Advances:  Week of September 23, 2018

 

By NSF Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- One event will be at an upscale hotel at Disney World. The other will be at the classic Biltmore in Coral Gables.

But while they will be separated by more than 200 miles, Republican and Democratic gatherings on the same night will give a flavor of the high stakes involved as the parties prepare for the Nov. 6 general election.

Republican leaders and activists from across the state will meet Sept. 29 at Disney for a “Victory Dinner” that will include gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, Cabinet candidates and Gov. Rick Scott, who is seeking to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

The GOP has dominated Florida politics for the past two decades and has enjoyed total control of the governor’s office and the three Cabinet seats since the 2010 elections. The one statewide office that has eluded them is Nelson’s Senate seat. To add to the stakes, the winner of the Scott-Nelson duel could help determine control of the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile, also on Sept. 29, the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party will hold its “Blue Gala” dinner at the Biltmore.

Among the speakers will be gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum, who is trying to become the first Democrat elected governor in Florida since Lawton Chiles in 1994. For a little more star appeal, the Miami-Dade dinner also will include a keynote speech by Julian Castro, who served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

TADDEO HOSTS JOB FAIR: State Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava will host a job fair. (Monday, 9 a.m., Palmetto Golf Course, 9300 S.W. 152nd St., Miami.)

CITRUS GRANT APPLICATIONS DISCUSSED: The state Division of Emergency Management will hold a workshop about the process for citrus growers to apply for federal aid stemming from damage sustained by the industry in Hurricane Irma. (Monday, 9 a.m. USDA Horticultural Lab, 2001 South Rock Rd., Fort Pierce.)

SHAW, GROUPS MAKE CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT: State Rep. Sean Shaw, a Tampa Democrat running for attorney general, the group Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and members of the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will hold a news conference to make an announcement. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 East Twiggs St., Tampa.)

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold one in a series of meetings across the state about infant and early-childhood mental health. (Monday, 1 p.m., Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, 1002 East Palm Ave., Tampa.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Hendry County. (Monday, 2 p.m., Barron Library, 461 North Main St., LaBelle.)

LGBTQ GROUPS SUPPORT GILLUM: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is slated to appear at a rally in Miami-Dade County with the Human Rights Campaign, SAVE and Equality Florida. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., SAVE headquarters, 1951 N.W. Seventh Ave., Miami.)

JUDGE HEARS BID TO GET ON BALLOT: Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers will hold a hearing in a lawsuit filed by Bruce Nathan, a physical therapist from Stuart who finished seventh out of eight candidates in last month’s Republican gubernatorial primary and is now trying to run as an independent. Nathan has also requested a temporary injunction to suspend the Nov. 6 general election for governor until his qualification is clarified. Nathan contends he had been registered with no political affiliation but was a Republican when he filed for the statewide campaign, paying the higher qualifying fee to run in the primary. As part of his argument to be placed on the November ballot, Nathan said state law declares the “candidate receiving the highest number cast in each contest in the primary election shall be declared nominated for such office.” However, he said state law is “open to interpretation” for its “absence of any statement about the candidates that did not receive the highest votes.” (Monday, 3 p.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

FITZENHAGEN RAISES MONEY FOR RE-ELECTION BID: A fundraising reception is slated for state Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, a Fort Myers Republican running in Lee County’s House District 78. Democrat Parisima Taeb is challenging Fitzenhagen in the Nov. 6 election. (Monday, 5 p.m., Society, 13499 Bell Tower Dr., E-518, Fort Myers.)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Lee, Polk, Clay and Lake counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Southwest Florida Military Museum and Library, 4820 Leonard St., Cape Coral. Also, 1 p.m., Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland. Also, 2:30 p.m., Clay County Main Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island. Also, 4 p.m., American Legion Post 347, 699 West Lady Lake Blvd., Lady Lake.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION SOUGHT: The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host meetings in Pasco and Escambia counties that are part of an effort to better coordinate behavioral-health services. The meetings are an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. Also, 2 p.m., Department of Children and Families, 33 Brent Lane, Pensacola.)

