Advances:  Week of August 5, 2018

NSF Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- Jacksonville has long been friendly territory for Republican gubernatorial candidates.

How friendly? The last time a Democratic gubernatorial candidate won in Duval County was 1986 --- and that year a Jacksonville hometown boy, Steve Pajcic, was the Democratic nominee.

So maybe it is fitting that GOP gubernatorial candidates Ron DeSantis and Adam Putnam will meet Wednesday night in Jacksonville for a final debate before the Aug. 28 primary.

The televised debate at Jacksonville University comes after a major shift in the race. Putnam, the state agriculture commissioner, was long viewed as the front-runner to replace outgoing Gov. Rick Scott. But DeSantis, a congressman whose district is south of Jacksonville, has surged into the lead with the backing of President Donald Trump.

It is too early, of course, to know the general-election matchup in the governor’s race. But chances are, the winner of the DeSantis-Putnam primary will be the favorite in Duval County.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018

TAX ‘HOLIDAY’ ENDS: Sunday will wrap up a three-day tax “holiday” for back-to-school shoppers. During the holiday, shoppers are able to avoid paying sales taxes on clothes that cost $60 or less and school supplies that cost $15 or less.

NICARAGUAN REGIME TARGETED: Numerous South Florida leaders, including Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and state Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, will take part in an event to show support for people in Nicaragua and to discuss political action against the regime of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. (Sunday, 2 p.m., Jorge Mas Canosa Youth Center-Ronselli Park, 250 S.W. 114th Ave., Sweetwater.)

MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2018

MEDICAID MATCHING MONEY AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or FMAP, a formula that helps determine how much federal money will be available for the state Medicaid program. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

KIDCARE SPENDING ON TABLE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze expenditures in the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program. (Monday, 9:15 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

KING SPEAKS TO TIGER BAY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King is slated to speak to the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club. (Monday, noon, Orange Blossom Catering Ballroom, 220 Fourth St. North, St. Petersburg.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Palm Beach, Jackson and Lake counties. (Monday, 11 a.m., North County Senior Center, 5217 Northlake Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens. Also, noon, Jackson County Administration Building, 2864 Madison St., Marianna. Also, 1 p.m., Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Dr., Clermont.)

ROAD MEDIANS REVIEWED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting of the Access Management Review Committee to review median spacing standards. (Monday, 1 p.m. FDOT District Three Office, 1074 Highway 90, Chipley.)

MEDICAID COSTS CONSIDERED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss expenditures in the Medicaid program. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HOWARD CAMPAIGNS IN HD 73: Republican Melissa Howard, who is running for an open seat in House District 73, will hold a meet-and-greet event. The seat, which includes parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties, became open when Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, decided to run for the Senate. (Monday, 5 p.m., Evie’s Tavern, 5897 Whitfield Ave., Sarasota.)

SHARK FISHING AT ISSUE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold one in a series of meetings to gather input on shore-based shark fishing. (Monday, 6 p.m. Gulf Coast State College, The Russell C. Holley and Herbert P. Holley Language and Literature Building, 5230 West U.S. 98, Panama City.)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2018

PURPLE HEART DAY HELD: Purple Heart recipients and their family members can participate in an Operation Outdoor Freedom event at Camp Prairie in Polk County. Operation Outdoor Freedom, which has been sponsored by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, provides wounded veterans with such things as guided hunts, fishing trips and canoe tours. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Camp Prairie, Lake Wales.)

GREGORY CAMPAIGNS IN HD 73: Republican Tommy Gregory, who is running for an open seat in House District 73, will hold a “coffee with the candidate” event. The seat, which includes parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties, became open when Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, decided to run for the Senate. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., IHOP, 6320 East State Road 64, Bradenton.)

CHILDREN’S ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Children and Youth Cabinet will meet in Collier County. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples.)

PRE-K PROGRAMS AT ISSUE: The Early Learning Programs Education Conference will discuss financial issues related to the voluntary pre-kindergarten program. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

UTILITY REGULATORS MEET: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a regular meeting before beginning a hearing on nuclear-project costs. (Wednesday, regular meeting at 9:30 a.m., nuclear hearing at 1:30 p.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Tuesday, 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 Brevard and Polk counties. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, 400 South Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island. Also, noon, Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce & EDC, 340 West Central Ave., Lake Wales.)

