Advances:  Week of August 12, 2018

 

By News Service Florida Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- Polls consistently show Floridians like term limits. And more civic literacy --- who could argue with that?

The state Constitution Revision Commission this spring decided to put a proposal on the November ballot that would impose eight-year term limits on school-board members and would require the Legislature to take steps to better promote civic literacy in schools.

Sounds simple enough.

But next week, Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper will hear arguments about whether he should block the proposal, known as Amendment 8, from going on the ballot because of a dispute about another part of the measure.

The League of Women Voters of Florida filed a lawsuit seeking to block Amendment 8. The group contends ballot language doesn’t adequately inform voters that one part of the proposed constitutional amendment is designed to open the door to more charter schools in the state.

The growth of charter schools, which are public schools typically operated by private groups or companies, has spawned numerous political and legal battles in recent years. Some of those battles have centered on the reluctance of county school boards to approve new charter schools.

The lawsuit argues that the proposed constitutional amendment includes language that would allow entities other than school boards to approve charter schools --- and that the amendment would not make that effect clear to voters.

“The purpose of Revision 8 is to allow the Legislature to … remove from local school boards their current constitutional authority and duty to directly authorize and supervise public schools and … allow that authority to be given to one or more unspecified public or private entities,” attorneys for the League of Women Voters wrote in a court filing. “But the title and summary of Revision 8 obscure the first purpose and affirmatively mislead voters on the second.”

But in defending the proposal during a debate in April, Constitution Revision Commission member Erika Donalds, a Collier County school board member, said the charter-school provision was aimed at revising a portion of the state Constitution that has been interpreted by courts to give exclusive authority to school boards to operate and control all public schools in their districts.

Donalds said the revision would allow the Legislature to offer more educational choices, such as charter schools, to students and their families.

“The Legislature should not be encumbered by unfair and antiquated constitutional language that has been used to block parental choice and protect the education monopoly,” she said.

Cooper is scheduled to hear arguments next Friday.

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2018

EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN SOME COUNTIES: Early voting for the Aug. 28 primary elections will begin in some counties before going statewide on Aug. 18. Among the counties where early voting will start Monday is Miami-Dade, the most heavily populated county in the state.

TRUST FUNDS ON TABLE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will take up issues such as “outlooks” for the Education Enhancement Trust Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund and the State School Trust Fund. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

EASTERN FLORIDA COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEEET: The Eastern Florida State College Board of Trustees will meet. (Monday, 9 a.m., Eastern Florida State College, Melbourne Campus, Public Safety Institute, 3865 North Wickham Road, Melbourne.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Seminole County. (Monday, 10 a.m., Winter Springs Senior Center, 400 North Edgemon Ave., Winter Springs.)

UF MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT ECONOMIC CLUB: Nancy Mendenhall, medical director of the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, will speak to the Economic Club of Florida. (Monday, noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

SEMINOLE STATE TRUSTEES MEET: The Seminole State College of Florida Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Monday, 2 p.m., Seminole State College of Florida, Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford.)

DEUTCH TOURS BROWARD MUSEUM: U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., will tour the Museum of Discovery and Science as part of the American Alliance of Museums’ “Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum 2018” week. (Monday, 3 p.m., Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale.)

HUKILL HONORS BRUCKNER: State Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, will take part in a ceremony honoring Hans P. “Al” Bruckner, who had a career in the space industry and supported The Children’s Hunger Project in Brevard County. (6:30 p.m., The Children’s Hunger Center, 1855 West King St., Cocoa.)

DESANTIS, CABINET CANDIDATES AT TRUMP CLUB: Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, attorney-general candidate Ashley Moody and agriculture-commissioner candidate Mike McCalister are expected to appear at a meeting of the Palm Beach County Trump Club. (Monday, 7 p.m., Palm Beach Kennel Club, 1111 North Congress Ave., West Palm Beach.)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2018

SCOTT, CABINET MEET: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will take up a series of issues, including a proposal to spend $5.5 million to help limit future development on nearly 2,500 acres of ranch land in Highlands County. The proposal seeks to add the Sandy Gully property to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which, through the use of “conservation easements,” restricts future development but allows owners to continue using land for such things as agricultural operations. The program, favored by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, has been used 38 times in the past eight years, accounting for more than 47,000 acres across the state being put into conservation easements. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

ELECTIONS COMMISSION EYES LEGISLATIVE ISSUES: The Florida Elections Commission will take up numerous issues, including a proposed legislative budget request and a legislative recommendation. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

DOMINICAN TRADE DISCUSSED: Enterprise Florida will hold one in a series of trade seminars directed toward small and medium-sized firms seeking to do business in the Dominican Republic. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables.)

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., with board at 11 a.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

GULF COAST COLLEGE TRUSTEES HOLD RETREAT: The Gulf Coast State College Board of Trustees will hold a retreat in Gulf County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Port Inn, 501 Monument Ave., Port St. Joe.)

