Advances:  Week of October 21, 2018

 

By NSF Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- Time is running short in Florida’s campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate and in hundreds of down-ballot races throughout the state.

Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum have been slugging it out at a distance as the GOP tries to maintain its two-decade hold on the governor’s mansion --- and as Gillum tries to become the first Democrat since Lawton Chiles to win the state’s top job.

But after an earlier debate was called off because of Hurricane Michael, DeSantis and Gillum are scheduled to spar in two debates during the coming week. The first will be televised Sunday night by CNN and likely will show deep contrasts between the conservative DeSantis and the progressive Gillum.

DeSantis and Gillum then will suit up again Wednesday for a debate that will be broadcast across the state, less than two weeks before the Nov. 6 election to replace outgoing Gov. Rick Scott.

Scott’s bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, meanwhile, took an unexpected turn when Hurricane Michael caused devastation in parts of Northwest Florida. As recovery from the storm continues, Scott has spent his time in the Panhandle, though his campaign has continued to release television ads.

Nelson, seeking a fourth term in the Senate, could get a boost in the coming week when former Vice President Joe Biden travels to Florida to appear at rallies for Nelson, Gillum and other Democratic candidates.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018

AG COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES DEBATE: Matt Caldwell, the Republican candidate for state agriculture commissioner, and Democratic candidate Nikki Fried will appear on the news show “Facing South Florida” hosted by reporter Jim DeFede. The show is expected to be streamed on the station’s webpage and its Facebook page. (Sunday, 8 a.m. “Facing South Florida,” WFOR-TV/CBSMiami.)

DESANTIS CAMPAIGNS IN MIAMI-DADE: Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis is expected to appear at a rally hosted by the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County and state Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah. Also expected to take part are state Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., a Hialeah Republican running for a state Senate seat, and Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs. (Sunday, 2 p.m., Hialeah Park, 2200 East Fourth Ave., Hialeah.)

RALLY BACKS AMENDMENT 4: The Palm Beach Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and several other groups will hold a rally to support Amendment 4, a ballot measure that would lead to restoring voting rights for most felons after they have completed all terms of their sentences. Among expected participants in the rally is Dave Aronberg, the state attorney in Palm Beach County. Amendment 4 will be on the Nov. 6 ballot. (Sunday, 2 p.m., Palm Beach County Historic Courthouse, 300 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.)

DESANTIS, GILLUM DEBATE: Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis and Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum will debate on CNN. The one-hour debate will be hosted by CNN anchor Jake Tapper. (Sunday, 8 p.m., WEDU studios, Tampa.)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018

EARLY VOTING STARTS IN MANY COUNTIES: Early voting for the Nov. 6 elections will begin in many counties, including Alachua, Bradford, Broward, Charlotte, DeSoto, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Gadsden, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie and Taylor. Counties statewide are required to start early voting Oct. 27, but they have the authority to start as early as Monday.

PANHANDLE COURTS REMAIN CLOSED: Facing issues such as damaged buildings, limited communications and technology problems, courts will remain closed for at least part of next week in five Panhandle counties that were hit by Hurricane Michael. Courts in Calhoun and Washington counties will be closed through Wednesday, while courts in Bay, Holmes and Jackson counties are expected to be shut down throughout the week.

COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED: Florida State University’s Panama City campus, and Gulf Coast State College will be closed because of damage from Hurricane Michael. Also closed Monday will be public schools in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty and Washington counties.

VOTER TURNOUT TARGETED: The NAACP and other civil-rights groups will hold a news conference about an initiative to turn out minority voters in the Nov. 6 elections. Also expected to take part in the news conference is state Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens. (Monday, 10 a.m., Florida Asian Services Center, 659 N.E. 125th St., North Miami.)

PUTNAM GOES TO GULF COUNTY: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will meet with Gulf County officials and tour areas hit by Hurricane Michael. (Monday, 11 a.m., Gulf County Emergency Operations Center, 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd., Port St. Joe.)

BIDEN CAMPAIGNS WITH NELSON, GILLUM: Former Vice President Joe Biden will appear at rallies in Tampa and Jacksonville to support the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., and state Rep. Sean Shaw, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, are expected to take part in the Tampa event. Nancy Soderberg, the Democratic candidate in Congressional District 6, is expected to take part in the Jacksonville event. (Monday, noon, University of South Florida, East Gym, 12301 USF Maple Dr., Tampa. Also, 3:45 p.m., University of North Florida Field House, 11852 University of North Florida Dr., Jacksonville.)

