Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Stormy Political Weather
September 16, 2018
Hurricane Florence may have spared the Sunshine State, but political squalls continue to churn throughout Florida, and the worst is yet to come.
President Donald Trump whipped up a tempest after accusing Democrats of dramatically inflating the number of deaths in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria.
But it wasn’t just Trump who stirred the political pot this week.
Gov. Rick Scott, who’s vying to oust Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, kicked into motion the process to appoint replacements for three Florida Supreme Court justices who will retire in January. The replacements could create a significant shift in the court’s shaping of public policy for decades.
Meanwhile, the state’s gubernatorial candidates and their supporters took to the airwaves to kick off the barrage of television ads that will inundate Floridians over the next two months.
A spot launched by the Republican Governors Association accused Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum of being so “far out” he’s “on another planet.” The somewhat-odd piece — which includes an image of Gillum superimposed over a moon — is even more curious, since onetime astronaut Nelson’s been mocked by Scott and other Republicans about the senator’s actual space trip.
The Republican Party of Florida, meanwhile, unleashed a promo of GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis that opens with a homage to the former congressman’s Dunedin team making a trip to the 1991 Little League World Series.
“We were only 12 when we learned to dream big, work hard and swing away,” the grown-up DeSantis says in the spot.
Gillum, too, released an upbeat ad that focused on his childhood, echoing his campaign’s #BringItHome mantra in which the Tallahassee mayor invokes the lessons he learned from his grandmother.
“She’d say, go to school. Mind your teachers. Get your lesson. And one day bring that education home,” Gillum says in the voiceover.
Although it’s doubtful, the two candidates’ positive messages could set the stage for the general election battle.
As they load their political cannons, they might consider heeding the guidance of a certain granny: “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
TRUMP’S MARIA TWEETSTORM
The president’s position on the death count in Puerto Rico drew rebukes from the two Republicans at the top of the Florida ticket: Scott and DeSantis.
Both parties in Florida are looking to draw support from Puerto Rican voters in the November elections, and Trump’s tweets Thursday brought bipartisan criticism — and came as Hurricane Florence barreled down on the Carolinas.
“3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico,” Trump tweeted a little before 9 a.m. Thursday. “When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000…”
“…..This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico,” Trump followed in a tweet. “If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!”
In the November elections, Republican and Democratic politicians are courting Puerto Rican voters who are longtime residents of Florida, as well as those who relocated to the state after Maria caused devastating damage to the U.S. territory last September.
“I disagree with @POTUS– an independent study said thousands were lost and Gov. (Ricardo) Rosselló agreed,” Scott tweeted. “I’ve been to Puerto Rico 7 times & saw devastation firsthand. The loss of any life is tragic; the extent of lives lost as a result of Maria is heart wrenching. I’ll continue to help PR.”
Nelson called Trump’s comments “shameful.”
“We deserve and expect more from someone who holds the highest office in our country,” Nelson said in statement.
DeSantis and Gillum, though with different tones, also separated themselves from Trump’s comments.
DeSantis, who resigned his congressional seat this week to focus on the governor’s race, is typically one of Trump’s most-ardent supporters, and Trump’s endorsement was a cornerstone of DeSantis’ primary election win last month.
DeSantis’ campaign issued a statement Thursday that said he is “committed to standing with the Puerto Rican community, especially after such a tragic loss of life” and that he “doesn’t believe any loss of life has been inflated.”
Gillum was harsher, saying “no death is partisan and our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico deserved better from @realDonaldTrump before, during and after the hurricane.”
GAVELING IN COURT CHANGES
Scott on Tuesday said he asked the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission to begin a process that includes accepting and reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and making nominations for appointment. The process will lead to replacements for longtime justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, who are required to leave the court in January because of reaching a mandatory retirement age.
Appointments of Supreme Court justices are always important, but Pariente, Lewis and Quince — along with Justice Jorge Labarga — are widely considered a left-leaning majority on the seven-member court. That has led to the possibility that their replacements could spur a rightward shift of the court.
As a sign of that, a legal debate emerged last year about whether Scott, who will also leave office in January, should have the authority to appoint the new justices or whether that power should go to his successor. Scott has appointed one justice, Alan Lawson, who is generally aligned with what is viewed as the conservative minority on the court.
Scott has argued that he has the authority to appoint the new justices, but the League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause filed a case last year arguing that Scott’s successor should make the picks. The Supreme Court dismissed the case in December, saying the issue wasn’t “ripe” for consideration because Scott had not acted on the appointments.
But the dismissal of the case does not preclude another challenge to Scott’s position that he has the authority to make the appointments.