CRIST, KENNEDY AT HEALTH CARE RALLY: U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., will take part in a rally that will focus on health-care issues, including protecting the Affordable Care Act. (Tuesday, noon, Williams Park, 350 Second Ave. North, St. Petersburg.)

HASTINGS SPEAKS AT HEALTH FAIR: U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., will speak at an annual FoundCare, Inc. back-to-school community health fair. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., FoundCare, Inc. West Palm Beach Health Center, 2330 South Congress Ave., West Palm Beach.)

PHARMACY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet in Orange County. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Dr., Orlando.)

TOBACCO TAXES ON TABLE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss tobacco taxes and money from a settlement with the tobacco industry. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

POWELL CAMPAIGNS IN WEST PALM BEACH: State Sen. Bobby Powell, a West Palm Beach Democrat running for re-election in Palm Beach County’s District 30, will hold a campaign event. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., E.R. Bradley’s Saloon, 104 North Clematis St., West Palm Beach.)

NATURAL BRIDGE ADDITION DISCUSSED: The Florida Park Service will provide an overview of plans for the Horn Springs addition to Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park south of Tallahassee. The project is expected to include a new trailhead and trail system east of the St. Marks River. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Leon County UF/IFAS Extension Office, 615 Paul Russell Road, Tallahassee.)

MAST SPEAKS AT TRUMP CLUB GATHERING: U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., is expected to be among the speakers during a “Trump Team 2020 Florida” meeting. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Abacoa Golf Club, 105 Barbados Dr., Jupiter.)

SHARK FISHING AT ISSUE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold one in a series of meetings to gather input on shore-based shark fishing. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 South I St., Pensacola.)

MILLER RAISES MONEY IN HD 72: Republican Jason Miller, who is hoping to unseat Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, in Sarasota County’s House District 72, will hold a fundraising event. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Wine Cellar at Michael’s on East, 1283 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.)

MOODY, WHITE APPEAR IN BROWARD: Former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody and state Rep. Frank White, who are running in the Aug. 28 Republican primary for attorney general, are slated to appear at an Americans for Trump Broward Chapter forum. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Galuppi’s Restaurant, 1103 North Federal Highway, Pompano Beach.)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018

SCHOOL SAFETY COMMISSION MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created by the Legislature after the Feb. 14 shooting that killed 17 people in Broward County, will start a two-day meeting. It is expected to take up issues such as school hardening. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., BB&T Center, Chairman’s Club, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise.)

FAMU TRUSTEES HOLD RETREAT: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will hold a retreat that will include discussion of an assessment of President Larry Robinson and discussion about “key issues facing the university.” (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., FAMU College of Law, 201 Beggs Ave., Orlando.)

CABINET AIDES MEET: Aides to Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis will meet to discuss issues in advance of an Aug. 14 Cabinet meeting. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

PHARMACY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet in Orange County. (Friday, 9 a.m., Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Dr., 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.)

NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS AT ISSUE: The Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators will hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7342425515)

CRIST, VETERANS DISCUSS MEDICAL MARIJUANA: U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., will hold a roundtable discussion with veterans and representatives of the cannabis industry to talk about medical-marijuana issues. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Surterra Wellness Center, 10761 Ulmerton Road, Largo.)

RING SPEAKS TO TIGER BAY: Former state Sen. Jeremy Ring, a Democrat running for state chief financial officer, is slated to speak to the Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., City Fish Market, 7940 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Hernando and Hillsborough counties. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Frederick Eugene Lykes Jr. Memorial Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. Also, 1 p.m., Austin Davis Public Library, 17808 Wayne Road, Odessa.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUTER RAIL AT ISSUE: The Central Florida Commuter Rail Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., LYNX Central Station, 455 North Garland Ave., Orlando.)

