DeSantis Sworn In As Florida Governor
January 8, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis was formally sworn into office Tuesday during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol. Here is his inaugural address, as prepared for delivery:
Mr. Chief Justice, Senator and Mrs. Scott, members of the Cabinet and fellow citizens:
I take the helm of the ship of state as a Florida native, a veteran of our nation’s military, conscious of my own deficiencies, mindful of the great trust that has been placed in me and thankful for so many of you who have prayed for me.
Being charged with leading a state with so much promise, all I can promise is the sweat off my brow, a full heart, my best judgment and the courage of my convictions.
I will not be a rudderless vessel in this endeavor; my compass will be the principles reflected in the constitutional oath I have just taken, and for which Americans have given their lives: that our rights are endowed by God, not government; that we the people loan power to government under the Constitution in order to protect our rights; that government’s role is not to run our lives for us but to provide what Lincoln called an “open field and fair chance for one’s industry, enterprise and intelligence.”
These principles endure not because they are partisan — they aren’t; they endure because they are right.
I will also be guided by the love and support of my wife Casey. She will be a terrific First Lady for Florida — she’s my best friend, an accomplished professional, a wonderful mother for our two young kids, Madison and Mason, a pretty darn good campaigner and she really cares about the people of this state.
Casey and I have decided to dispense with the parade that typically takes place after these inaugurations; instead, we will return to the Governor’s mansion to have our little boy Mason baptized with water we brought back from the Sea of Galilee in Israel.
I am also fortunate to be succeeding our new U.S. Senator, Rick Scott, who stood here eight years ago at a time of great economic turmoil and pledged to put people back to work. Today, a million and half more Floridians have jobs and our economy is one of the best in the nation.
Senator, your laser-like focus on improving Florida’s economy has meant so much in the lives of so many in our state. You are leaving a strong foundation from which we here today can build. I wish you and Ann fair winds and following seas in our nation’s capital; I know you will be a champion for Florida in the U.S. Senate.
It now falls to me to build upon the foundation that has been laid, navigate the challenges — economic, environmental, constitutional — that lie ahead, and steer Florida to a stronger, cleaner and safer future.
Florida competes with other states to attract investment, jobs and opportunities for our citizens.
Too many states have sought to match runaway public expenditures with ever-increasing levels of taxation. This creates a vicious cycle that leads productive citizens to flee, repels investment and leaves their people overburdened, with less opportunity to prosper, and badly damages the fiscal health of these states.
Indeed, we in Florida have benefitted from these follies and have wisely chosen sound fiscal policies and maintained a favorable tax climate.
Let’s promote a virtuous cycle whereby low taxes, a reasonable regulatory climate, a sensible legal system and a healthy environment attract jobs, business and investment — particularly in the areas of technology, manufacturing and finance.
An expanding economic base will yield more high-paying jobs for our citizens and is the best way to generate the revenue needed for public priorities like education, protecting our natural resources and infrastructure.
We know what works and what doesn’t — let’s not veer off course.
Our economic potential will be jeopardized if we do not solve the problems afflicting our environment and water resources.
People want to come to Florida because of its natural beauty. Tourism is not only a pillar of our state’s economy, it helps spread the tax burden to non-Floridians, limiting taxes on our citizens. But this could be in jeopardy if we do not solve our pressing environmental problems. As the great philosopher Yogi Berra remarked: if people don’t want to come nobody is going to stop them.
For Florida, the quality of our water and environmental surroundings are foundational to our prosperity as a state — it doesn’t just drive tourism; it affects property values, anchors many local economies and is central to our quality of life. The water is part and parcel of Florida’s DNA. Protecting it is the smart thing to do; it’s also the right thing to do.
I will lead the efforts to save our waterways. We will fight toxic blue-green algae, we will fight discharges from Lake Okeechobee, we will fight red tide, we will fight for our fishermen, we will fight for our beaches, we will fight to restore our Everglades and we will never ever quit, we won’t be cowed and we won’t let the foot draggers stand in our way.
We resolve to leave Florida to God better than we found it.
We also resolve to support education. Florida should place a greater emphasis on vocational and technical training, as there is honor in jobs that require vocational skills and those who work hard in these trades make great contributions to our society and should have our admiration.
Skills-based education should also include training in computer science and technology, as these skills will continue to be in demand for the foreseeable future.
