MENU 

 

Advances:  Week of October 7, 2018

By NSF Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- Florida has a reputation as a politically purple state.

And in some ways, the reputation is deserved. Who can forget the 2000 presidential recount? And Democrats still grumble about narrow losses in the 2010 and 2014 races for governor.

But in other ways, Florida has looked more red than blue for two decades. Republicans have controlled both houses of the Legislature since 1996 and the governor’s office since Jeb Bush took over in January 1999.

The dominance has come as Republicans have trailed Democrats in numbers of registered voters. Granted, registration can be a misleading indicator. Many rural voters, for example, remained registered Democrats over the years but supported Republicans in state and national races. Also, the number of unaffiliated voters in Florida has steadily climbed.

Registration numbers, however, offer an interesting snapshot of voters, and with the Nov. 6 election fast approaching, we are about to get another fresh set of numbers. Floridians face a Tuesday registration deadline. After some time for processing, the state will release updated figures.

Slightly more than 13 million Floridians registered to vote in advance of the Aug. 28 primary elections. Democrats outnumbered Republicans, but just barely --- 4,839,434 to 4,594,133, which was similar to the margin in 2016.

And the trend of voters choosing to register without party affiliation remained evident. The total of so-called NPA voters had increased to 3,493,494, or about 27 percent of the electorate. That was up from slightly more than 2.91 million voters, or about 23.6 percent, during the 2016 primaries.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2018

HUKILL REMEMBERED: The family of state Sen. Dorothy Hukill, a Port Orange Republican who died this week, will host visitors Sunday in Volusia County. People may pay respects from noon to 2 p.m. at the Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 4815 Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange, Senate President Joe Negron said in a memo to lawmakers and staff that a formal memorial service will be a small, family gathering. Hukill, 72, died after battling cervical cancer. She had served in the Senate since 2012, after eight years in the House.

FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS HONORED: Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Sunday at state and local buildings across Florida in observance of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2018

TRUMP SPEAKS IN ORLANDO: President Donald Trump will speak Monday at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual convention at the Orange County Convention Center. The White House had not released full details of the visit as of Friday afternoon.

BUILDING COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Building Commission will meet in Sarasota County. (Monday, 8:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota.)

FIU TRUSTEES DISCUSS STRATEGIC PLAN: The Florida International University Board of Trustees will hold an online meeting to discuss a strategic plan. (Monday, 8:30 a.m. Access to meeting at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/949574925)

DEUTCH TOURS ‘KING TIDE’ IN BROWARD: U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., will tour an area of Fort Lauderdale affected by flooding from what is known as “king tide.” (Monday, 9:30 a.m., corner of East Las Olas Boulevard and Southeast 25th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.)

BAY AREA ‘RESILIENCY’ EFFORT LAUNCHED: The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council will hold an event in which local governments will join together as the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition to address issues such as climate change and sea-level rise. (Monday, 10 a.m., Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, 4000 Gateway Centre Blvd., Suite 100, Pinellas Park.)

NBC CORRESPONDENT SPEAKS TO ECONOMIC CLUB: Ali Velshi, senior economic and business correspondent for NBC News, is slated to speak to the Economic Club of Florida. (Monday, 11:15 a.m., FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

TAXWATCH DISCUSSES TAX AMENDMENTS: Florida TaxWatch will hold a media conference call to discuss two proposed constitutional amendments --- known as Amendment 1 and Amendment 2 --- on the November ballot. Amendment 1 would increase the state’s homestead property-tax exemption, while Amendment 2 would keep in place a property-tax cap for commercial and other non-homestead properties. (Monday, 3 p.m. Call-in number: 1-872-240-3412. Code: 803-142-885#)

DEADLINE FOR SUPREME COURT APPLICATIONS: Applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday to fill three seats on the Florida Supreme Court. The seats will open in January when longtime justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince face a mandatory retirement age. The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission will review the applicants before making recommendations for appointment.

SHAPIRO RAISES MONEY IN CD 16: A fundraising reception is slated for Democrat David Shapiro, who is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., in Congressional District 16. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Key Royale Country Club, 700 Key Royale Dr., Holmes Beach.)