PUTNAM, DESANTIS DEBATE: Republican gubernatorial candidates Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis will hold a final televised debate before the Aug. 28 primary. The debate will be hosted by Jacksonville University and WJXT Channel 4 in Jacksonville. (Wednesday, 8 p.m., Jacksonville University, Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University Blvd. North, Jacksonville.)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2018

SCHOOL SAFETY COMMISSION MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created by the Legislature after the Feb. 14 shooting that killed 17 people in Broward County, will continue a two-day meeting. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., BB&T Center, Chairman’s Club, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise.)

RURAL COUNTIES CONSIDERED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss “fiscally constrained” counties, which include many rural areas of the state. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

FAMU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will meet after holding committee meetings. (Thursday, committees start at 8:30 a.m., with full board at 11 a.m., FAMU College of Law,  201 Beggs Ave., Orlando.)

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

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Volusia, Seminole and Pasco counties. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Daytona Beach City Hall, 301 South Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach. Also, 1 p.m., Seminole County Library, 215 North Oxford Road, Casselberry. Also, 1 p.m., Pasco County Government Center, 8731 Citizens Dr., New Port Richey.)

TRUST FUNDS ON TABLE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will consider what are known as “outlooks” for the Education Enhancement Trust Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund and the State School Trust Fund. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GRIMSLEY HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold “mobile” office hours in DeSoto and Lee counties. (Thursday, 10 a.m., DeSoto County Administration Building, 201 East Oak St., Arcadia. Also, 1 p.m., The Shell Factory, Chamber of Commerce office, 2787 North Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings. (Thursday, committees start at 11:30 a.m., with full board at 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

CARSON SPEAKS AT ‘LOBSTERFEST’ EVENT: The Republican Party of Palm Beach County will hold its annual “Lobsterfest,” with speakers expected to include Ben Carson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., The Polo Club of Boca Raton, 5400 Champions Blvd., Boca Raton.)

DEMOCRATS APPEAR AT TOWN HALL: The five Democrats running for Florida governor are expected to take part in a town-hall forum in Jacksonville. The candidates are Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and businessmen Jeff Greene and Chris King. (Thursday, 8 p.m., Jacksonville University, Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University Blvd. North, Jacksonville.)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018

WATERFOWL EYED: Florida waterfowl will be the focus of an annual United Waterfowlers Florida and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission summit focused on aquatic plant management and the challenges associated with nutrients and invasive species. (Friday, 8 a.m. Ocala Hilton, 3600 S.W. 36th Ave., Ocala.)

FELONS’ RIGHTS DISCUSSED: The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which is helping spearhead a proposed constitutional amendment to restore felons’ voting rights, will start a two-day conference. The proposed amendment, which will appear on the November ballot as Amendment 4, would automatically restore the rights of most felons after they have served their sentences. (Friday, 9 a.m., Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Dr., Orlando.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Miami-Dade, Citrus and Orange counties. (Friday, 9 a.m., Health Fair, Sweetwater Towers Apartments, 10750 S.W. Fourth St., Miami. Also, 1:30 p.m., Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, 915 North Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River. Also, 2 p.m., United Against Poverty, 150 West Michigan St., Orlando.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION SOUGHT: The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host a meeting that is part of an effort to better coordinate behavioral-health services. The meeting is an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. (Friday, 10 a.m., Redlands Christian Migration Association Building, 551 West Cowboy Way, LaBelle.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Aug. 3.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

FELONS’ RIGHTS DISCUSSED: The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which is helping spearhead a proposed constitutional amendment to restore felons’ voting rights, will continue a two-day conference. The proposed amendment, which will appear on the November ballot as Amendment 4, would automatically restore the rights of most felons after they have served their sentences. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Dr., Orlando.)

GRAHAM RAISES MONEY IN TALLAHASSEE: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham is expected to raise money during an event at a private residence in Leon County. (Saturday, 2 p.m., 1333 Peacefield Place, Tallahassee.)

INGOGLIA AT LAKE GOP DINNER: Florida Republican Chairman Blaise Ingoglia is expected to be among the speakers during the Lake County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner. (Saturday, 6 p.m., Lake Receptions, 4425 North Highway 19-A, Mount Dora.)