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The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – November 9, 2015

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

DESANTIS, GOWDY AT THE VILLAGES: U.S. Senate candidate Ron DeSantis and U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican who is chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, will hold a town-hall event in Central Florida. The event will come after an earlier breakfast fundraiser for DeSantis. (Monday, 9 a.m., Savannah Regional Recreation Center, 1575 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages.)

SOLAR AMENDMENT DISCUSSED: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will hold a workshop about a proposed solar-energy ballot initiative backed by a group called Consumers for Smart Solar. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

'PAYCHECKS FOR PATRIOTS' EVENTS HELD: State agencies and CareerSource Florida regional boards will host "Paychecks for Patriots" hiring events that seek to bring together employers with veterans and members of the military. (Monday, 9 a.m., Titusville Career Center, 3880 South Washington Ave., Suite 214, Titusville. Also, 9 a.m., Jupiter Community Center, 200 Military Trail, Jupiter. Also, 10 a.m., Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave., Destin.)

OSCEOLA, POLK LAWMAKERS HUDDLE: The Osceola County legislative delegation and the Polk County legislative delegation are scheduled to hold a joint meeting to receive information about incorporation of the community of Poinciana into a city. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Polk County Commission, 330 West Church St., Bartow.)

BRANDES HOLDS 'MOBILE' OFFICE HOURS: State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, has scheduled "mobile" office hours in Hillsborough County. (Monday, 10 a.m., South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 701 South Howard Ave., #204, Tampa.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Gadsden, Pinellas, Calhoun, Santa Rosa and Polk counties. (Monday, 8:30 a.m., Havana City Hall, 711 North Main St., Havana. Also, 10 a.m., Park Station, 5851 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Also, 10:30 a.m. Central time, Altha City Hall, 25586 North Main St., Altha. Also, 1 p.m. Central time, Jay Community Center, 5259 Booker Lane, Jay. Also, 2 p.m. Wabash Community Center, 1230 Southern Ave., Lakeland.)

HASTINGS SPEAKS AT VETERANS' COURT EVENT: U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., will speak at an event in Palm Beach County marking the fifth anniversary of Veterans' Court, which provides an alternative approach to handling criminal offenders who have served in the military. (Monday, noon, Criminal Justice Complex, 3228 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

POLK COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Polk County legislative delegation will meet as it prepares for the 2016 session. (Monday, 1 p.m., Polk County Commission chamber, 330 West Church St., Bartow.)

MEDICAID DRUGS DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration's Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics Committee will consider recommendations for the preferred-drug list in the Medicaid program. (Monday, 1 p.m., Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.)

PALM BEACH COUNTY LAWMAKERS MEET: The Palm Beach County legislative delegation will hold a joint workshop with the Palm Beach County Commission. (Monday, 2 p.m., Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

ARMY CORPS PLAN AT ISSUE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will take public comment about a draft plan for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-

Flint River Basin. Freshwater flows to Apalachicola Bay have been a matter of contention for decades, and Florida is suing Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court about whether Georgia is keeping too much water upstream to serve the needs of metro Atlanta. (Monday, 4 p.m., Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, Environmental Education and Training Center, 108 Island Dr., Eastpoint.)

BAY COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Bay County legislative delegation will meet as it prepares for the 2016 session. (Monday, 5:30 p.m. Central time, Bay County Commission chamber, 840 West 11th St., Panama City.)

HAGER HOSTS TOWN HALL: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will help host a town-hall meeting about a proposed Lake Worth Drainage District local bill. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Boca Raton Downtown Library, 400 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton.)

BILIRAKIS SPEAKS TO PINELLAS GOP: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is scheduled to speak to the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee. (Monday, 7 p.m., Feather Sound Country Club, 2201 Feather Sound Dr., Clearwater.)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015

SCOTT, CABINET MEET IN JUPITER: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will meet in Palm Beach County. The meeting could include discussion about the site-selection process for veterans' nursing homes and a proposed land acquisition for the University of Central Florida. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, John D. MacArthur Campus, Student Resource Building, 5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter.)

PINELLAS COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Pinellas County legislative delegation will hold a public hearing in preparation for the 2016 session. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., University of South Florida, St. Petersburg Student Center, 200 Sixth Ave. South, St. Petersburg.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings. (Tuesday, committees start at 9 a.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

CHILD ABUSE PANEL HOLDS CALL: The State Child Abuse Death Review Committee is scheduled to hold a conference call as it seeks to find ways to prevent child-abuse deaths. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525 Code: 702-170-0355.)

STARGEL HOLDS 'MOBILE OFFICE HOURS:' Staff members for state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, are slated to hold "mobile office hours" in Polk and Orange counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Winter Haven City Hall, 451 Third St. N.W., Winter Haven. Also, 11 a.m., Webb's Realty, 38283 Highway 27, Davenport. Also, 2 p.m., West Orange Chamber of Commerce, 12184 West Colonial Dr., Winter Garden.)