In the announcement Tuesday, Scott’s office said he would invite the governor-elect to interview the court nominees after the general election. The governor’s office pointed to an “expectation” that Scott and his successor would be able to agree on appointments.
But Gillum’s campaign issued a terse rejection of Scott’s position: “In our understanding of the Constitution, the next governor will appoint the next three Supreme Court justices.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: President Donald Trump received bipartisan pushback from Florida pols after accusing Democrats of over-inflating the death toll caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Mr. President. SHUT UP. Any death, whether one or 3,000 is a tragedy.” — Alan Levine, a member of the Florida university system Board of Governors, in a tweet in which Levine also said he voted for Trump.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Haas Center Proposes $95K Plan For Century Economic Development
September 15, 2018
The University of West Florida Haas Center is proposing to use $95,000 in county funds to plan economic growth in Century. Earlier this year, the county commission took no action on a workforce education plan proposed by the Century Chamber using the same funding pool.
The Escambia County Commission approved $55,000 in economic development funding for the Century area during the current 2017-2018 fiscal year, and there is an additional $50,000 pending final approval for the upcoming 2018-2019 fiscal year.
The monies were designated by the commission for economic development initiatives in the Century area but were not awarded directly to the town or chamber. Instead, funding requests were to be submitted to District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry for presentation to the entire commission for approval.
Hass Center $95,000 Plan
The Haas Center plan would utilizes the $55,000 from the current fiscal year plus $40,000 from the upcoming year that begins October 1. The plan expands on a “Six Pillar Community Economic Development Strategic Plan” that was funded by a state grant in 2014.
“The Town of Century will be the model for rural economic redevelopment, excelling in cultivating its workforce, facilitating the growth of regional industry, and enhancing the quality of life for its residents and the surrounding communities,” was the vision of the 2014 plan.
Currently, the Haas Center is proposing:
Market Analysis – $24,500 – Market analysis of development opportunties.
CRA Mapping Tool -$15,000 — An application that will allow users to view and interact with CRA data.
Market Study of Industrial Park – $25,000 — The study will include an analysis of amenities and site development for the park in comparison to other site locations.
Health Assessment and Needs Survey – $15,500 – Will include a “pre” survey before a $2 million Community Health Northwest Florida expansion in Century and a “post” survey to gauge how this investment into the health center has increased the access to resources and overall health needs of the community.
Strategic Plan Metrics and Dashboard – $15,000 – Collect data and present online, mailed resident satisfaction.
The $50,000 Plan
Escambia County took no action on previous request for most of the $55,000 in current fiscal year funding.
The Century Chamber of Commerce proposed a two part workforce development training program with Pensacola State College.
The first part, “Basic Skills for the Workforce” would have been 52 hours with instruction including reading comprehension, basic math, business grammar, financial literacy, resume building and mock interviews.
The second segment would have included 200 hours of instruction for entry-level positions in building construction and industrial settings, including safety, construction math, hand and power tools, communication skills, OHSA 10 hour course and CPR/first aid.
The proposal asked for up to $50,188 for 15 students.
Pictured: The unoccupied, town-owned Helicopter Technology Building in the Century Industrial Park. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bicyclist Struck And Killed By Hit And Run Driver
September 15, 2018
A bicyclist was struck and killed by a hit and run driver Friday night in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 39-year old Melissa Kay Hicks was traveling east on the right edge of Michigan Avenue near Jaker Lane when she was hit by a vehicle of an unknown type and unknown color. She was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS following the 10:08 p.m. accident.
Anyone with information on the hit and run is asked to call the FHP at (850) 484-5000 or *FHP from a cellphone.
PHS Tops Tate 21-7
September 15, 2018
The Pensacola High Tigers topped the Tate Aggies 21-7 Friday night.
On their first drive of the game, the Aggies scored on a quarterback keeper from Hunter Riggan with 9:45 to go in the first for a 7-0 lead. The Tigers answered to tie it at 7-7 in the second.
But PHS held Tate scoreless in the last three quarters.
Tate had won the previous three meetings between the teams, both of which went into Friday night at 1-2.
The Tate High School Aggies will be at Milton next Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Fourth-Ranked Blountstown Stops Northview 35-19
September 15, 2018
The Northview Chiefs lost a hard-fought game 35-19 on the road Friday night against the Blountstown Tigers, the state’s fourth-ranked team in 1A.
The Chiefs and the Tigers were both 2-1 headed into Friday night’s contest as the Chiefs were looking for payback for a 46-point loss to the Tigers last year in Bratt.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Northview Coach Derek Marshman said. “I’m proud of how our kids battled, battled back from 20-6.”