DEUTCH MAKES APPEARANCES IN BROWARD: U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., will visit the Pride Center in Wilton Manors, attend a district office opening in Coral Springs and take part in a Moms Demand Action town hall on gun violence. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors. Also, office opening at 4 p.m., Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 West Sample Road, Coral Springs. Also, town hall at 6:30 p.m., Marriott-Heron Bay, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd., Coral Springs.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Brevard, Nassau, Manatee and Collier counties. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Aging Matter Brevard, 777 East Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island. Also, 1 p.m., Nassau County Council on Aging-Fernandina Center, 1367 South 18th St., Fernandina Beach. Also, 1 p.m., Manatee Chamber of Commerce, 4215 Concept Court, Lakewood Ranch. Also, 3 p.m., North Collier Government Center, 2335 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples.)

BROWARD COLLEGE BOARD PICKS LEADERS: The Broward College Board of Trustees will take up a series of issues, including electing a chair and vice chair. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Willis Holcombe Downtown Center, 111 East Las Olas Blvd., Building 33, Fort Lauderdale.)

FSCJ TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida State College at Jacksonville Board of Trustees will hold a workshop, followed by a regular meeting. (Tuesday, workshop at noon, board meeting at 1 p.m., college administrative offices, 501 West State St., Jacksonville.)

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Development Finance Corporation Board of Directors is slated to meet and receive presentations from Classical Preparatory Charter School, Inc. and Waste Pro USA, Inc. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Florida Development Finance Corporation, 156 Tuskawilla Road, Suite 2340, Winter Springs. Call-in number: 1-646-741-5292. Code: 1114882779)

PALM BEACH COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The Palm Beach State College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Palm Beach State College, Multi-Media Board Room, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth.)

FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Gateway College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Florida Gateway College, Administration Building, Lake City.)

DESANTIS, BARREIRO SPEAK TO YOUNG REPUBLICANS: Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis and Congressional District 27 candidate Bruno Barreiro are slated to speak during a meeting of the Miami Young Republicans. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Cubaocho Museum, 1465 S.W. Eighth St., Miami.)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

EDUCATION BOARD MEETS: The State Board of Education will meet in Orange County and discuss issues such as turnaround option plans for schools in DeSoto and Marion counties. After the meeting, board members will take part in a workshop focused on issues such as the Department of Education’s strategic plan and budget. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., Renaissance Orlando Airport, 5445 Forbes Place, Orlando.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases from across the state. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

GRIMSLEY HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold “mobile” office hours in Polk County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Mulberry Library, 905 N.E. Fifth St., Mulberry. Also, 10:30 a.m., Bartow Public Library, 2150 South Broadway Ave., Bartow. Also, 1:15 p.m., Fort Meade Community Center, 10 S.W. Third St., Fort Meade.)

DOMINICAN TRADE DISCUSSED: Enterprise Florida will hold one in a series of trade seminars directed toward small and medium-sized firms seeking to do business in the Dominican Republic. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 N.E. Sixth St., Pompano Beach.)

UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, 101 Rhyne Building, 2740 Centerview Dr., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Osceola, Hardee and Brevard counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., West Osceola Library, 305 Campus St., Kissimmee. Also, 1 p.m., Lambert Realty, 105 Summit St., Wauchula. Also, 2 p.m., Titusville Library, 2121 South Hopkins Ave., Titusville.)

ABLE TRUST AWARDS GRANT: The Able Trust, which works to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities, will award a grant to Easterseals Florida to help support its Hospitality Training Program of the Palm Beaches. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Easterseals Igoe-Amar Center, 213 South Congress Ave., West Palm Beach.)

GUBERNATORIAL FORUM HELD IN BROWARD: The Florida League of Mayors, in coordination with the Florida League of Cities and Leadership Forum, will hold a forum for gubernatorial candidates. (Wednesday 2 p.m., The Diplomat Beach Resort, 3555 South Ocean Dr., Hollywood.)

POLO TAKES PART IN RUTH’S LIST EVENT: Democrat Cindy Polo, who is running for an open seat in state House District 103, is slated to take part in a Ruth’s List Miami “Campaign Squad” event. Polo, Democrat Rick Tapia and Republican Frank Mingo are seeking to replace Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., a Hialeah Republican who is running for the Senate this year. District 103 includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Gramps, 176 N.W. 24th St., Miami.)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018

CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK BOARD MEETS: The Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling will meet in Orange County. (Thursday, 8 a.m., Orlando Airport Marriott Lakeside, 7499 Augusta National Dr., Orlando)

DOMINICAN TRADE DISCUSSED: Enterprise Florida will hold two in a series of trade seminars directed toward small and medium-sized firms seeking to do business in the Dominican Republic. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m. Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida, Muma College of Business, 1101 Channelside Dr., Suite 210, Tampa. Also, 2:30 p.m. Enterprise Florida, 800 North Magnolia Ave., Suite 1100, Orlando.)

