The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – August 29, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, AUGUST 26, 2016…. It's decision time. Primary elections Tuesday will shape Florida's high-stakes U.S. Senate race and help determine the makeup of the congressional delegation, the state House and the state Senate. Voters also will decide whether to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that backers say would boost the use of solar energy in Florida.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

LAST DAY FOR EARLY VOTING: While early voting will end Saturday in most areas of the state, it will continue through Sunday in some counties. Those counties are Bradford, Broward, Charlotte, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach and Pinellas.

MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2016

UWF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED: A search committee will start three days of interviewing candidates to become president of the University of West Florida. (Monday, 7 a.m. Central time, UWF Conference Center, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola.)

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ SPEAKS IN WESTON: U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is running for re-election in Congressional District 23, is expected to speak to the Weston Democratic Club. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Wings in Weston, 1354 S.W. 160th Ave., Weston.)

LAST DAY TO PICK UP VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS: Floridians can pick up vote-by-mail ballots through Monday at county supervisor of elections offices. Completed ballots must be received by supervisors by 7 p.m. Tuesday to be counted.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY: Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

UWF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED: A search committee will continue interviewing candidates to become president of the University of West Florida. Among the candidates scheduled to be interviewed Tuesday are state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and UWF Provost and Executive Vice President Martha Saunders. (Tuesday, 7 a.m. Central time, UWF Conference Center, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola.)

SEMINOLE JUDGE TO BE REPRIMANDED: The Florida Supreme Court will take up four cases, including issuing a public reprimand to Seminole County Judge Jerri Collins. The discipline stems from findings by an investigative panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission that Collins "berated and belittled" a domestic-violence victim who did not show up to testify at a trial. Collins found the domestic-violence victim in contempt for failing to respond to a subpoena to testify and sentenced the woman to three days in jail. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Hillsborough County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Tampa Office, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

MURPHY HOLDS PARTY IN PALM BEACH: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Murphy will hold an election-night party in Palm Beach County. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 4431 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens.)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016

UWF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED: A search committee will finish three days of interviewing candidates to become president of the University of West Florida. (Wednesday, 7 a.m. Central time, UWF Conference Center, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola.)

BOARD OF ED MEETS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY: The State Board of Education will hold a workshop and a board meeting. Among the topics of the board meeting will be "turnaround option" plans for schools in Alachua, Bay, Jefferson and Polk counties. (Wednesday, workshop begins at 8 a.m., meeting at 2 p.m., World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort, 500 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine.)

SUPREME COURT HEARS PLANNED PARENTHOOD DISPUTE: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in five cases, including a property dispute about whether Planned Parenthood should be allowed to perform abortions at an Osceola County facility. The dispute stems from a restrictive covenant in a Kissimmee medical park that houses the Planned Parenthood facility. The covenant bars outpatient surgical centers in the park, which another occupant, MMB Properties, argued should prevent Planned Parenthood from performing abortions. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

BEAN AT FORESTRY EVENT: State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, will take part in the Florida Forestry Association's annual meeting. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, 39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach.)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

FIU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida International University Board of Trustees will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 8:15 a.m., followed by full board at 2 p.m., Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Graham Center, Miami.)

EXPERT WITNESSES AT ISSUE: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including a battle about whether to reject a controversial 2013 law that tightened a standard for expert witnesses who testify in the state's courtrooms. The Florida Bar Board of Governors and a key Bar committee recommended that justices reject the so-called "Daubert" standard, which has been heavily supported by business groups. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

USF TRUSTEES GATHER: The University of South Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., USF St. Petersburg Student Center, St. Petersburg.)

UF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Florida Board of Trustees will hold committee meetings, a board meeting and a board retreat. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 10:15 a.m., followed by the board meeting and retreat, Austin Cary Forest Learning Center, 10625 N.E. Waldo Road, Gainesville.)

BEAN ATTENDS LUNCHEON, TOURS SENIOR FACILITY: State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is scheduled to attend a JAXUSA Partnership luncheon and tour River Garden Senior Services' refurbished senior living facilities. (Thursday, luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 East Coastline Dr., Jacksonville. Tour at 3 p.m., River Garden Senior Services, 11401 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville.)

CAT FUND AT ISSUE: The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council will hold a conference call. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7135858151.)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

UF TRUSTEES HOLD RETREAT: The University of Florida Board of Trustees will continue holding a retreat. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Austin Cary Forest Learning Center, 10625 N.E. Waldo Road, Gainesville.)

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY SUMMIT STARTS: Americans for Prosperity will start its two-day "Defending the American Dream Summit" in Orlando. (Friday, opening general session, 9:30 a.m., Orange County Convention Center, Orlando.)

COMMITTEE REPORTS DUE: State political committees face a Friday deadline for filing updated reports showing finance activity through Aug. 26.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

CARROLL SPEAKS TO PINELLAS GOP CLUB: Former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll is slated to speak during the Pinellas Suncoast Black Republican Club's Frederick Douglass Crimson & Creme Brunch. (Saturday, 9:30 a.m., The Birchwood, 340 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg.)

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY SUMMIT CONTINUES: Americans for Prosperity will continue its two-day "Defending the American Dream Summit" in Orlando. (Saturday, sessions start at 9:30 a.m., with closing general session at 2 p.m., Orange County Convention Center, Orlando.)