Moody To Succeed Bondi As Florida Attorney General
November 7, 2018
Former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody will replace her friend, term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi, as the state’s next top lawyer.
Moody on Tuesday defeated state Rep. Sean Shaw, a Tampa Democrat whose father was the first black chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, in the contest for attorney general.
She called the outcome “an honor” while standing Tuesday night with her family and Bondi before supporters at the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel in Tampa.
“The preparation for this role really began a long time ago, beginning with my father, a judge who taught me that the strength and resilience of our society hinges on a fair judicial system,” the Republican said. “Not only a fair judicial system, but one that is perceived as fair. And I will work towards that end every day as the attorney general.”
Moody, 43, outspent Shaw $8.8 million to $4.1 million through their campaign accounts and affiliated political committees.
Despite the race garnering the most attention among the three Cabinet-level positions, voters got little chance to hear Moody and Shaw debate their differences. They held a single debate, which was only available to cable viewers in Tampa and Orlando.
Moody campaigned on a platform to build on Bondi’s work, which means expanding the state’s battle against the opioid epidemic and continuing a fight against the federal Affordable Care Act.
It remains to be seen how the Moody-led office will defend a state gun law enacted after the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.
Moody agrees with parts of the new law but has said she wouldn’t have backed it because of a provision that raised the minimum age to buy rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21. The National Rifle Association has filed a federal lawsuit challenging that provision, with Bondi’s office defending the law.
Shaw fully supported the law and said he wanted to work with the Legislature on further “common sense gun-reform.”
As she did in her Republican primary, Moody stressed her prosecutorial experience in the race.
She also has called for keeping crime labs updated with the latest technological advances and opposed Amendment 4 — which called for automatic restoration of voting rights for most felons who have served their sentences. Voters approved Amendment 4 on Tuesday night.
Shaw, 40, campaigned on a pledge to aggressively take on fraud in Florida, as well as policies of the Republican-led Legislature and even President Donald Trump.
A former state insurance consumer advocate, Shaw backed the Affordable Care Act, which is being challenged legally by Bondi and Republican leaders of other states. He also supports abortion rights and said he would push lawmakers to carry out constitutional amendments on land preservation and medical marijuana as voters intended.
Shaw told supporters Tuesday night “we came so close,” but he said Democrats will have to review how they engaged with voters, particularly about Trump.
“Something is weird, and we have to figure that out,” Shaw said. “The voters aren’t wrong. You’re wrong in talking to them, or we didn’t do a good enough job convincing. Democrats around Florida, we’re going to figure this out.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Underhill Returning To Escambia Commission; Robinson Wins Pensacola Mayor
November 7, 2018
Incumbent Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill was reelected to his position Tuesday with 56.31 percent of the vote to 43.69 percent for Democrat Scott Trotter.
Current Escambia Commissioner Grover Robinson won his bid to be Pensacola’s mayor with 55.78 percent to 44.22 percent for Brian Spencer.
Republican Patronis Wins Full Term As Florida CFO
November 7, 2018
After being appointed as state chief financial officer last year by Gov. Rick Scott, Republican Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday won a four-year term in the Cabinet post.
Patronis, whose focus during the final weeks of the campaign was diverted to his hometown of Panama City after Hurricane Michael hit, defeated former state Sen. Jeremy Ring, a Broward County Democrat.
The contest was noted for acrimony between Patronis and Ring, who never met on stage to debate. Instead, the candidates drew more attention as they sniped over Ring’s resume at the internet company Yahoo!, Patronis’ crash of a state-issued car while driving to a meeting with a political consultant and Patronis’ ties to Scott.
Ring congratulated Patronis in a phone call late Tuesday, with Patronis noting that Ring “wished me well.”
Patronis, 46, is part of a family that operates the half-century-old Captain Anderson’s Restaurant in Panama City, where he held a campaign watch party on Tuesday.
Panama City sustained major damage in Hurricane Michael, which made landfall Oct. 10 in nearby Mexico Beach. Patronis was clearly shaken by the storm and its damage to such things as health-care facilities.
“The way the storm hit, we’re going to have approximately 10 hospitals that are going to have to be evacuated,” Patronis said the day after the hurricane. “Gulf Coast (Regional) Medical Center where my kids were born, Bay Medical Center where I was born, they’re empty, because they can’t support their mission.”.
Patronis outspent Ring $6.8 million to $1.6 million through their campaign accounts and affiliated political committees.
An early supporter of Scott’s first gubernatorial run in 2010, Patronis served eight years in the Florida House and was chairman of the House Economic Affairs Committee. Scott appointed Patronis to the Florida Public Service Commission before choosing him to succeed Jeff Atwater as CFO in 2017 after Atwater resigned to take a job at Florida Atlantic University.
In campaign ads, Patronis highlighted support during this year’s legislative session for a new workers’ compensation insurance law designed to assist first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Patronis said he’d like to work with lawmakers to bring down the state corporate income-tax rate as a response to a federal tax package approved in December.
