The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – January 26, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JANUARY 23, 2015…..Longtime lawmaker John Thrasher easily won re-election to his Northeast Florida Senate seat in November. But just days later, Thrasher resigned to become president of Florida State University. His departure touched off a domino effect that will lead Tuesday to special Republican primary elections in Thrasher's old Senate district and two House districts. Also during the coming week, Gov. Rick Scott and other top state leaders are slated to talk with reporters and editors who will gather in Tallahassee for an annual Associated Press event.

MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015

VETERANS GROUP TO DISCUSS PLANS: The Florida is for Veterans Inc. Board of Directors will meet and discuss a strategic plan. Lawmakers last year created 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, 8 a.m., 28 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HAGER HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will hold mobile office hours to meet with constituents. (Monday, 9 a.m., Palm Beach Shores Town Hall, 247 Edwards Lane, Palm Beach Shores.)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015

GOP PRIMARY IN RACE TO SUCCEED THRASHER: Three Republicans will compete in a special primary election in Senate District 6, which includes St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler counties and part of Volusia County. A special election is needed because former Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, resigned in November to become president of Florida State University. The GOP candidates are state Rep. Ronald "Doc" Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach; Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton; and Flagler Beach Republican Dennis McDonald.

THREE VIE IN RENUART HOUSE DISTRICT: With state Rep. Ronald "Doc" Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, running for a Senate seat, three Republican candidates will compete in a special primary election in St. Johns County's House District 17. Those Republicans are attorney Jack Capra, construction-company president Michael Davis and St. Johns County Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson.

HUTSON HOUSE SEAT UP FOR GRABS: Three Republicans will battle in a special primary election in House District 24, which includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties. A special election is needed because Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, is running for a Senate seat. The GOP candidates are Danielle Anderson and Paul Renner, both of Palm Coast, and Ron Sanchez of St. Augustine.

ATWATER, MCCARTY AT INSURANCE SUMMIT: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty are expected to be among the speakers at the Florida Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Insurance Summit. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista.)

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

FAU TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees will take up a series of issues, including the election of a chairman. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Campus, Williams Administration Building, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

BROWARD LAWMAKERS DISCUSS CRIMINAL JUSTICE: A subcommittee of the Broward County legislative delegation will meet to discuss criminal-justice issues. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Plantation City Hall, 400 N.W. 73rd Ave., Plantation.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

LAWMAKERS TO SPEAK AT INSURANCE SUMMIT: Members of the Legislature are expected to be among the speakers during the second day of the Florida Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Insurance Summit. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD IN SOUTH FLORIDA: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet in West Palm Beach and hear numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., The Historic 1916 Palm Beach County Courthouse, 300 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.)

TOP STATE LEADERS SPEAK AT ASSOCIATED PRESS EVENT: Reporters and editors from throughout the state will gather for a meeting hosted each year by the Associated Press in advance of the legislative session. Speakers during the event are expected to include Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, Senate President Andy Gardiner, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner and House Minority Leader Mark Pafford. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 22nd floor, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Orange and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Renaissance Senior Community Center, 3800 South Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando. Also, 4 p.m., Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Kissimmee.)

BROWARD LAWMAKERS DISCUSS EDUCATION ISSUES: A subcommittee of the Broward County legislative delegation will meet to discuss education issues. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Broward Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015

NEW DOT LEADER AT TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT: Newly appointed Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold is expected to be among the speakers at a Florida Chamber Foundation Transportation Summit. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Honey Lake Plantation, 1290 N.W. Honey Lake Road, Greenville.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD IN SOUTH FLORIDA: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will continue two days of meetings in West Palm Beach and will hear numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Thursday, 9 a.m., The Historic 1916 Palm Beach County Courthouse, 300 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.)

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

DUVAL LAWMAKERS LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES: The Duval County legislative delegation will hold a workshop that will focus on mental-health issues, including in the criminal-justice and court systems. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Jacksonville City Hall, 117 West Duval St., Jacksonville.)

UCF BOARD TO MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will consider a series of issues, including a report about a proposed downtown campus in Orlando. The full board will meet after a series of committee meetings earlier in the day. (Thursday, 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Leon and Broward counties. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Eastside Branch Library, 1583 Pedrick Road, Tallahassee. Also, 3 p.m., Northwest Regional Library, 3151 North University Dr., Coral Springs.)

ORANGE COUNTY DELEGATION TO MEET: The Orange County legislative delegation will take public input as it prepares for the 2015 session. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Orange County Administration Center, 201 South Rosalind Ave., Orlando.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

BRACY TO HOST JOB FAIR: Rep. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando, is expected to host a job fair in Apopka. (Friday, 9 a.m., John Bridges Community Center, 445 West 13th St., Apopka.)

CITIZENS CLAIMS AT ISSUE: The Claims Committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Directors will hold a conference call that will include discussion of a sinkhole-repair program. (Friday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-866-361-7525. Code: 5219676193#)

HEALTH CHOICES BOARD TO MEET: The Florida Health Choices Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting. Florida Health Choices was created by the Legislature to serve as an online marketplace for health services. (Friday, 11 a.m., Florida Health Choices, 200 West College Ave., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Pinellas County. (Friday, 1 p.m., Office of the Hispanic Republican Club & Outreach of Pinellas County, 1161 Woodlawn St., Clearwater.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Updated campaign finance reports are due in a special election in Duval County's House District 13. Democrat Reggie Fullwood and Republican Lawrence Jefferson are competing in the Feb. 17 special election.