In a large and diverse state, our education system needs to empower parents to choose the best possible school for their children. One size does not fit all. No family should be denied the opportunity for their child to succeed due to insufficient income or to living in the wrong zip code. And this opportunity must extend to every Floridian regardless of race, color or creed.
We must rediscover the value of civics education. Our founding principles are what enables a nation conceived in liberty to long endure; their preservation is why so many Americans have laid down their lives in battles near and far. How can we ensure that government of the people shall not perish from the earth if we fail to provide all of our students with the foundational knowledge needed for properly discharging the duties of citizenship?
One key element of our civic tradition is the distinction between the three branches of government. As a recovering U.S. Congressman, I understand and respect the powers afforded to the Legislative Branch. Our legislators are independently elected and do not work for me; but I hope they will work with me to meet the needs of the people of Florida.
In no area is legislative initiative more needed than in the field of health care. The escalating cost of medical care, prescription drugs and health insurance has wreaked havoc on family budgets, priced many out of the market entirely, and has put significant stress on our state budget. The current system is riddled with perverse incentives, intrudes on the doctor-patient relationship and is mired in bureaucracy and red tape. The people of Florida deserve relief.
I also understand that the role of the judiciary, while important, must be limited. It is a self-evident truth that in our constitutional system, courts lack the authority to legislate, but for far too long Florida has seen judges expand their power beyond proper constitutional bounds and substitute legislative will for dispassionate legal judgment, damaging the constitutional separation of powers, reducing the power of the people and eroding individual liberty.
To my fellow Floridians, I say to you: judicial activism ends, right here and right now. I will only appoint judges who understand the proper role of the courts is to apply the law and Constitution as written, not to legislate from the bench. The Constitution, not the judiciary, is supreme.
One month before the election, a ferocious storm tore through parts of Northwest Florida. Hurricane Michael brought widespread destruction, but it did not destroy the resilience and resolve of the people of Northwest Florida. To the communities impacted, we will stand with you to rebuild your communities stronger than before.
To our veterans and the men and women in our armed forces, Florida values not only your service in uniform, but also the contributions you make to our state.
To our men and women in law enforcement, I will stand with you to protect our communities. You put your life on the line in defense of others; you deserve support, not condemnation.
To our local and federal law enforcement partners, the state of Florida will work with you to keep our people safe, particularly the safety of our schools. We must never turn a blind eye to those who represent a danger to our schools and community; we cannot sacrifice the safety of our people at the altar of social experimentation.
We will stand for the rule of law. We won’t allow sanctuary cities. And we will stop incentivizing illegal immigration, which is unfair to our legal immigrants, promotes lawlessness and reduces wages for our blue-collar workers.
We also cannot allow Florida’s reputation to be further tarnished by the repeated failure of a small number of counties to conduct elections in a transparent, lawful manner. A generation of botched elections is enough.
Alexander Hamilton wrote, “Energy in the executive is the leading character in the definition of good government.” I agree.
So let there be no misunderstanding: as governor, I will lead with purpose and conviction on behalf of the people of Florida.
— If the Legislature engages in wasteful spending, I will veto it.
— If a local official is neglectful of required duties, I will remove the official.
— If our environment is threatened, I will move to protect it.
Leadership requires decisive action. After all, “If the trumpet sounds an uncertain note, who shall prepare for battle?”
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked to be the first to sign the new Constitution. It was a tumultuous convention; it seemed like a miracle that it had succeeded.
Franklin pointed to the chair at the front of the chamber from which General George Washington had presided over the convention. The chair featured a sun that sat low on the horizon.
Franklin remarked, “I have often … in the course of the session … looked at the sun behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun.”
If we meet the challenges that lie before us; if we overcome the tribalism that has dominated our politics; if we set the interests of hard-working taxpayers as our true north, then I have no doubt that the state of Florida will cruise to bright new horizons.
We will see that rising sun.
So Sail on, O’ Ship of State, For the future of Florida is strong and great.
God bless you, and may God bless the great state of Florida. Thank you.
Developers Offer $18 Million For OLF-8 Property Not Being Purchased By Navy Federal
January 8, 2019
Developers are making an $18 million cash offer for over 500 acres of Navy Outlying Field 8 (OLF -8) not being purchased by Navy Federal.
Hemmer Consulting of Pensacola, 68 Ventures of Spanish Fort, AL, and their affiliated companies have offered $18 million for approximately 530 acres. Navy Federal has offered to purchase the other 100 acres of OLF-8 for $4.2 million once a land swap deal with the U.S. Navy is completed.