Ring, 48, spent five years with Yahoo!, coming aboard in 1996 as the company’s first sales chief, four years after he graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in advertising.
Patronis’ political committee Treasure Florida accused Ring in an ad of falsely claiming to be a founder of Yahoo!, but the sources for the claim were three media reports in which the writers affixed the “founder” label.
Ring served in the state Senate from 2006 to 2016, where he focused on issues involving venture capital, insurance and pensions. Widely viewed as a moderate Democrat, he pushed to create the State Office of Technology and helped establish the Florida Growth Fund through a bill that encouraged the State Board of Administration to invest a portion of state retirement money in “high-growth” homegrown tech companies.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Voters Chose Appointed School Superintendent
November 7, 2018
The next school superintendent in Escambia County will be appointed by the school board, not elected by the voters.
Escambia County voters narrowly approved a referendum Tuesday in favor of an appointed superintendent 50.36 percent to 49.64 percent according to complete, but unofficial, totals from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
This was the sixth time voters had considered the idea of an appointed superintendent in the county. Current Superintendent Malcolm Thomas will serve the remainder of his term ending in 2020.
Not So Fast: Scott-Nelson Senate Race Could Require Recount
November 7, 2018
After Gov. Rick Scott declared victory late Tuesday in his race for a U.S. Senate seat, numbers posted Wednesday morning on the Florida Division of Elections website indicate a recount could be needed.
The updated numbers showed Scott with 4,074,001 votes, or 50.21 percent, while Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson had 4,039,498 votes, or 49.79 percent. Under state law, a recount is triggered when the margin is 0.5 percent or less.
Such a recount would involve running ballots through tabulating machines to determine the accuracy of the vote totals, according to state law
As of midnight, Scott led by about 56,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast, or a margin of 50.35 percent to 49.65 percent.
Nelson did not make a public statement. Shortly before midnight, Scott, flanked by his family, addressed supporters in Naples.He acknowledged the combative nature of the race, in which Scott and his supporters repeatedly characterized Nelson, 76, as verging on senility.
Campaigns are “divisive” and “tough,” Scott said.
“And they’re really actually way too nasty,” he said. “But you know what? We’ve done this for over 200 years, and after these campaigns, we come together.”
by The News Service of Florida
No Serious Injuries In Highway 29 Morning Wreck
November 6, 2018
There were no serious injuries in a morning commute crash on Highway 29 at Roberts Road in Cantonment. Minor passengers in the crash were reportedly properly restrained in safety seats. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Libbie Johnson Named UF/IFAS Extension Professional Of The Year
November 6, 2018
Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County, has named the Extension Professional of the Year. The award was presented at the Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.
The Extension Professional of the Year Award recognizes an Extension Agent who has contributed to the Farm Bureau mission and vision, assisted with crop and/or animal production, completed notable work toward improving Florida agriculture and provided superior customer serving when working with county Farm Bureaus statewide.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Highway 29 Crash Claims One Life
November 6, 2018
A single vehicle accident on Highway 29 in Cantonment claimed the life of a Pensacola man Monday night.
Patrick Owen Henry, 58, was pronounced deceased following the 6 p.m. crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Henry was traveling south on Highway 29 near Success Drive when his 2013 Dodge Challenger left the roadway and entered the grassy shoulder. The vehicle traveled about 60 feet on the shoulder before colliding with a cluster of small bushes and a large pine tree.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Election Day Tips For Escambia Voters
November 6, 2018
Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford is offering Escambia County voters some easy tips for Election Day:
- For reliable election information, use trusted sources. Check EscambiaVotes.com, our official Twitter and Facebook pages, or call (850) 595-3900 for information or if you have questions.
- If you are unsure of your registration status, check EscambiaVotes.com, e-mail us at soe@escambiavotes.com, or call (850) 595-3900.
- Registration books closed to new registrants on October 11.
- Confirm the location of your polling place. It is listed on your sample ballot, voter information card, online at EscambiaVotes.com, or call (850) 595-3900.
- Photo and signature ID is required for all voters – if you do not present an approved form of ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.
- The ballot is long and includes 12 constitutional amendments. Take time to review your sample ballot to familiarize yourself with all the contests and bring it with you to the polls. A sample ballot was mailed to voters and can be accessed online at EscambiaVotes.com.
- Early voting ended Saturday, November 3. If you have not yet voted or did not request a vote-by-mail ballot by October 31, you must go to your designated precinct on Election Day.
- Busiest times at the polls tend to be 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
- Remember to make only one selection per contest on your ballot.
- You may not return your completed vote-by-mail ballot to your precinct on Election Day – it must be returned to the Elections Office by 7 p.m.
- If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot but chose not to return it and wish to vote at your polling place instead, bring your unvoted ballot package with you so it can be cancelled.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely For Election Day
November 6, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Patchy dense fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Veterans Day: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.