INMATE DOG-TRAINING PROGRAM HOLDS GRADUATION: A "graduation" ceremony will be held for a program in which Wakulla Correctional Institution inmates provide obedience training to shelter dogs that are being treated for heart worms. "Graduating" dogs are housebroken, spayed and neutered and up to date on shots. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Wakulla Work Camp, Visiting Park, 110 Melaleuca Dr., Crawfordville.)

'PAYCHECKS FOR PATRIOTS' EVENTS HELD: State agencies and CareerSource Florida regional boards will continue hosting a series of "Paychecks for Patriots" hiring events that seek to bring together employers with veterans and members of the military. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Goodwill Manasota, 2715 51st Ave. East, Bradenton. Also, 10 a.m., Snyder Armory, 9900 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville. Also, 10 a.m., 2720 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Also, 10 a.m., National Guard Armory, 400 S.W. 24th St., Fort Lauderdale. Also, 11 a.m., Florida Gateway College, Howard Center, 149 S.E. College Place, Lake City. Also, 11 a.m., Okeechobee County Civic Center, 1750 Highway 98 North, Okeechobee. Also, 1 p.m., Florida National Guard, 2809 South Fern Creek Ave., Orlando. Also, 1 p.m., 10401 U.S. 441, Leesburg.)

SCOTT HEALTH PANEL MEETS: The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, which was created this year by Gov. Rick Scott to look at issues in the health-care industry, will meet in Southwest Florida. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, WGCU television studio, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Collier, Sumter, Gulf and Lee counties. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Collier County Museum, 3331 East Tamiami Trail, Naples. Also, 10 a.m., The Savannah Center, 1575 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages. Also, 1 p.m., Port St. Joe Fire Station, 402 Williams Ave., Port St. Joe. Also, 2 p.m., Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, 1661 Estero Blvd., Suite 8, Fort Myers Beach.)

FAMU PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT TIGER BAY: Florida A&M University President Elmira Mangum will speak to the Capital Tiger Bay Club. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

WASHINGTON COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Washington County legislative delegation will meet as it prepares for the 2016 session. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. Central time, Washington County Commission board room, 1331 South Blvd., Chipley.)

LONG-TERM REVENUES ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze long-term state revenues. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

JUSTICES WEIGH CONGRESSIONAL MAP: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments about a proposed congressional redistricting plan. Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis recommended the plan after a long-running battle about whether the Legislature violated the anti-gerrymandering "Fair Districts" standards in drawing current congressional districts. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

HOLMES COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Holmes County legislative delegation will meet as it prepares for the 2016 session. (Tuesday, 3 p.m. Central time, Holmes County Commission board room, 107 East Virginia Ave., Bonifay.)

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES DISCUSSED IN DUVAL: State Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, will host a forum to discuss mental-health issues. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Jacksonville City Hall, 117 West Duval St., Jacksonville.)

FAMU TRUSTEES ELECT OFFICERS: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting, which is expected to include election of board officers. (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., Florida A&M University, The Grand Ballroom, Tallahassee.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political candidates and committees face a Tuesday deadline for filing reports that show campaign-finance activity through Oct. 31.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015

STATE OFFICES CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY: State offices will be closed for Veterans Day.

STATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS MEET: The Florida College System Council of Presidents will meet. The meeting will come amid the Association of Florida Colleges annual conference. (Wednesday, committee meeting starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by business meeting, Buena Vista Palace, 1900 East Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista.)

JOLLY SPEAKS AT VETERANS DAY EVENT: Congressman David Jolly, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2016, is scheduled to speak during the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System's Veterans Day ceremony. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center campus, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines.)

JOLLY AT PINELLAS GOP PICNIC: Congressman David Jolly, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2016, is expected to take part in a Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee volunteer-appreciation picnic. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Freedom Lake Park, 9990 46th St. North, Pinellas Park.)

'PAYCHECKS FOR PATRIOTS' EVENT HELD: State agencies and CareerSource Florida regional boards will continue hosting a series of "Paychecks for Patriots" hiring events that seek to bring together employers with veterans and members of the military. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, North Jefferson St., Perry.)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold a budget workshop, followed by a board meeting. (Thursday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Levy County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Cedar Key Community Center, 809 Sixth St., Cedar Key.)

HIGH-TECH OPPORTUNITIES DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the University of West Florida will hold the "Venture in Northwest Florida 2015 Conference," which is designed to connect veterans, women and minorities with opportunities in high-tech industries. (Thursday, 9 a.m., University of West Florida Conference Center, 11000 University Parkway, Building 22, Pensacola.)

'PAYCHECKS FOR PATRIOTS' EVENTS HELD: State agencies and CareerSource Florida regional boards will continue hosting a series of "Paychecks for Patriots" hiring events that seek to bring together employers with veterans and members of the military. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Northside Career Center, 7900 N.W. 27th Ave., Miami. Also, 9 a.m., 4150 Ford St. Extension, Fort Myers, Also, 10 a.m., 846 Saxon Blvd., Orange City. Also, 11 a.m., Spring Hill Office Center, 7631 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill.)