Hemmer Consulting’s letter of intent states the companies intend to develop a “mixed-use site that will be mutually agreed upon by both parties”.
The county would be legally obligated to declare the acreage surplus and sell to the highest bidder, according to an email from County Attorney Alison Rogers to county commissioners. She said she is hopeful that the county’s acquisition of OLF-8 will be completed by the end of January.
OLF-8 is on Nine Mile Road, directly west of the current Navy Federal campus.
Century Council Cancels Unadvertised Meeting; Fails To Pick Leader; Questions Job Posting
January 8, 2019
The Century Town Council called off a meeting Monday night that was not advertised, raised questions about how an open position was advertised, and deadlocked on choosing a council president for the current year.
Unadvertised Meeting
During their last meeting of December, the council agreed with a suggestion by council member Luis Gomez to meet a half-hour before regular 7 p.m. council meetings in order to discuss their bill list in more detail.
When 6:30 rolled around Monday night, three council members were at the council table as president Ann Brooks announced there would be no early meeting because it was not advertised. Gomez did not attend Monday night’s meetings, and the 7 p.m. regular meeting continued as usual.
Florida’s Sunshine Law requires proper notice of public meetings.
Council President
When it came time Monday night to pick a council president for 2019, Sandra McMurray Jackson nominated Ben Boutwell and Boutwell nominated current president Ann Brooks. Jackson and James Smith voted for Boutwell, while Boutwell and Brooks voted for Brooks, resulting in a tie. Council member Gomez was absent from the meeting.
“I think you’ve done a wonderful job,” Boutwell said as he renounced his nomination for council president and ceded the nomination to Brooks.
The four council members then voted on the remaining nomination for Brooks, but that vote ended in a 2-2 tie with Jackson and Smith voting no.
Brooks then announced that she would continue as council president until there were five council members at a future meeting to vote and break the tie.
Job Posting
Mayor Henry Hawkins announced that employment interviews would be held January 10 and 11 for an open billing clerk position, and he faced questions about the methods used, and not used, to advertise the open position.
The position with a job description was posted on the Employ Florida Marketplace website, and a small display ad was published in the Tri-City Ledger weekly newspaper.
The newspaper ad stated “Public Notice Town of Century Job Posting” with instruction to apply at Employ Florida or pick up an application at Century Town Hall. The newspaper ad did not include the position title, job description, closing date or any other information.
The ad was never provided to NorthEscambia.com for publication, despite a council vote several years ago to submit all public notices to NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com publishes those notices as public service at no cost to the Town of Century.
Pictured top: Century council members (L-R) Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurray Jackson and Ben Boutwell as an unadvertised early meeting is canceled Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECSO Names ‘Century Six’ Wanted Fugitives
January 8, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Unit has named their first “Century Six” — a new fugitive listing focusing on those that live in the North Escambia area.
The ECSO hopes the increased exposure will result in the arrest of the fugitives thanks to citizen tips.
The Sheriff’s Office is modeling the listing after their “Dirty Dozen” countywide listing. Individuals are generally only removed from the list if the fugitive is arrested, dies, or if the charges are dropped. They are then replaced by a new fugitive chosen by the ECSO’s Warrants Unit.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts on any of the Century Six is asked to contact the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or to remain anonymous call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Click image to enlarge.
Three Members Sworn In For New Terms On Century Town Council
January 8, 2019
Three members were sworn in to new terms on the Century Town Council Monday night.
Ben Boutwell returned to Council Seat 3 after defeating Amanuel Onell Dubose by a 3-2 margin during the general election.
Political newcomer James Smith won the seat currently held by longtime council member Gary Riley, who did not see reelection. In November, Smith defeated Mary Hudson Bourgeois for Council Seat 4.
Incumbent Sandra McMurray Jackson returned to Council Seat 5 without opposition.
Century council member serve four year terms.
Pictured: Century Town Clerk Kim Godwin swears in council members James Smith (top), Ben Boutwell (first below) and Sandra McMurray Jackson (bottom) Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Facing Federal Child Pornography Charges
January 8, 2019
An Escambia County man is facing federal child pornography charges.
Michael Lee Depine, 62 is charged with production of child pornography, receipt and possession of child pornography and enticement of a minor for sexual activity for alleged offenses occurring in Escambia County.