JORDAN SPEAKS IN PALM BEACH: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is slated to speak during an event held by the Palm Beach County Trump Club and the Palm Beach County Tea Party. (Monday, 7 p.m., Palm Beach Kennel Club, 1111 North Congress Ave., West Palm Beach.)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR ELECTION; Floridians face a Tuesday deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 general election. Slightly more than 13 million voters were registered for the August primaries.

INTERVIEWS SLATED FOR MIAMI-DADE JUDGESHIP: The 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will interview candidates for a vacancy created by the resignation of Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan. Expected to be interviewed are candidates Christina Marie DiRaimondo and Carlos Guzman. Other candidates who have been interviewed earlier by the commission are William I. Altfield, Alexander Bokor, Tanya Brinkley and Luis Perez-Medina. The 11th Judicial Circuit handles cases in Miami-Dade County. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., K&L Gates, LLP, 200 South Biscayne Blvd., 39th floor, Miami.)

FPL DEAL ON TABLE: The state Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on a proposed deal in which Florida Power & Light would buy Vero Beach’s city-run utility and charge its rates to Vero Beach customers. The Public Service Commission on June 5 gave approvals needed for the deal, which FPL said at the time it hoped to close Oct. 1. But challenges emerged, spurring regulators to hold the hearing. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

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

INTERVIEWS SLATED FOR HILLSBOROUGH JUDGESHIP: The 13th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will interview candidates for a vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Claudia Rickert Isom. Candidates slated to be interviewed are Adam Leo Bantner II, Shelton S. Bridges, Starr Linette Brookins, Christine Shiver Brown, Sonya C. Colon, Travis J. Coy, Mary Lou Cuellar-Stilo, Wendy DePaul, Gary S. Dolgin, Andrew C. Eckhoff, Lawrence Mark Leffler, Troy Matthew Lovell, Sasha Lohn, Ellen K. Lyons, Paul S. Maney, Daryl Manning,  Richard Henry Martin, Antina L. Mobley, Sara K. Peacock,  John A. Schifino, Matthew Alex Smith and  Alicia Raina Whiting-Bozich. The 13th Judicial Circuit hears cases from Hillsborough County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., law offices of Bush Ross, P.A., 1801 North Highland Ave., Tampa.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings. (Tuesday, committees at 9:30 a.m., followed by full board about 11 a.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

PANEL DISCUSSES RED TIDE: A panel of Florida International University faculty members will discuss red tide, which has plagued the state’s Gulf Coast and recently been found in Atlantic coastal areas. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Parkview Hall, 11200 S.W. Eighth St., Miami.)

SCHOOL SAFETY COMMISSION MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created by the state after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Parkland school, will meet in Broward County. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sunrise-Sawgrass, 13400 West Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Collier, Manatee and Brevard counties. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Immokalee Library, 417 North First St., Immokalee. Also, 1 p.m., Manatee Chamber of Commerce, 4215 Concept Court, Lakewood Ranch. Also, 2:30 p.m., Aging Matters Brevard, 777 East Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island.)

FLORIDA GATEWAY TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Gateway College Board of Trustees will meet in Dixie County. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Dixie County Public Library, 16328 S.E. Highway 19, Cross City.)

POLK COUNTY ROAD WIDENING AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house on plans to widen a stretch of State Road 542 in Winter Haven. (Tuesday, 5 p.m. Redeemer City Church, 1410 Dundee Road, Winter Haven.)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AT SARASOTA EVENT: State Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, and other Democratic candidates are expected to appear at an Indivisible Northeast Sarasota event. Others expected to take part include David Shapiro, who is running in Congressional District 16; Oliva Babis, who is running in state Senate District 23; and Liv Coleman, who is running in state House District 73. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota.)

CANDIDATES AT SAVE MEET AND GREET: Numerous state and congressional candidate are expected to take part in a meet-and-greet event held by the LGBTQ advocacy group SAVE. Democrat Jason Pizzo, who clinched a Senate seat by winning an August primary in Miami-Dade County’s District 38, will offer opening remarks. Others expected to take part include Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami; Rep. Robert Asencio, D-Miami; Rep. Javier Fernandez, D-South Miami; Rep. Nicholas Duran, D-Miami; Democratic congressional candidates Donna Shalala, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Mary Barzee Flores; and state House candidates James Harden, Jeffrey Solomon, Michael Grieco, Javier Estevez and Cindy Polo. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., SAVE headquarters, 1951 N.W. Seventh Ave., Miami.)