PROTECTIONS SOUGHT FOR STATE WORKERS: Representatives of Equality Florida and other groups will deliver letters to Gov. Rick Scott’s office requesting that he ensure protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer state employees. (Monday, 1:15 p.m., outside the governor’s office, the Capitol.)

APPEALS COURT CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED: The 3rd District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission will start two days of interviews of candidates to replace Chief Judge Leslie Rothenberg and Judge Richard Suarez, who are leaving the South Florida court. Candidates expected to be interviewed Monday are Jason Bloch, Alexander Bokor, Jeffrey Geldens, Kansas R. Gooden, Monica Gordo, Edward Guedes, Eric W. Hendon and Timothy J. Koenig. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., DLA Piper LLP, 200 South Biscayne Blvd., 25th floor, Miami.)

TCC TRUSTEES MEET: The Tallahassee Community College Board of Trustees will meet. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., Tallahassee Community College, Hinson Administration Building, 444 Appleyard Dr., Tallahassee.)

RALLY HELD FOR ‘MARSY’S LAW’ MEASURE: The group Marsy’s Law for Florida will hold a rally in Broward County to rally support for a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand crime victims’ rights. The proposal, which appears on the ballot as Amendment 6, has been spearheaded by the Marsy’s Law group. Participants in the rally are expected to include former Miami Heat basketball players Alonzo Mourning and Shane Battier. (Monday, 4 p.m., Miramar Branch Library, 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar.)

POLK STATE TRUSTEES MEET: The Polk State College Board of Trustees will meet. (Monday, 4 p.m., Polk State College, Lakeland Campus, 3425 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland.)

PINELLAS ROAD PROJECTS AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Transportation and Forward Pinellas will hold a meeting about proposed improvements to the Interstate 275 corridor, the Gateway Expressway and the Howard Frankland Bridge. (Monday, 5:30 p.m. Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Education and Conference Center, 701 Fourth St. South, St. Petersburg.) 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2018

DRUG POLICY AT ISSUE: The Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Council will meet and discuss issues such as the implementation of a new law (HB 21) aimed at curbing the opioid epidemic. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Department of Health, 4025 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

APPEALS COURT CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED: The 3rd District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission will continue two days of interviews of candidates to replace Chief Judge Leslie Rothenberg and Judge Richard Suarez, who are leaving the South Florida court. Candidates expected to be interviewed Tuesday are Fleur J. Lobree, Bronwyn C. Miller, Ann M. St. Peter-Griffith, Thomas J. Rebull, Oren Rosenthal, George A.R. Sarduy, Melissa Damian Visconti, Lisa S. Walsh and Angelica D. Zayas. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., DLA Piper LLP, 200 South Biscayne Blvd., 25th floor, Miami.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Hernando County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district Brooksville office, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville.)

STATE ARCHIVES HOSTS OPEN HOUSE: The State Archives will host an open house as part of American Archives Month. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., State Archives reference room, R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough St., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Miami-Dade County. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami.)

PANHANDLE PROJECTS DISCUSSED: The Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors, which makes decisions about how to spend money in Northwest Florida from a Deepwater Horizon oil-spill settlement, will meet in Okaloosa County. Among the topics are $8.5 million for improvements at Whiting Aviation Park in Santa Rosa County and a proposal involving the Pensacola Airport MRO Aviation Campus. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. Central time, Warriors Hall Community Center, 201 Stillwell Ave., Crestview.)

BROWARD COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Broward College Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Willis Holcombe Downtown Center, 111 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.)

BIDEN CAMPAIGNS WITH NELSON, MURPHY: Former Vice President Joe Biden will appear at an Orlando rally for the re-election campaigns of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla. Also expected to take part in the event is Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. (Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Cheyenne Saloon, 128 West Church St., Orlando.)

TRAIL PROJECT ON TABLE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting about a development and environment study for the South Sumter Connector Trail Project, which would link trails in Hernando and Sumter counties. The project is part of the Coast to Coast Trail, which is expected to extend nearly 250 miles from St. Petersburg to the Canaveral National Seashore. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Webster Community Hall, Southeast First Street, Webster.)

