Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: On The Road To November
September 2, 2018
Florida made history this week, with Democratic voters backing Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum to become the first African-American nominated by a major party to run for governor.
And Democrats and Republicans are opening a new chapter in gubernatorial politics by nominating candidates who have their strongest support in the extreme wings of their parties.
The Republican nomination of Ron DeSantis, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump and is one of the most conservative members of Congress, may be less of an ideological shift in a party that has advanced hardline conservatives before, including when Rick Scott was elected governor in 2010.
But the Democratic nomination of Gillum, who embraced the progressive wing of his party and won the support of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, is a sea change in a party that has nominated a series of centrist candidates but hasn’t won a governor’s race since 1994.
The prime casualty of the strategic shift was former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee. Ironically, it was Graham’s father, Bob Graham, a former governor and U.S. senator, who was one of the leaders in a national movement that began in the 1980s with the goal of shifting the Democratic Party back to a more centrist position.
The leaders of the movement formed a group, called the Democratic Leadership Council, and claimed success with the 1992 election of Bill Clinton, who served two terms as president.
But the Democratic Leadership Council’s star began to fade by the 2000s, with the group formally dissolving in 2011.
In Florida, Democrats nominated a string of centrist candidates for governor, including former Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay, another DLC leader while he was in Congress. MacKay lost to Jeb Bush in the 1998 governor’s race.
But Gillum’s nomination is a clear break in that strategy. And the Nov. 6 general election will be the first test of whether a more progressive Democrat can win the governor’s race and break a nearly a quarter-century losing streak for the party.
MAKING HISTORY
In what could be one of the biggest upsets in recent political history in Florida, Gillum, 39, captured nearly 34.4 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary, compared to Gwen Graham’s 31.25 percent.
A crowd of supporters assembled at The Hotel Duval in Tallahassee was exuberant as results showed Gillum slowly making gains on Graham throughout the evening, chanting “Bring it home” and “I believe we will win.”
The race “is not about me,” Gillum told the ecstatic crowd.
“It never has been, and it never will be. This race is about every last single one of us,” he said. “Those of us inside this room. Those outside of this room. Those who voted for me. Those who didn’t vote at all. And those who didn’t vote for me because they are Republicans. But I want to be their governor, too.”
Gillum has long been considered a rising star in the Florida Democratic Party but trailed in the polls in a crowded primary that featured Graham, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, Winter Park entrepreneur Chris King and Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene.
But Gillum’s campaign gained momentum after picking up endorsements from the progressive icon Sanders and financial backing from billionaires Tom Steyer and George Soros.
“I sincerely believe that what is going to deliver us to victory in November is the fact that there are every-day, hard-working people in this state who believe that they deserve a voice in our government too. We are going to give it to them,” Gillum said Tuesday night.
At a concert venue in downtown Orlando, hundreds of Graham supporters appeared stunned by the election results as it became clear that Gillum had bested Graham, who was long considered the frontrunner in the race.
“I was expecting to give a much different speech tonight,” she said.
Graham urged her supporters to “put all of our efforts behind” behind Gillum’s campaign.
“This election is about the future of Florida,” she said, reiterating a campaign theme. “That’s what we were fighting for. It was never about the candidate.”
‘THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT’
With the enthusiastic backing of Trump, DeSantis handily defeated Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the Republican primary.
DeSantis, a three-term congressman from Ponte Vedra Beach, got 56.5 percent of the vote and a congratulatory phone call from the president.
“I want to thank him for viewing me as someone who could be a great leader for Florida,” DeSantis told the crowd gathered at his election-night viewing party in Orlando. “So, thank you Mr. President.”
The double-digit victory was an electoral exclamation point for DeSantis, 39, who began the campaign as a little-known congressman facing a veteran politician who had the backing of most of the Tallahassee Republican establishment.
DeSantis, who has been one of Trump’s fiercest defenders in Congress, had the ultimate asset in the president’s support. It began in a series of favorable presidential tweets and reached a crescendo in a July 31 rally in Tampa where Trump gave DeSantis an in-person endorsement.
A Harvard-educated lawyer and Iraq war veteran, DeSantis melded Trump’s support with frequent appearances on the Fox News network, where his campaign strategists astutely projected he could raise his profile among GOP voters despite Putnam’s early advantages in the race.
DeSantis’ victory derailed Putnam’s storied political journey, which began when he was elected as a 22-year-old to the Florida House of Representatives in 1996. Putnam also served 10 years in Congress before winning two four-year terms on the Florida Cabinet as the commissioner of agriculture.
But at age 44, Putnam has plenty of time to resurrect his political career.
BATTLE FOR THE BASE
While Gillum hopes to make history as the Sunshine State’s first black governor, DeSantis is trying to parlay his support from Trump into a gubernatorial win.
