The Week Ahead in Florida Politics - December 15, 2014

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, DECEMBER 12, 2014…..The regular 2014 elections ended little more than a month ago. Now --- at least for political junkies --- it is time to focus on a series of special legislative races. The first will happen Tuesday, when former Rep. Reggie Fullwood battles Jacksonville City Council member Johnny Gaffney in a special Democratic primary in Duval County's House District 13. Also this week, qualifying will be held for a special election in House District 64 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

EARLY VOTING ENDS IN HD 13: Early voting will end in a special Democratic primary election in Duval County's House District 13. The primary, pitting former state Rep. Reggie Fullwood and Jacksonville City Council member Johnny Gaffney, will be held Tuesday. The winner of the primary will face Republican Lawrence Jefferson in a Feb. 17 special general election.

GRAHAM, WILLIAMS TO SPEAK AT CHURCH EVENT: U.S. Rep.-elect Gwen Graham and state Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, are expected to speak during services marking the 144th anniversary of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. (Sunday, 11 a.m., Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 224 North Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tallahassee.)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

QUALIFYING STARTS IN HD 64 SPECIAL ELECTION: Qualifying will start in a special election in state House District 64, which includes parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Former Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, received about 59.5 percent of the vote in the November election. But the House rejected the results because of a court battle that focused on write-in candidate Daniel John Matthews. The 1st District Court of Appeal in October overturned a lower-court ruling that said Matthews could not run for the seat. (The qualifying period will start at 8 a.m. Monday and last until noon Tuesday.)

GENERAL REVENUE NUMBERS UPDATED: Economists, meeting as the Revenue Estimating Conference, will update closely watched projections of state general revenue. General revenue plays a key role in funding education, health and prison programs. Gov. Rick Scott will use the updated projections as he proposes a budget for the state's 2015-16 fiscal year. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

NEW COLLEGE BOARD TO DISCUSS ANNUAL REPORT: The New College of Florida Board of Trustees will hold a conference call to consider the college's annual report to the state university system Board of Governors. (Monday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-941-487-5025. Code: 3322.)

LEGAL SERVICES TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR GIFT: Legal Services of North Florida will hold a news conference to announce a major gift that will help it provide services to low-income people in 16 counties. Funding for legal services has become a high-profile issue recently, with Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga making it one of his priorities. (Monday, 10 a.m., Legal Services of North Florida, 2119 Delta Blvd., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Collier and Wakulla counties. (Monday, noon, Everglades City Hall, 102 Broadway Ave. East, Everglades City. Also, 1:30 p.m., Sopchoppy City Hall, 105 Municipal Ave., Sopchoppy.)

VETERANS BOARD TO DISCUSS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: The board of directors of "Florida is for Veterans, Inc." will hold a conference call to discuss the selection of an executive director. Lawmakers this year approved the creation of Florida is for Veterans Inc., to help encourage veterans and military families to move to the state and to promote veterans' hiring and education. (Monday, 2 p.m. Call-in number: 1-800-670-3525. Pass code: 3244965172, then #)

PALM BEACH DELEGATION CONSIDERS BILLS, INPUT: The Palm Beach County legislative delegation will take up local bills and hold a public hearing in advance of the 2015 session. (Monday, 2 p.m., Children's Services Council, 2300 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach.)

BUSH TO SPEAK TO SOUTH CAROLINA GRADS: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will speak during the winter commencement exercises at the University of South Carolina. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C.)

ESCAMBIA COUNTY LAWMAKERS PREPARE FOR 2015: The Escambia County legislative delegation will hold a public hearing as it prepares for the 2015 session. (Monday, 5 p.m., Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola.)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

SPECIAL PRIMARY IN JACKSONVILLE HOUSE DISTRICT: Former state Rep. Reggie Fullwood and Jacksonville City Council member Johnny Gaffney will battle in a special Democratic primary election in Duval County's House District 13. The special election is needed because Fullwood failed to qualify for the regular November election because of paperwork snafus. The winner of the primary will face Republican Lawrence Jefferson in a Feb. 17 special general election. (Tuesday, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

HURRICANE LOSS PANEL TO MEET: The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology will meet and review a series of hurricane loss models. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Hermitage Centre, 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD GATHERS IN TAMPA: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. Highway 301, Tampa.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami.)