MOODY, SHAW DEBATE: Republican Ashley Moody and Democrat Sean Shaw, who are running for attorney general, will participate in a one-hour debate that will be shown live on Bay News 9 in Tampa and Spectrum News 13 in Orlando. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Bay News 9. Tampa.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018

CITRUS COMMISSION BUDGET EYED: The Florida Citrus Commission is expected to discuss an October budget revision and assessment rates. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

INTERVIEWS HELD FOR POLK JUDGE: The 10th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is slated to interview candidates to replace retiring Polk County Judge Robert Williams. Applicants for the position are David Ralph Carmichael, Wendy Joy DePaul, Robert Mark Fore, Kevin M. Kohl, David Molloy, Stephen Paul Pincket, David E. Stamey, Jr., and Mark A. Taylor. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Peterson & Myers, P.A., 225 East Lemon St., Suite 300, Lakeland.)

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

VALENCIA COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Valencia College Board of Trustees will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Valencia College, East Campus, Room 8-101, 701 North Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando.)

ROSS DISCUSSES NEW UNIVERSITY CENTER: U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., will help announce plans for a new research, training and advocacy center at Southeastern University. Ross, who decided against seeking re-election this year, will join the university’s faculty and will help lead the center. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Southeastern University, Buena Vida Auditorium, Lakeland.)

SENIOR SCAMS TARGETED: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of "Be Scam Smart" workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Lutz Senior Center, 112 N.W. First Ave., Lutz.)

DEUTCH SPEAKS AT TIGER BAY: U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., 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 Miami-Dade County. (Wednesday, noon, Homestead Branch Library, 700 North Homestead Blvd., Homestead. Also, 2 p.m., Palmetto Bay Branch Library, 17641 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay.)

DEBATE WATCH PARTY AIDS CARUSO: With gubernatorial candidates Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum debating, a watch party will be held to benefit Republican Mike Caruso, who is running in Palm Beach County’s House District 89. Caruso is running against Democrat Jim Bonfiglio to succeed term-limited Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Don Ramon Latino Restaurant, 7101 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.)

DESANTIS, GILLUM DEBATE: Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis and Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum will take part in a televised debate hosted by Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association. The debate will be broadcast on television stations in markets across the state and on C-Span and will be on Florida Public Radio. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., Broward College, Bailey Hall, 3501 Davie Road, Davie.)

SIMON DISCUSSES ACLU WORK: Howard Simon, the longtime executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida who will retire next month, will discuss civil-liberties issues during an event in Miami-Dade County. Also taking part will be Anthony Romero, the ACLU’s national executive director, and Nancy Ancrum, editorial page editor of the Miami Herald. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., The Biltmore Hotel, GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The State Board of Education will meet in Citrus County. Among the topics will be the status of “turnaround option” plans for elementary schools in DeSoto and Marion counties. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Crystal River Middle School, 344 N.E. Crystal St., Crystal River.)

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

ORTHOTISTS, PROSTHETISTS BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists will meet in Broward County. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale, 1100 S.E. 17th St. Causeway, Fort Lauderdale.)

MIAMI-DADE PROJECTS ON TABLE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting about several projects within the Golden Glades Interchange in Miami-Dade County. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Trinity Church, 17801 N.W. Second Ave., Miami.)

NORTH CENTRAL PLANNING COUNCIL MEETS: The North Central Florida Regional Planning Council will meet in Columbia County. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 213 S.W. Commerce Blvd., Lake City.)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

PODIATRIC MEDICINE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Podiatric Medicine will meet in Orange County. (Friday, 9 a.m., Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Downtown, 304 West Colonial Dr., Orlando.)

BANNON SPEAKS TO HILLSBOROUGH GOP: Steve Bannon, a former top adviser to President Donald Trump, will speak at a Hillsborough County Republican Party dinner. (Friday, 6:30 p.m., The Event Factory, 7565 West Hillsborough Ave., Tampa.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political candidates and committees face a Friday deadline to file reports showing finance activity through Oct. 19.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

EARLY VOTING HELD STATEWIDE: Early-voting locations will be open statewide Saturday for the Nov. 6 elections. Many counties will start earlier in the week.

SHAW CAMPAIGNS IN JACKSONVILLE: State Rep. Sean Shaw, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, is expected to appear at a meet-and-greet event in Duval County. (Saturday, 5 p.m., Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge, 2578 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville.)