Northview took an early 6-0 lead on their first possession of the game, but Blountstown answered with 20 points to make it 20-6 by the end of the first.
“We had two good opportunities in the fourth that we just could not capitalize on, including a tough interception…We are going to get back excited and show improvements to get back on a winning track to get to 3-2,” Marshman said.
Northview will host Holmes County next Friday night at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Blackwater State Forest To Grow By 800 Acres
September 15, 2018
The Blackwater River State Forest will expand by 800 acres due to the acquisition of the Florida Forever Project Area Wolfe Creek Forest.
The land acquisition is home to a number of rare and endangered species and serves as a major wildlife corridor with frontage on Big Coldwater Creek. The land will also act as a buffer for the Naval Air Station Whiting Field.
The Florida Forest Service will manage the tract as part of the Blackwater River State Forest, Florida’s largest State Forest with over 211,000 acres, by applying sound forest management practices.
Escambia Tax Preparer Sentenced For Filing False Tax Returns
September 15, 2018
A former Escambia County tax preparer is headed to federal prison for preparing false tax returns.
Benell English, 57, was sentenced to 41 months and ordered to pay $182,877 in restitution to the IRS.
English, a tax preparer at Select Tax Service, prepared and filed false tax returns with the IRS between 2013 and 2017 by fraudulently increasing or decreasing taxpayers’ income to maximize refunds. A jury convicted English of 18 counts of preparing false tax returns in May.
Southern Pine Electric Crew Helping Restore Power In North Carolina
September 15, 2018
A crew from Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Escambia County, AL, rolled into Dobson, NC, Friday to help restore power after the landfall of Hurricane Florence.
The seven linemen and one engineer will assist Surry-Yadkin Cooperative.
Pictured top: (L- R) Adam York, Grayson Peters, Kirk Carter, Zack Carter, AJ Faircloth, Norris Brooks, Ricky Quates and Tracy Emmons. Pictured below: Southern Pine Crews arriving in Dobson, NC. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Files 28 Charges Against Bratt Man For Selling Deer Meat
September 14, 2018
A Bratt man is facing over two dozen charges after he allegedly sold illegal deer meat to an undercover Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer.
Hunter Anthony Chavers, 23, was arrested this week on eight felony counts of selling an illegally taken deer, four counts of possession of freshly killed deer out of season, eight counts of not possessing evidence of a deer’s gender and eight counts of failing to tag deer meat.
On January 29, Chavers met an undercover FWC officer in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb in Molino. He sold the officer meat from two deer for $120 cash, and the transaction was witnessed by a second FWC officer from a nearby location, according to a warrant affidavit.
On February 13, Chavers contacted the undercover FWC officer, met him at the Tom Thumb and again sold him the meat from two deer, court documents state.
Investigators said Chavers sold them the meat from another deer on February 23, and three additional deer on March 15. Deer season in Florida closed on February 25.
On March 22, FWC officers said they were conducting surveillance on Chaver’s vehicle when he walked to the bed of a pickup truck, opened a cooler and removed the head of a freshly killed buck. He placed the head on the ground and took several photographs with his phone, officers said.
The FWC said Chavers illegally possessed and delivered eight deer, three of which were out of hunting season, to an undercover FWC investigator.
Chavers did not have a hunting license or deer permit from the FWC. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday with bond set at $28,000.
Additional charges in the case are possible.
Much of the deer meat was donated to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.
Attorney: Century Not Required To Advertise For Bids
September 14, 2018
Century is not required to advertise for bids before making a purchase, and the town council — or citizens — have the power to start the process of amending the town’s charter, according to the town attorney.
Council present Ann Brooks raised questions about purchasing procedures and the charter in an email to attorney Matt Dannehisser.
The town charter states:
“The council shall request and receive bids and award contracts involving expenditures of Five-Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or more. Except in emergencies, the council must approve the expenditure of amounts greater than One Hundred Ninety-Nine Dollars ($199.00) and less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), prior to the expenditure.”
Dannheisser said in his email that while the town charter must be followed, the charter does not require that the town “advertise for bids” before awarding a contract. Because there is not requirement for advertising, written proposals or competitive sections, he said the town could receive bids “thought simplistic processes such as calling vendors on the phone and receiving oral proposals.”
“That can be accomplished through simplistic processes such as calling vendors on the phone and receiving oral proposals,” he wrote, adding that the town council “may use its discretion whatever procedure it deems to be in the Town’s best interest”.
He said it appears the town could use a state or county bid list for expenditures, or create their own bid list.
Brooks also inquired if the town could amend its charter.
Dannheisser said it could be amended under home rule by ordinance or by a petition signed by 10 percent of registered voters — both of which would require a vote during the next election or a special election.