Additional details have not yet been released by federal authorities.
He was taken into custody Friday and is being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
Lawmakers Eye ‘Long, Long Recovery’ From Hurricane Michael
January 8, 2019
Hurricane Michael, which pummeled 10 Panhandle counties and spurred evacuation orders for 375,000 Floridians in October, left nearly seven times the debris of Hurricane Irma, which barreled across 45 counties in 2017.
And in the three months since Michael came ashore at Mexico Beach, debris continues to be picked up, more than 102,000 people have registered for assistance and 16 counties have qualified for federal aid.
“This is a massive, massive storm that we must deal with,” Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, said Monday as lawmakers assessed the storm to determine what the state can do and how much of a request will be made to the federal government.
“We must encourage the administration to come up with a package that we can submit to Congress that adequately deals with the problems that the poorest part of the state, the most underserved part of the state is going to be dealing with,” Broxson said, referring to the heavily rural and low-income areas hit by Michael. “And they’re going to be dealing with it for generations and generations.”
Cotton farmers essentially lost most of the season’s crop, which was ready for harvesting when it was swept away by the 155 mph winds from the high Category 4 storm. Aquaculture along the Gulf Coast, including oyster farming, suffered 80 percent to 100 percent losses from Michael.
With 2.8 million acres of forest land damaged, timber farmers sustained more than $1.3 billion of the overall $1.49 billion in estimated agricultural damages that have been reported from the Oct. 10 storm.
Rex Lumber owner Caroline Dauzat told a Senate panel on Monday the company, which employs about 350 people, remains committed to the region. But the loss of timber, which in some cases could take decades to regrow, is adding costs to the Bristol-based company as wood must come from farther away to be made into two-by-fours and two-by-sixes.
“Our employees are worried about the future of the mills, particularly in Bristol,” Dauzat told members of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “They recognize that without timber we can’t make lumber.”
She also advised lawmakers of the need to fund wildfire prevention because of the “staggering” amount of timber on the ground.
“This is going to be a long, long recovery,” said Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who represents large parts of the region hit by Michael.
Sen. George Gainer, a Panama City Republican who owns car dealerships across Northwest Florida, described a trip through the parts of the region currently as “like riding through a landfill.” Five of Gainer’s dealerships were severely damaged by the storm.
Last month, a report reviewed by the Senate Appropriations Committee showed Florida’s budget will face increased pressure from the impact of the hurricane, with the tab expected to exceed the costs from Irma.
State Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier told members of the Banking and Insurance Committee the industry appears to have withstood the regionally “concentrated” storm’s impact, as his agency closely watches data from individual insurers.
Michael has resulted in 136,873 claims, mostly from personal residential property, with projected insured losses at nearly $4.9 billion, with the latest numbers posted Monday.
The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, a reinsurance program commonly known as the “Cat Fund,” has reimbursed 12 carriers $220 million, with that number expected to grow to $650 million, said Cat Fund Chief Operating Officer Anne Bert.
By comparison, Irma, which has drawn more than 1 million claims with estimated losses topping $11 billion, has required $1.57 billion in reimbursements to 85 companies from the Cat Fund.
Senate Agriculture Chairman Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said the job of the committees is to determine what the long-range impacts could be to the state.
“Before we come to any conclusions, before we come to any certainties about what we should or shouldn’t be doing, let’s make sure we know what we should know about each of these sectors,” said Albritton, who, as a House member, was part of an effort in 2018 to respond to Hurricane Irma.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Florida’s New First Lady Wants To Listen, ‘Move The Ball Forward’
January 8, 2019
Saying she “wants to take a page out of Oprah’s playbook,” Florida’s next first lady, Casey DeSantis, charmed an audience of mostly Republican women Monday, the day before her husband, Ron, will be sworn in as governor of the third-largest state in the nation.
“I really look forward to listening,” Casey DeSantis, 38, told reporters after addressing an early-morning crowd in the kickoff of festivities surrounding Tuesday’s inauguration.
The mother of two young children regaled the crowd with tales of her travels throughout the state last year while campaigning for her husband.
Riding around on an electric moped in Daytona Beach during Bike Week — and winding up surrounded by Harleys — was just one of the ways she helped her husband get elected.
“I get it. I know how hard it takes. I know there’s a lot that goes into making it happen,” Casey DeSantis, a former morning-television host, said.