SENIOR HEALTH CARE DISCUSSED: A panel discussion will be held at the University of Miami about senior health care and Medicare Advantage plans. The panel is expected to include representatives of the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami; WellCare Health Plans; the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Florida; and the Miami-Dade Alliance for Aging. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., University of Miami, Donna E. Shalala Student Center, Senate Room, 1330 Miller Dr., Miami.)

WEST FLORIDA PLANNING COUNCIL MEETS: The West Florida Regional Planning Council will meet in Walton County. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., 660 Baldwin Ave., DeFuniak Springs.)

CREDIT SUISSE ECONOMIST SPEAKS TO FLORIDA CLUB: James Sweeney, chief economist for Credit Suisse, is slated to speak to the Economic Club of Florida. (Tuesday, noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD HOLDS MEETINGS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold a workshop that will include discussion of a 2020 business plan. The workshop will be followed by a board meeting and a public hearing on the district’s 2018-2019 budget. (Tuesday, workshop at 1 p.m., board meeting at 3 p.m., hearing at 5:01 p.m., district Tampa office, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

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.)

CITIZENS INSURANCE COMMITTEES MEET: The Audit Committee and the Finance and Investment Committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors will meet in advance of a full board meeting Wednesday. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD HOLDS HEARING: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will hold a committee meeting, a workshop and a public hearing on the proposed 2018-2019 budget and millage rate. (Committee starts at 3 p.m., followed by workshop, with public hearing at 5:05 p.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD TAKES UP BUDGET: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will hold a public hearing and is expected to approve a 2018-2019 budget and millage rate. (Tuesday, 5:05 p.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD APPROVES BUDGET: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold a public hearing and is expected to approve a 2018-2019 budget and millage rates. (Tuesday, 5:15 p.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

ROMMEL RAISES MONEY IN NAPLES: State Rep. Bob Rommel, R-Naples, is slated to raise money for his re-election campaign in Collier County’s House District 106. Democrat Sara McFadden is challenging Rommel in the Nov. 6 election. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Edgewater Beach Hotel, 1901 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples.)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

COMMISSION GETS UPDATE ON RED TIDE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start a two-day meeting and will receive staff presentations about red tide, proposed budget requests for next year and boating access and enforcement. With coastal areas of Southwest Florida grappling with a major red-tide outbreak, Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to the commission urging creation of a Florida Center for Red Tide Research and reestablishment of the Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force. He also called for seeking a funding increase next year from the Legislature for red-tide research. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. Florida Public Safety Institute Conference Center, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.),

APPEALS COURT HEARS FOOTBALL PRAYER CASE: The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a dispute about whether a Tampa Christian school should have been allowed to offer a prayer over a stadium loudspeaker before a state high-school football championship game. Cambridge Christian School filed a lawsuit against the Florida High School Athletic Association and appealed after a U.S. district judge upheld a decision by the association that blocked the offering of a prayer over the loudspeaker before a championship game in 2015 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The school argues that the association, which governs high-school sports in Florida, violated First Amendment rights by barring the prayer. But U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell, in ruling against the school last year, wrote that the association had procedures that included allowing a designated public-address announcer to use the loudspeaker for approved announcements. Honeywell wrote that opening the loudspeaker for a prayer would be “perceived as state endorsement of Cambridge Christian's religious message.” The case focuses on a 2015 championship game between Cambridge Christian and Jacksonville's University Christian School. The teams gathered a mid-field for a pregame prayer, though it was not broadcast over the loudspeaker. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., United States Courthouse, 300 North Hogan St., Jacksonville.)