MIAMI-DADE DELEGATION TO MEET: The Miami-Dade County legislative delegation will meet as it continues preparing for the 2016 session. (Thursday, 10 a.m., School Board Administration Building, 1450 N.E. Second Ave., Miami.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Jefferson, Duval, Marion, Lafayette, Osceola and Taylor counties. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Monticello City Hall, 245 South Mulberry St., Monticello. Also, 10 a.m., Kingdom Plaza at Normandy Mall, 5310 Lenox Ave., Jacksonville. Also, 10 a.m., Belleview Commission room, 5343 S.E. Abshier Blvd., Belleview. Also, 12:30 p.m., Lafayette County Courthouse, 120 West Main St., Mayo. Also, 3 p.m., West Osceola Branch Library, 305 Campus St., Kissimmee. Also, 3 p.m., Perry City Hall, 224 South Jefferson St., Perry.)

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

FAU TRUSTEES HOLD CONFERENCE CALL: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Thursday, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-207-9997. Code: FAUOWLS.)

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY DISCUSSED: The state Agency for Health Care Administration will host a meeting about health-information technology that is expected to include industry and state officials. (Thursday, noon, University of North Florida, Adam W. Herbert University Center, 1 UNF Dr., Jacksonville.)

SENATE PANEL LOOKS AT CITRUS GREENING: The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a workshop in Highlands County to discuss the economic impacts of citrus greening, a highly destructive disease that has plagued Florida's citrus industry. Participants are expected to include committee Chairman Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Highlands County Government Center, 600 South Commerce Ave., Sebring.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

WALTON COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Walton County legislative delegation will meet as it prepares for the 2016 session. (Thursday, 1 p.m. Central time, Walton County Commission board room, 571 U.S. Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs.)

JACKSON COUNTY DELEGATION PREPARES FOR SESSION: The Jackson County legislative delegation will meet. (Thursday, 5 p.m. Central time, Jackson County Commission board room, 2864 Madison St., Marianna.)

CHENEY HELPS LAUNCH 'SUNSHINE SUMMIT:' Former Vice President Dick Cheney will speak on the first night of the Republican Party of Florida's "Sunshine Summit," which will include appearances by GOP presidential candidates. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.., Disney's Contemporary Resort, 4600 North World Dr., Lake Buena Vista.)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015

CHIROPRATIC BOARD MEETS: The state Board of Chiropractic Medicine will meet in Central Florida. (Friday, 9 a.m., Embassy Suites Orlando, Lake Buena Vista South, 4955 Kyngs Heath Road, Kissimmee.)

'PAYCHECKS FOR PATRIOTS' EVENTS HELD: State agencies and CareerSource Florida regional boards will continue hosting a series of "Paychecks for Patriots" hiring events that seek to bring together employers with veterans and members of the military. (Friday, 9 a.m., Pensacola State College, South Santa Rosa Center, 5075 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze. Also, noon, Palm Beach State College, Humanities & Technology Building, 3000 St. Lucie Ave., Boca Raton.)

GARDINER DISCUSSES TRAIL SYSTEM: Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, will discuss the SUNTrail System, a network of bicycle and pedestrian trails, during the Share the Road Celebration of Cycling event. (Friday, 10 a.m., Clermont City Center, 620 West Montrose St., Clermont.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Hardee, Miami-Dade, Escambia and Hillsborough counties. (Friday, 10 a.m., Hardee County Library, 315 North Sixth Ave., Wauchula. Also, 10 a.m., Westwind Senior Center, 6805 S.W. 152nd Ave., Miami. Also, 10 a.m., Central time, Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. Pensacola. Also, 2 p.m., Hillsborough Community College, 4001West Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa.)

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SPEAK AT 'SUNSHINE SUMMIT:' Seven presidential candidates, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, are slated to speak at the Republican Party of Florida's "Sunshine Summit." The other scheduled candidates are Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, developer Donald Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. (Friday, 10:30 a.m., Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando.)

CRUZ HOLDS RALLY IN ORLANDO: Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is expected to take part in a campaign rally in Central Florida. (Friday, 2:30 p.m., Faith Assembly of God, 9307 Curry Ford Road, Orlando.)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2015

LAWMAKERS TAKE PART IN FARM SHARE EVENT: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., state Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, state Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, and state Rep. Danny Burgess, R-San Antonio, are expected to take part in a Farm Share food giveaway. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Dade City Business Center, 15000 Citrus Country Dr., Dade City.)

HAGER TO DISCUSS SESSION: Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will hold a "coffee and conversation" event to discuss the 2016 legislative session. (Saturday, 9 a.m., The Beach Club, 17th Avenue North, Lake Worth.)

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SPEAK AT 'SUNSHINE SUMMIT:' Six presidential candidates are slated to speak at the Republican Party of Florida's "Sunshine Summit." They are former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and businesswoman Carly Fiorina. (Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando.)

LOBBYIST COMPENSATION REPORTS DUE: State lobbyists face a Nov. 14 deadline for filing reports showing their compensation from July 1 through Sept. 30.