BILIRAKIS TO HOST MEETING ON MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., will host a meeting to discuss substance-abuse and mental-health issues, including needs in the community and steps that can be taken to ensure access to treatment. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St., Land O' Lakes.)

CLAY COUNTY DELEGATION TAKES INPUT: The Clay County legislative delegation will take public input about issues for the 2015 session. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Clay County Administration Building, 477 Houston St., Green Cove Springs.)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT TALLIED: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze school enrollment in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will hear arguments in numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

CITRUS COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Citrus Commission will meet in Polk County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

SPACE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Space Florida Board of Directors will hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-204-5987. Code: 4503386#)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Orange, Volusia, Duval and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Renaissance Senior Community Center, 3800 South Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando. Also, 10 a.m., Daytona Beach City Hall, 301 South Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach. Also, 2 p.m., Five STAR Veterans Center, 40 Acme St., Jacksonville. Also, 4 p.m., Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Kissimmee.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Central Florida Legislative Delegation will meet to prepare for the 2015 session. The delegation includes lawmakers from Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia counties. Also, it includes House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, 1000 West Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista.)

STATE EMPLOYEES' INSURANCE AT ISSUE: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will analyze issues related to state employees' health insurance. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

REGULATORS TAKE UP FPL ISSUES: The state Public Service Commission will consider a wide range of issues, including a controversial a proposal by Florida Power & Light to pass along costs to customers for "advocacy" efforts against new federal clean-water rules. Among other issues, the commission could approve a proposed deal that would lead to FPL supplying electricity to the planned Babcock Ranch development in Southwest Florida. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

DOT SECRETARY SEARCH DISCUSSED: The Florida Transportation Commission will discuss the search for a new transportation secretary, after the announcement this month that Ananth Prasad would leave the post. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Department of Transportation, 605 Suwannee St., Tallahassee. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7993168355.)

IBUDGETS AT ISSUE: The Agency for Persons with Disabilities will hold a meeting to take comments about changes in a formula used in what is known as the "iBudget" system to fund services for people with developmental disabilities. An appeals court ruled in July that the agency had not properly carried out a law that created iBudgets, spurring the need for changes. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Agency for Persons with Disabilities, 4030 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Lee, Hendry, Miami-Dade, Glades and Leon counties. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, 25 Homestead Road North, Lehigh Acres. Also, 11:30 a.m., LaBelle City Hall, 481 West Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle. Also, noon, Miami-Dade Public Library, West Flagler Branch, 5050 West Flagler St., Miami. Also, 1 p.m., Glades County Courthouse, 500 Avenue J, Moore Haven. Also, 2 p.m., Dr. B.L. Perry Jr. Branch Library, 2817 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

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

BREVARD DELEGATION READIES FOR SESSION: The Brevard County legislative delegation will meet and take public input as it prepares for the 2015 session. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Brevard County Commission chamber, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera.)

FLAGLER LAWMAKERS PREPARE FOR 2015: The Flagler County legislative delegation will meet as it gets ready for the 2015 session. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Flagler County Government Services Building, 1769 East Moody Blvd., Bunnell.)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

STATE REVENUES ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will hold two meetings to discuss monthly revenue estimates and a long-term revenue analysis. (Friday, 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Charlotte, DeSoto and Highlands counties. (Friday, 10 a.m., Punta Gorda City Hall, 326 West Marion Ave., Punta Gorda. Also, noon, DeSoto County Administration Building, 201 East Oak St., Arcadia. Also, 2 p.m., Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce, 227 U.S. Highway 27, Sebring.)