CITIZENS INSURANCE ISSUES ON TABLE: The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors will meet in Central Florida. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

MASSAGE THERAPY ISSUES ADDRESSED: The Florida Board of Massage Therapy will hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 2597709961)

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

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold a meeting in Volusia County about improvements in mental-health treatment services. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Volusia County Health Department, 1845 Holsonback Dr., Daytona Beach.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Alachua, Osceola, Union and Hillsborough counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Alachua city offices, 15100 N.W. 142nd Terrace, Alachua. Also, 10 a.m., West Osceola Library, 305 Campus St., Kissimmee. Also, 1 p.m., Union County Commission board room, 15 N.E. First St., Lake Butler. Also, 1 p.m., Old Town Hall, 1002 Cherry Hills Dr., Sun City Center.)

HEALTH CARE DATA AT ISSUE: The State Consumer Health Information and Policy Advisory Council, which works on issues related to public reporting of health care data, will meet in Alachua County. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Well Florida Council, 1785 N.W. 80th Blvd., Gainesville.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION SOUGHT: The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host meetings in Broward and Leon counties that are part of an effort to better coordinate behavioral-health services. The meetings are an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Department of Children and Families, North Broward Regional Service Center, 1400 West Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Also, 1 p.m., Leon Human Services Center, 1000 West Tharpe St., Tallahassee.)

CHAMBER STARTS ‘FUTURE OF FLORIDA’ EVENT: The Florida Chamber Foundation will begin its “2018 Future of Florida Forum” in Orlando. Speakers on Wednesday are expected to include Gov. Rick Scott, state Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, 1 Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando.)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

CHAMBER CONTINUES ‘FUTURE OF FLORIDA’ EVENT: The Florida Chamber Foundation will continue its “2018 Future of Florida Forum.” Speakers on Thursday are expected to include Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis; Matt Caldwell, the Republican candidate for state agriculture commissioner; state Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay; state Rep. Bob Rommel, R-Naples; and Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. (Thursday, general session starts at 8 a.m., Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, 1 Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando.)

FWC CONSIDERS SHRIMP AND TRAP RULES: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue a two-day meeting and take up issues such as rules for invasive fish and wildlife and a rule dealing with trap fisheries --- stone crab, blue crab, and spiny lobster. Also, it will consider a rule that would exclude live food shrimp from seafood icing requirements. Currently, food shrimp is required to be iced to maintain proper safety. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m. Florida Public Safety Institute Conference Center, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.)

CITRUS GRANT APPLICATIONS DISCUSSED: The state Division of Emergency Management will hold a workshop about the process for citrus growers to apply for federal aid stemming from damage sustained by the industry in Hurricane Irma. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Citrus Research and Education Center, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred. Also, 2 p.m., Bert Harris Agricultural Center, 4509 George Blvd., Sebring.)

UWF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of West Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m. Central time, UWF Conference Center, 11000 University Parkway, Building 22, Pensacola.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION SOUGHT: The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host meetings in St. Lucie and Bay counties that are part of an effort to better coordinate behavioral-health services. The meetings are an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. (Thursday, 10 a.m., St. Lucie County Emergency Operations Center, 15305 West Midway Road, Fort Pierce. Also, 2 p.m., Bay County Public Library, 898 West 11th St., Panama City.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Sumter, Hillsborough, Citrus and Highlands counties. (Thursday, 10 a.m., The Villages, Rohan Recreation Center, 850 Kristine Way, Wildwood. Also, 1 p.m., New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa. Also, 1:30 p.m., Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, 106 West Main St., Inverness. Also, 2 p.m., Highlands County Government Center, 600 South Commerce Ave., Sebring.)

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

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold a meeting in Duval County about improvements in mental-health treatment services. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Florida Department of Children and Families, 5920 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville.)

GULF CONSORTIUM BOARD MEETS: The Gulf Consortium Board of Directors, which works on issues related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda.)

MEDICAID DRUGS AT ISSUE: The Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board will meet in Hillsborough County. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore/Airport, 700 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.)

MEDICAID DISENROLLMENT DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about a proposed rule change clarifying “good cause” reasons for Medicaid beneficiaries to request changes in managed-care plans. (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building 3, Tallahassee.)