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS DISCUSSED: The Bob Graham Center at the University of Florida will host a discussion about 12 proposed constitutional amendments slated for the Nov. 6 ballot. Among the speakers will be Jon Mills, a former dean of the university’s law school and a former speaker of the Florida House. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., University of Florida, Pugh Hall Ocora, Gainesville.)

BAER CAMPAIGNS IN PALM BEACH: Democrat Lauren Baer, who is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., in Congressional District 18, is slated to speak during a meeting of the Western Communities of West Palm Beach Democratic Club. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Vista Center, 2300 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018

SCHOOL SAFETY COMMISSION MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created by the state after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Parkland school, will meet in Broward County. The meeting could include testimony from former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson, who was a school-resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas at the time of the shooting. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sunrise-Sawgrass, 13400 West Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise.)

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS GET AID: The state Office of Supplier Diversity will hold the “Tallahassee Supplier Diversity Exchange,” an annual event aimed a connecting small businesses with federal, state and local buyers. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building 3, Tallahassee.)

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

REFUGEE SERVICES AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold a meeting to discuss the delivery of refugee services in Orange County. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Goodwill Industries, 3911 East Colonial Dr., Orlando.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in St. Johns, Osceola, Miami-Dade, Putnam and Hernando counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Southeast Branch Library, 6670 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine. Also, 10 a.m., West Osceola Library, 305 Campus St., Kissimmee. Also, noon, Coral Reef Library, 9211 S.W. 152nd St., Palmetto Bay. Also, 12:30 p.m., Crescent City Library, 610 Summit St., Crescent City. Also, 1 p.m., Frederick Eugene Lykes Jr. Memorial Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville.)

MIAMI-DADE ROAD PROJECTS ON TABLE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting on several projects within the Golden Glades Interchange in Miami-Dade County. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., North Miami Beach City Hall, Marjorie & William McDonald Center, 17051 N.E. 19th Ave., North Miami Beach.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018

DUKE POWER PURCHASES AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a series of issues during a regular meeting and then will hold what is known as an internal-affairs meeting. Issues during the regular meeting include a proposal by Duke Energy Florida to spend $34.5 million to end electricity purchases from a Polk County power plant. Duke has an agreement to buy power from Ridge Generating Station, L.P. through 2023, according to a filing at the commission. But Duke said the agreement is “no longer cost-effective” for its customers and, as a result, wants to pay $34.5 million to terminate the agreement. Duke would recoup the $34.5 million from customers but said in the filing that ending the agreement would ultimately save $37.6 million to $44 million for customers. Duke said it was cost-effective in the past to buy power from the Ridge plant but that Duke’s “avoided costs” --- essentially other ways of meeting the customers’ needs --- have decreased. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

UTILITY SITE PLANS, SOLAR PROJECTS DISCUSSED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a meeting about what are known as utility “10-year site plans” and then have a hearing on a proposal by Tampa Electric Co. to recoup money from customers for five solar-energy projects. The Public Service Commission in 2017 approved a settlement agreement that set Tampa Electric’s base electric rates until 2022. Part of that agreement allowed the utility to return to the commission to seek approval to recover money for solar projects. The proposed projects total 260.3 megawatts, with a cost of $46 million, according to the utility’s filing with the commission. (Thursday, the site-plan meeting and Tampa Electric hearing will follow an earlier Public Service Commission regular meeting and an internal-affairs meeting, Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Sumter, Baker, Seminole and Pasco counties. (Thursday, 10 a.m., The Savannah Center, 1545 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages. Also, 1 p.m., Baker County Library, 14 West McIver Ave., Macclenny. 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.)

TRANSIT GRANTS OUTLINED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a workshop about the 2019-2020 federal transit grant application process. (Thursday, 10 a.m., FDOT Jacksonville Urban Training Center, 2198 Edison Ave., Jacksonville.)