GENERAL REVENUE ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will update estimates of general revenue, which play a key role in funding schools, health programs and prisons. The conference periodically updates the estimates, which lawmakers use in making budget decisions. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DEFENSE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which works to protect and expand military installations in the state, will hold a conference call. (Thursday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-800-501-8979. Code: 1869945)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Baker, Charlotte, Sumter, Bradford, Miami-Dade, Sarasota, Clay and Volusia counties. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Baker County administration conference room, 55 North Third St., Macclenny. Also, 10 a.m., Port Charlotte Public Library, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte. Also, 10 a.m., The Villages Rohan Recreation Center, 850 Kristin Way, Wildwood. Also, noon, Bradford County Library, 456 West Pratt St., Starke. Also, noon, West Flagler Library, 5050 West Flagler St., Miami. Also, 2:15 p.m., North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota. Also, 2:30 p.m., Clay County Library, Orange Park Branch, 2054 Plainfield Ave., Orange Park. Also, 2:30 p.m., Ormond Beach Library, 30 South Beach St., Ormond Beach.)

I-75 INTERCHANGE EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting on planned improvements to the Interstate 75 interchange at Corkscrew Road in Lee County. (Thursday, 5 p.m.  Estero Council chamber, 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, Estero.)

HOUSE DISTRICT 79 FORUM HELD: The League of Women Voters of Lee County is hosting a candidate forum in state House District 79. Republicans Matthew Shawn Miller of Alva and Spencer Roach of North Fort Myers are competing in a primary for the seat held by Rep. Matt Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican who is term-limited and running for agriculture commissioner. The GOP primary winner will face Democrat Mark Lipton of North Fort Myers in the general election. (Thursday, 6 p.m. North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Parkway, North Fort Myers.) 

I-195 RAMPS AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a hearing about a project to upgrade the State Road 112/Interstate 195 on- and off-ramps at Alton Road in Miami-Dade County. (Thursday, 6 p.m. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 3716 Garden Ave., Miami Beach.)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018

DOMINICAN TRADE DISCUSSED: Enterprise Florida will hold one in a series of trade seminars directed toward small and medium-sized firms seeking to do business in the Dominican Republic. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., JaxChamber, 3 Independent Dr., Jacksonville.)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Health will hold a hearing about a proposed rule dealing with the application process for new medical-marijuana licenses. The hearing involves one license earmarked for a black farmer who was a member of litigation dealing with federal discriminatory lending practices and four other licenses for applicants seeking entry into the state’s highly restricted medical marijuana market. The Legislature ordered the new licenses following the passage of a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana in Florida. (Friday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Health, 4025 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee.)

UNCLAIMED ITEM AUCTION PREVIEW: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold a preview of items that will be included in an unclaimed property auction Saturday. (Friday, 9 a.m., Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.)

JUDGE WEIGHS EDUCATION AMENDMENT: Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper will hold a hearing in a dispute about a proposed constitutional amendment that calls for changes in the state’s education system. The League of Women Voters of Florida filed the lawsuit to try to keep the amendment off the November ballot. The amendment was placed on the ballot by the state Constitution Revision Commission and includes three different issues. It would impose an eight-year term limit on school board members. It would require “civic literacy” to be promoted in public schools. And it would allow charter schools to be authorized by entities other than local school boards, which now make those decisions. The lawsuit targets the charter-school part of the proposal and alleges that the ballot wording is misleading. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

GRIMSLEY CAMPAIGNS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: State Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican running for agriculture commissioner, is slated to campaign at a meet-and-greet event. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., The Merchant Strategy, 1804 North Dixie Highway, Suite B, West Palm Beach.)

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

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Monroe County. (Friday, 10 a.m., Monroe County Library, 3251 Overseas Highway, Marathon.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Aug. 10.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018

EARLY VOTING HELD STATEWIDE: Early voting for the Aug. 28 primary elections will be held throughout the state, after starting earlier in the week in some counties.

CANDIDATE CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Jacksonville Democrat Billee Bussard, who is seeking to unseat state Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, in Senate District 4, will celebrate her 73rd birthday with a canvassing event. Bussard says she is one of two Democrats in their 70s, along with Winter Haven Democrat Bob Doyel, who are running for the Senate this year. District 4 is made up of Nassau County and parts of Duval County. (Saturday, canvassing starts at 9 a.m., Yulee Panera Bread, 463861 State Road 200, Yulee.)

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY AUCTION HELD: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold an auction of unclaimed property from bank-deposit boxes. (Saturday, 10 a.m., Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Volusia County. (Saturday, 11 a.m., Volusia Mall veterans event, 1700 West International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.)

HARDEN CAMPAIGNS FOR HOUSE SEAT: Miami Democrat James Harden, who is seeking to unseat Rep. Daniel Perez, R-Miami, in House District 116, will hold a campaign event. (Saturday, 6 p.m., MIA Beer Company, 10400 N.W. 33rd St., #150, Miami.)