The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – September 12, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, SEPTEMBER 9, 2016…. Two state universities could be ready to move forward with new leadership. University of West Florida trustees are expected Thursday to choose a new president, with the finalists including state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. Meanwhile, Florida A&M University trustees likely will consider a proposed agreement that would lead to the exit of embattled FAMU President Elmira Mangum.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

RALLY SEEKS HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE: Workers, clergy members and community leaders will hold a rally and a news conference to support issues such as a $15 minimum wage in Florida and union rights. (Monday, rally at 11:30 a.m., news conference at noon, the Capitol, Tallahassee.)

MACMANUS SPEAKS AT ECONOMIC CLUB: Susan MacManus, a political-science professor at the University of South Florida, will speak to the Economic Club of Tampa. (Monday, noon, Jackson's Bistro, 601 South Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa.)

STATE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK DISCUSSED: The Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate members, will take up a long-range financial outlook for the state. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

REPORTS DUE FOR 2018, 2020 CANDIDATES: State political candidates who have opened campaign accounts for the 2018 or 2020 elections face a Monday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Aug. 31.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

FGCU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, Cohen Center, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

UTILITY REGULATORS MEET: The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a series of issues involving electric and water utilities and telecommunications companies. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will hold a workshop on a strategic plan, a regular board meeting and a hearing on a tentative budget. (Tuesday, workshop starts at 1 p.m., followed by board meeting, with budget hearing at 5:05 p.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS, HOLDS HEARING: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet and then hold a hearing on a fiscal year 2017 budget. (Tuesday, meeting at 3 p.m., followed by hearing at 5:05 p.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

DEEPWATER HORIZON ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Gulf Consortium Board of Directors, which works on issues related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will meet. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Hutchinson Island Marriott, 555 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart.)

SOUTHWEST WATER BOARD HOLDS BUDGET HEARING: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board is scheduled to hold a hearing on a tentative budget. (Tuesday, 5:01 p.m., Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

RENNER KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN: State Rep. Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican seeking re-election in House District 24, is scheduled to hold a campaign kickoff event in Flagler County. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill, 1848 South Ocean Shore Blvd., Flagler Beach.)

SINGER RAISES MONEY IN HD 60: Democrat David Singer, who is running in Hillsborough County's House District 60, is scheduled to raise money during a campaign kickoff event. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., The Beck Group Building, 220 West Seventh Ave., third floor, Tampa.)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

HASTINGS HOLDS BRIEFING ON DOG MEAT TRADE: U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., will hold a congressional briefing on the global dog-meat trade and ending the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., United States Capitol Visitors Center, Congressional Auditorium, First Street N.E., Washington, D.C.)

CABINET AIDES MEET: Aides to Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater are scheduled to meet in an advance of a Sept. 20 Cabinet meeting. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

FAMU COMMITTEES MEET: Committees of the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will hold a series of meetings, including a meeting of the Special Committee on Presidential Leadership. The meetings are in advance of a full board meeting Thursday. (Wednesday, meetings start at 9 a.m., Florida A&M University, Grand Ballroom, Tallahassee.)

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.)

UTILITY PLANS DISCUSSED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a workshop to discuss what are known as utilities' "10-Year Site Plans." (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

LAWMAKERS, ALTMAIER AT HEALTH PLANS CONFERENCE: The Florida Association of Health Plans will hold its annual conference, which will include a panel discussion by state lawmakers. The lawmakers are expected to include Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach; Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island; Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton; Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah; Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park; and Rep. John Wood, R-Winter Haven. Also, Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier is expected to discuss the Florida insurance marketplace. (Thursday, sessions start at 8:30 a.m., with legislative panel at 11 a.m. and Altmaier at 2 p.m., JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, 4040 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando.)

PROCTOR SPEAKS AT COUNTIES EVENT: Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, is expected to be the luncheon speaker at a Florida Association of Counties Policy Committee Conference. (Thursday, events start at 8:30 a.m., with luncheon at noon, Hutchinson Island Marriott, 555 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart.)

UWF PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION ON TABLE: The University of West Florida Board of Trustees is expected to select a new university president after receiving a recommendation from a presidential search committee. The university is replacing President Judy Bense, who is stepping down from the position. (Thursday, search committee at 9 a.m., followed by full board, UWF Center for Fine & Performing Arts, Music Hall, Pensacola.)

FAMU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will meet and take up a series of issues. Trustees are expected to consider a proposed agreement that would lead to Elmira Mangum leaving the president's job. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida A&M University, Grand Ballroom, Tallahassee.)

CITIZENS PANEL DISCUSSES CONSUMER SERVICES: The Consumer Services Committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors is scheduled to hold a conference call and will receive an update about Hurricane Hermine. (Thursday 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-866-361-7525. Code: 6487811621#)

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

MAST SPEAKS TO MARTIN COUNTY REPUBLICANS: Republican Brian Mast, who is running in Congressional District 18, will campaign at a Martin County GOP event. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Realtor Association of Martin County, 43 S.W. Monterey Road, Stuart.)

FLORIDA FOREVER AT ISSUE: The state Acquisition and Restoration Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Florida Forever land-conservation projects. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Highlands County Commission, 505 South Commerce Ave., Sebring.)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AHCA LEADERS AT HEALTH PLANS CONFERENCE: The Florida Association of Health Plans will continue its annual conference, which will include addresses by state Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek and deputy secretaries Justin Senior and Molly McKinstry. (Friday, events start at 8 a.m., with AHCA officials speaking at 9:30 a.m., JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, 4040 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando.)

HOUSING ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Florida Housing Finance Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to meet in the Panhandle. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Hilton Sandestin, 4000 South Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach.)

STATE COLLEGES AT ISSUE: The Board of Directors of the Association of Florida Colleges is scheduled to meet. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., Lake Buena Vista Palace, 1900 East Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista.)

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is expected to release August unemployment numbers. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

UNF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of North Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Friday, 2 p.m., University of North Florida, president's conference room, Building 1, Room 2800, Jacksonville.)

COMMITTEE FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Sept. 9.