The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – July 18, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JULY 15, 2016…. Hundreds of Florida Republicans are ready to converge on Cleveland for the Republican National Convention. Presidential candidate Donald Trump will dominate the headlines, but Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi are slated to speak during the convention. Also, Florida delegation members will take part in numerous convention-related events and hear from party leaders.

SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2016

REPUBLICANS GATHER ON LAKEFRONT: Members of the Florida delegation to the Republican National Convention will be able to attend a host-committee event on the Cleveland lakefront. (Sunday, 6 p.m., North Coast Harbor, Cleveland.)

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

LUNTZ, MCCARTHY SPEAK TO DELEGATION: Political consultant Frank Luntz and U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., are scheduled to speak during a breakfast gathering of the Florida delegation to the Republican National Convention. The first session of the convention will start later in the day. (Monday, breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Embassy Suites, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence, Ohio. Convention session starts at 1 p.m., Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland.)

DIABETES ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Diabetes Advisory Council, in conjunction with the state Department of Health, is scheduled to hold two conference calls to discuss preventing, reducing and controlling Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The meetings are part of the development of a legislatively required report on diabetes. (Monday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 4163604135)

TRANSPORTATON PANEL HEARS ABOUT I-75 RELIEF: The Florida Transportation Commission will hold a workshop and take up a series of issues, including an update about the "I-75 Relief Task Force." (Monday, 2 p.m., Don Cesar Hotel, 95 Cordova St., St. Pete Beach.)

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016

PUTNAM HOSTS BREAKFAST FOR DELEGATION: State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will host a breakfast for Florida's delegation to the Republican National Convention. Former presidential candidate Ben Carson and U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., are expected to speak. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Embassy Suites, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence, Ohio.)

TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES AT ISSUE: The Florida Transportation Commission will receive an annual oversight report about transportation authorities across the state. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Don Cesar Hotel, 95 Cordova St., St. Pete Beach.)

REAL ESTATE ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Florida Real Estate Commission is scheduled to start two days of meetings in Orlando. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 400 West Robinson St., Suite N901, Orlando.)

CITIZENS BOARD HOLDS CONFERENCE CALL: The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors is scheduled to hold a conference call to discuss a water mitigation estimate review program. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-942-8686. Code: 5743735657#)

TAILGATE, SESSION, RECEPTION FOR GOP DELEGATION: Members of Florida's delegation to the Republican National Convention can attend a "Southern States Game Day Tailgate," the convention session and a reception with the Arizona delegation. (Tailgate, 11 a.m., FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland. Session, 5:30 p.m., Quicken Loans Arena. Reception, 10 p.m., Nano Brew Cleveland.)

RISK MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will discuss the state's Risk Management Trust Fund. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PATTERSON RAISES MONEY IN SD 23: A fundraising reception will be held for Republican Nora Patterson, who is running in state Senate District 23. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., 1652 Caribbean Dr., Sarasota.)

VALENTIN CAMPAIGNS IN HD 42: Democrat Benny Valentin, who is running in state House District 42, is expected to speak to the Rainbow Ridge LGBTA Democratic Caucus. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Village Inn, 3770 Lakeside Village Court, Lakeland.)

KOCH SPEAKS TO LGBTA CAUCUS: Mindy Koch, a candidate in Palm Beach County's Senate District 29, is expected to speak to the Rusty Gordon LGBTA Democratic Caucus of the Palm Beaches. (Tuesday, 6:45 p.m., Compass Community Center, 201 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth.)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The State Board of Education will start two days of meetings in St. Lucie County and discuss turnaround plans for low-performing schools in various parts of Florida. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., Indian River State College, Pruitt Campus, William and Helen Thomas STEM Center, 500 N.W. California Blvd., Port St. Lucie.)

DEP OFFICIALS AT PERMITTING "SUMMER SCHOOL:" Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson and other department officials are expected to take part in a luncheon panel discussion at the Florida Chamber Foundation's annual "Environmental Permitting Summer School." (Wednesday, opening session at 8 a.m., Marriott Orlando World Center, 8701 World Center Dr., Orlando.)

MORRIS, GIULIANI SPEAK TO FLORIDA DELEGATION: Political commentator Dick Morris and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are expected to speak during a breakfast gathering of the Florida delegation to the Republican National Convention. A convention session will be held during the evening. (Wednesday, breakfast 9 a.m., Embassy Suites, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence, Ohio. Session at 7 p.m., Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland.)

COURT FUNDING AT ISSUE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze what are known as "Article V" revenues, which are involved in funding the courts system. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PAROLE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review is slated to discuss numerous parole cases related to crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

DIABETES ISSUES DISCUSSED: A Florida Diabetes Advisory Council workgroup is scheduled to hold a conference call to discuss issues related to preventing, reducing and controlling Type 1 diabetes. The meetings is part of the development of a legislatively required report on diabetes. (Wednesday, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 4163604135)

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Development Finance Corporation Board of Directors will meet. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Enterprise Florida, 800 North Magnolia Ave., Suite 1100, Orlando.)

KEITH SPEAKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: U.S. Senate candidate Pam Keith is expected to be among the speakers during a joint meeting of the Highland Beach Coastal Democratic Club and the Democratic Club of Delray Beach. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Highland Beach Library, 3618 South Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach.)

BAEZ RAISES MONEY FOR HOUSE RACE: A fund-raising event is scheduled for Democrat Daisy Baez, who is running in Miami-Dade County's House District 114. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Love Is Blind, 225 Altara Ave., Coral Gables.)

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2016

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The State Board of Education will continue two days of meetings in St. Lucie County and discuss turnaround plans for low-performing schools. (Thursday, 8 a.m., Indian River State College, Pruitt Campus, William and Helen Thomas STEM Center, 500 N.W. California Blvd., Port St. Lucie.)

DELEGATION MEETS FOR BREAKFAST: Incoming state House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, and the Republican Party of Florida will host a breakfast for the state's delegation to the Republican National Convention. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Embassy Suites, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence, Ohio.)

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY AT ISSUE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze issues related to unclaimed property. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

FGCU PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH DISCUSSED: The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees will hold a conference call to discuss issues such as a timeline in the search for a new university president. (Thursday, 10 a.m., call will originate at Florida Gulf Coast University, Edwards Hall, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

DELEGATION TAKES PART IN EVENTS: Members of the Florida delegation to the Republican National Convention will be able to take part in an event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum before an evening convention session. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland. Convention session, 7:30 p.m., Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland.)

CD 19 CANDIDATES AT FORUM: Congressional District 19 candidates Dan Bongino, Chauncey Goss and Francis Rooney are expected to take part in a forum held by the Lee Republican Women's Club and the Republican Women of Cape Coral Federated. (Thursday, 6:15 p.m., Water City Grill, 1404 Cape Coral Parkway East, Cape Coral.)

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016

UWF PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH AT ISSUE: The University of West Florida Presidential Search Committee will meet and discuss the process for replacing outgoing President Judy Bense. (Friday, 9 a.m. Central time, UWF Alumni Room, Building 12, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola.)

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will release June unemployment figures. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

MORLEY RAISES MONEY IN HD 24: Democrat Adam Morley, who is running in state House District 24, is expected to raise money during a fish fry in St. Johns County. (Friday, 5 p.m., Genung's Fish Camp and Marina, 291 Cubbedge Road, St. Augustine.)

FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through July 15.