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

CITRUS FORECAST ISSUED: The U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its first monthly forecast for Florida’s 2018-2019 citrus growing season. (Thursday, noon.)

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

SCHOOL SAFETY COMMISSION MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created by the state after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Parkland school, will meet in Broward County. The commission is expected to discuss proposed findings and recommendations on a series of issues. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sunrise-Sawgrass, 13400 West Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise.)

CITRUS RESEARCH EYED: The Florida Department of Citrus Scientific Research Advisory Committee will discuss research plans for the current fiscal year. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

GADSDEN COUNTY ROAD PROJECT AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing about a project that would extend Quincy Loop South from the Pat Thomas Parkway to U.S. 90. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., University of Florida IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research Road, Quincy.)

LANDRIEU SPEAKS AT TIGER BAY: Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will speak during a 40th anniversary event of the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club. (Thursday, 6 p.m., University of South Florida St. Petersburg, University Student Center, 200 Sixth Ave. South, St. Petersburg.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROAD WIDENING DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting in Collier County about plans to widen State Road 29, from State Road 82 to the Hendry County line. (Thursday, 6 p.m., UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, 2685 State Road 29 North, Immokalee.)

BUCHANAN SPEAKS TO SARASOTA GOP: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is slated to speak during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Sarasota County. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Carlisle Inn, 3727 Bahia Vista South, Sarasota.)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2018

BOARD OF MEDICINE MEETS: The Florida Board of Medicine will meet in Palm Beach County after holding a series of committee meetings Thursday. (Friday, 8 a.m., West Palm Beach Marriott, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

REFUGEE SERVICES AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold a meeting to discuss the delivery of refugee services in Miami-Dade County. (Friday, 10 a.m., Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus, Building 8, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Miami.)

PASSIDOMO DISCUSSES WATER WOES: State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, will discuss water problems such as red tide and toxic algae during a meeting of the Women’s Republican Club of Naples Federated. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., Tiburon Golf & Country Club, 2620 Tiburon Dr., Naples.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Citrus and Orange counties. (Friday, 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.)

GALVANO, GAETZ AT PINELLAS GOP DINNER: Incoming state Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., are slated to speak at the Republican Party of Pinellas County’s Reagan Day Dinner. (Friday, 6 p.m., St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political candidates and committees face a Friday deadline to file reports showing finance activity through Oct. 5.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

STATE AGENCIES HELP DISTRIBUTE FOOD: The Florida Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Financial Services, Farm Share and other agencies and organizations will take part in an event to distribute free food to residents of Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Christ Church Anglican, 3398 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville.)

STATE ARCHIVES FEATURED: The State Archives will host an open house as part of American Archives Month. The state has announced a campaign for the month titled, “Focus on Florida: Photography in the Sunshine State.” (Saturday, 9 a.m., State Archives reference room, R.A. Gray Building, second floor, 500 South Bronough St., Tallahassee.)

CANCIO AT BREAKFAST EVENT: Republican Marili Cancio, who is seeking to unseat Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, in Miami-Dade County’s Senate District 40 is slated to appear at a breakfast event hosted by GOP State Committeewoman Liliana Ros. (Saturday, 9:45 a.m., Renaissance Ballrooms, 5910 S.W. Eighth St., Miami.)

GILLUM TO CAMPAIGN IN THE VILLAGES: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is expected to appear at a meeting of The Villages Democratic Club. (Saturday, 1 p.m., The Savannah Center, 1575 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages.)

GOOD, BABIS AT DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S EVENT: State Rep. Margaret Good, who is running for re-election in House District 72, and Oliva Babis, who is running for an open seat in Senate District 23, are expected to appear at a fundraiser for the Democratic Women’s Club of Sarasota County. (Saturday, 1 p.m., Phillipi Landings, 1921 Monte Carlo Dr., Sarasota.)

CRIST HOSTS BLOCK PARTY: U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., will host a community block party and barbecue in Pinellas County. (Saturday, 2 p.m., Dell Holmes Park, 2741 22nd St. South, St. Petersburg.)