PATRONIS RAISES MONEY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: Republican Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is slated to raise campaign money during a reception in Boca Raton. Patronis faces a challenge in November from Democrat Jeremy Ring, a former state senator. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Shiner Law Group, 951 Yamato Road, Suite 210, Boca Raton.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD APPROVES BUDGET: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold a public hearing and is expected to approve a 2018-2019 budget and millage rate. (Thursday, 5:05 p.m. Central time, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 West Highway 98, Panama City.)

MOODY RAISES MONEY IN WEST PALM BEACH: A fundraising reception is scheduled in Palm Beach County for Ashley Moody, the Republican candidate for attorney general. Moody, a former Hillsborough County circuit judge, faces state Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, in the November election to replace term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Café Sapori, 205 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

PANHANDLE ROAD PROJECT DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing concerning a State Road 79 project from Interstate 10 to the Florida-Alabama state line in Holmes County. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Northside Assembly of God Church, 1009 Rangeline St., Bonifay.)

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

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

MEDICAID PREFERRED DRUGS AT ISSUE: The Medicaid Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics Committee will meet to discuss recommendations for drugs to be included on the Medicaid preferred-drug list. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore/Airport, 700 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.)

REPUBLICANS GATHER AT DISNEY: The Republican Party of Florida will hold a two-day quarterly meeting that will be capped Saturday night with a “Victory Dinner.” (Friday, 9 a.m., Disney’s Contemporary Resort, 4600 North World Dr., Lake Buena Vista.)

CITRUS GRANT APPLICATIONS DISCUSSED: The state Division of Emergency Management will hold a workshop about the process for citrus growers to apply for federal aid stemming from damage sustained by the industry in Hurricane Irma. (Friday, 9 a.m. Dallas Townsend Center, 1085 Pratt Blvd., LaBelle.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION SOUGHT: The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host a meeting in Palm Beach County 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, 9 a.m., Palm Beach State College, 4200 South Congress Ave., PSD-108, Lake Worth.)

OPTOMETRY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Optometry will meet in Osceola County. (Friday, 9 a.m., Embassy Suites, 4955 Kyngs Heath Road, Kissimmee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Dixie, Gilchrist and Volusia counties. (Friday, 10 a.m., Dixie County Public Library, 16328 U.S. 19, Cross City. Also, 1 p.m., Gilchrist County Public Library, 105 N.E. 11th Ave., Trenton. Also, 2:30 p.m., Ormond Beach Library, 30 South Beach St., Ormond Beach.)

UWF PRESIDENT GIVES ‘STATE OF UNIVERSITY’ ADDRESS: University of West Florida President Martha Saunders will deliver the 2018 “State of the University” address. (Friday, 1:30 p.m., UWF Commons Auditorium, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola.)

PILON HOLDS CAMPAIGN EVENT: Former state Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, will hold a campaign event as he runs in Sarasota County’s House District 72. Pilon is seeking to unseat Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, in the Nov. 6 election. (Friday, 5:30 p.m., Extra Innings, 717 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Statewide candidates and political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Sept. 21.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

SERVICE HELD FOR FORMER APPELLATE JUDGE: A memorial service will be held for former 4th District Court of Appeal Judge George Shahood, who died Sept. 12 at age 80. Gov. Lawton Chiles appointed Shahood to the appellate court, where he served from 1995 to 2009. Previously, Shahood served as a county and circuit judge in Broward County. (Saturday, 11 a.m., St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 623 S.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart.)

GOP HOLDS ‘VICTORY’ DINNER: The Republican Party of Florida will hold a “Victory Dinner” that will include gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis and U.S. Senate candidate Rick Scott. Also expected to appear are state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis; Ashley Moody, who is running for attorney general; and Matt Caldwell, who is running for agriculture commissioner. (Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista.)

GILLUM AT MIAMI-DADE DEMOCRATS’ DINNER: Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum will take part in the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s “Blue Gala” dinner. Former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro will give a keynote address. (Saturday, 7 p.m., Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables.)