Speaking to reporters after the event, titled “Women Transforming Florida: A Tribute Breakfast,” at Goodwood Museum, DeSantis said she hasn’t limited her agenda as first lady to a single issue.
“I’d like to pick more than one,” she said. “I want to take a page out of Oprah’s playbook. She said what makes the best interview are people who listen. So, what I want to do is approach this with humility and say that I might not know all the answers out of the gate. I want to listen to what the people say … and then I want to be able to help in any way that I can to really move the ball forward for the people of this state.”
Much of the morning’s program was devoted to praising women, including Republican voters who helped boost Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nuñez to victory in the 2018 elections.
“I’m inspired to pave the way and encourage young girls and women of all ages in all walks of life to follow their dreams. It’s taken a lot of work. It’s taken a lot of sacrifice,” Nuñez, 46, said. “But most importantly, it’s taken a lot of faith.”
Nuñez, a former legislator from Miami, will become the state’s highest-ranking Hispanic woman in history after taking office Tuesday.
“She is a rock star,” Casey DeSantis said.
The new governor, his wife and their two young children — 2-year-old Madison and 10-month-old Mason — intend to move into the governor’s mansion, marking the first time in a half-century since a young family has resided at 700 North Adams St.
Casey DeSantis called it an “honor and a privilege” to live in the mansion.
“The first thing I said was, we need to take all of Florida’s irreplaceable historic artifacts and move them up four feet, right? I was thinking about this beautiful early 20th-century wallpaper. Orange crayon wouldn’t look so good on that. So one of the first steps is to make sure that we baby-proof the mansion to preserve all of Florida’s history,” she told reporters. “Ron and I understand that this is the people’s house. It’s not our house. And so we want to make sure that people have the opportunity to see two young children growing up in the mansion. This is the first time that this has happened in 50 years. So it’s an honor and we look forward to really sharing the kids with everybody and sharing what I’m sure will be some hilarious stories.”
Some view Florida’s political lineup, with Casey DeSantis expected to play an important role in her husband’s administration, Nuñez, incoming Attorney General Ashley Moody and Agriculture Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried, as a reflection of the 2018 elections, viewed nationally as the “year of the woman.”
DeSantis and Nuñez top the “amazing, strong, accomplished females taking leadership roles,” Melissa Stone, a Republican political consultant who was one of outgoing Gov. Rick Scott’s chief advisers, told The News Service of Florida during a break in the Monday breakfast event.
Their presence in the administration will be an inspiration for other women, Stone predicted.
“The more you have a great number of women working together, that is what is going to make a real impression on women everywhere, encourage them and inspire them to take leadership roles,” she said
Expect the female leaders to play an important part in the 2020 elections; politicians of both parties — including President Donald Trump, whose early endorsement helped boost DeSantis to a Republican primary victory — consider Florida a must-win state.
When asked how she would boost turnout among women, Casey DeSantis pointed to a focus on issues that “everyone” believes in.
Cleaning up the state’s waterways — “the lifeblood for our economy” — is at the top of her list, she said.
“It’s not only for the economy. It’s also about the flora and fauna that call some of the most beautiful areas in Florida home. It’s for the businesses. We have to make sure that we’re doing everything that we can to support their interests. And then it’s also, as a mother, when you talk to people on the campaign trail and they say, ‘I would never let my kid swim in that water,’ or they say, ‘I let my child swim in that water and I wound up in the emergency room the next day,’ that’s not OK,” she said. “We’re gonna fix it. It just needs to be done because it’s the right thing.”
When asked for specifics on her plans, DeSantis smiled.
“Stay tuned. We’re gonna be busy,” she said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
One Injured In Pine Forest Road Crash
January 7, 2019
One person was injured in a two vehicle wreck late Monday afternoon on Pine Forest Road near 9 1/2 Mile Road. An adult female was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS. Another adult and two properly restrained minors were not injured. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Killed In Fiery Head-on I-10 Crash In Mobile
January 7, 2019
A Molino woman was one of two people killed in a head-on crash on I-10 in Mobile early Monday morning.
The Mobile Police Department said 24-year-old Kaytrielle Jones died in the fiery crash about 1:30 a.m. on the I-10 Bayway. The name of the second driver has not yet been released.
Police said one vehicle was traveling the wrong way on the interstate, but they have not said which driver was traveling in the wrong direction. Both vehicles burst into flames after the crash.
The crash remains under investigation by Mobile Police.