: Tampa businessman John Kirtley, a longtime leader in efforts to increase school choice, will speak to the Economic Club of Florida. Kirtley will speak on the issue of, "How Florida is Redefining Public Education." (Tuesday, noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

AIF CONTINUES HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: Associated Industries of Florida will conclude a two-day "Florida Health Care Affordability Summit." Participants Wednesday will include Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera; Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah; Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby; and Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Dr., Orlando.)

GAMBLING INITIATIVE ON THE TABLE: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will hold a workshop on a proposed ballot initiative known as "Voter Control of Gambling in Florida." (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CITRUS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Citrus Commission will hold a regular meeting and a workshop and is expected to address issues such as the 2016-2017 budget and the possibility of restructuring the Department of Citrus. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

MEDICAID COPAYMENTS DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about a proposed rule dealing with copayments and coinsurance in the Medicaid program. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

FIU, FPL SHINE LIGHT ON SOLAR PROJECT: Florida International University and Florida Power & Light will hold an event to dedicate a solar-power array at the university's College of Engineering and Computing. Students and faculty will use data from the array to study the effects of solar generation on the electric grid in South Florida. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., parking lot on the east side of the FIU Engineering Center, 10555 West Flagler St., Miami.)

ROONEY DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE SESSION: State Rep. Patrick Rooney, R-West Palm Beach, is slated to discuss the legislative session during a meeting of the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches. (Wednesday, noon, Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 1301 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

FITZENHAGEN SPEAKS TO BUSINESS GROUP: State Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, is scheduled to speak to the Businesspeople United for Political Action Committee, or BUPAC. (Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Florida SouthWestern State College, 8099 College Parkway, Building AA, Fort Myers.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION AT ISSUE: The Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority will meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m. Central time, Gulf Breeze Recreational Center, 800 Shoreline Dr., Gulf Breeze.)

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

YOUNG SPEAKS TO GOP CLUB: House Majority Leader Dana Young, a Tampa Republican who is running for Senate this year, is expected to speak to the Downtown Republican Club of Tampa. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Jackson's Bistro Harbour Island, 601 South Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa.)

WILCOX CAMPAIGNS IN HILLSBOROUGH: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Wilcox is expected to appear at a meeting of the Sun City Center Republican Club. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 1651 Sun City Center Plaza, Sun City Center.)

TAYLOR TALKS WITH ST. JOHNS DEMOCRATS: State Rep. Dwayne Taylor, a Daytona Beach Democrat running this year in Congressional District 6, is expected to take part in a meet-and-greet event with St. Johns County Democrats. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., St. Johns County Democratic headquarters, 71 South Dixie Highway, Suite 6, St. Augustine.)

HARRISON HOLDS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: State Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa, is slated to raise money during a campaign kickoff event. Several lawmakers, including incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, are expected to take part in the event. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., TPepin's Hospitality Centre, 4121 North 50th St., Tampa.)

TOLEDO RAISES MONEY IN TAMPA: Republican Jackie Toledo, who is running in state House District 60, is scheduled to raise money during an event at the Columbia Restaurant. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Columbia Restaurant, 2117 East Seventh Ave., Tampa.)

SMITH RAISES MONEY FOR HD 60 RACE: Republican Rebecca Smith, who is running in House District 60, is slated to raise money during an event in Tampa. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., 933 South Himes Ave., Tampa.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

ORGAN TRANSPLANT PROGRAMS AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about possible changes to a rule dealing with pediatric organ transplantation programs. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

SENATE COMMITTEES DISCUSS FPL CANALS: Two Senate committees will hold a joint meeting to discuss issues related to a cooling-canal system at Florida Power & Light's Turkey Point nuclear complex in Miami-Dade County. The meeting comes after the March 7 release of a study that indicated tritium --- a radioactive isotope of hydrogen --- has leaked from Turkey Point's cooling canals into groundwater and toward Biscayne National Park and the Biscayne aquifer. The Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee and the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee are scheduled to meet. (Friday, 4 p.m., Miami-Dade College, Homestead Campus, Room F-222, 500 College Terrace, Homestead.)