But the question remains whether either candidate can translate his primary election victory into a November triumph.
“What you’ve got is the ultimate base-turnout election on both sides. Ron DeSantis isn’t going to reach a bunch of moderates in the middle, and neither is Andrew Gillum. These are two guys who represent the absolute edge of their parties,” GOP consultant Rick Wilson, the author of the book “Everything Trump Touches Dies,” told The News Service of Florida.
The outcome of the governor’s race in November “is going to show us the heart of Florida,” said Allison Tant, a former chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party who is backing Gillum.
CABINET CONTESTS LOCKED IN
Former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody, who had to counter attacks by her primary opponent about being registered in the past as a Democrat, advanced Tuesday as the Republican nominee for attorney general.
Meanwhile, state Rep. Sean Shaw of Tampa won the Democratic nomination as he continues his bid to become the state’s first African-American attorney general.
Moody and Shaw will face off in November with Jeff Siskind, an attorney from Wellington running without a party affiliation, to replace term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi.
In the race for agriculture commissioner, state Rep. Matt Caldwell topped a four-way Republican primary, while lawyer and medical-marijuana lobbyist Nikki Fried had an easier time emerging from a field of three Democrats to become her party’s nominee for the Cabinet post.
The two will now go head-to-head in November to replace Putnam.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Florida Democratic primary voters backed Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, making him the first African-American candidate nominated by a major party in a gubernatorial race.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Let’s build off the success we’ve had under Gov. Scott. The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state.” – Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis in a Fox News interview. His use of the word “monkey” drew charges of racism from Democrats. DeSantis’ campaign said his remark was aimed at Gillum’s policies and had nothing to do with race.
Wahoos Bounce Back To Win 10-6 In 10 Innings
September 2, 2018
Pensacola scored four runs in the 10th inning to surge past the Smokies for a 10-6 win Saturday night at Smokies Stadium.
It was the second consecutive extra-inning game for the Wahoos and they didn’t let Saturday’s game slip away. With Jose Siri starting on second base, Mitch Nay reached on an infield single to set up runners on the corners with only one out. Jordan Minch walked Aristides Aquino to load the bases before he walked Shed Long to bring home the go-ahead run. After a sac fly from Gavin LaValley gave the Wahoos an 8-6 lead, Chris Okey brought home a pair with a two-out single to give Pensacola the eventual winning scoreline of 10-6.
Aquino had a monster night at the plate hitting a pair of home runs and driving in four. His first dinger came in the first inning off Thomas Hatch to put the Wahoos up 3-1. Then in the eighth, Aquino took Brad Markey deep, which put Pensacola ahead 6-3 at the time.
But despite insurance, the Aquino’s bat offered, the Wahoos were unable to sustain either of those three-run leads. With the Smokies trailing 3-1, P.J. Higgins homered in the fourth off Tony Santillan to cut Tennessee’s deficit to one. The Smokies tied the game in the fifth after Conner Myers singled before Hatch doubled him home.
Tennessee’s big rally came in the eighth when they sent all nine men to the plate. After a leadoff single, Wynton Bernard hit a routine groundball to short, but Luis Gonzalez’s sent an errant throw towards second that sailed pass Shed Long for his league-leading 30th error of the season. Higgins followed with a two-run triple and later scored on a fielder’s choice from Jesse Hodges to tie the game at 6-6.
With a double in the sixth and a single in the ninth, Higgins became the third Southern League player this season to hit for the cycle and did so in reverse order. He reached in all five of his plate appearances, and even drew a walk giving him an even rarer “super cycle.”
Pensacola picks up a half-game over Mobile as they were washed out today and are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday. As it stands, the Wahoos have a two-game lead in the wildcard with the BayBears having a game in hand. Biloxi earned another win over the Barons to maintain their 1.5 game lead over Pensacola.
The series continues Sunday night and the Wahoos will send veteran RHP Daniel Wright (7-10, 4.12) to the hill. Tennessee will go with RHP Michael Rucker (9-6, 3.74) in the penultimate game of the series.
Rural Counties Top State In Primary Turnout; Escambia At Almost 31 Percent
September 2, 2018
By the time polls closed Tuesday night, 27.46 percent of registered Florida voters had cast primary-election ballots.
The voter turnout was 30.76 percent in Escambia County and 26.57 percent in Santa Rosa County
But turnout in some rural North Florida counties dwarfed the state rate.
The highest turnout rate, 56.46 percent, was in Franklin County, followed by 55.33 percent in neighboring Liberty County, according to numbers posted on the state Division of Elections website.
The state’s lowest turnout rate, 20.6 percent, came in Central Florida’s Osceola County as followed by a 21.35 percent rate in Miami-Dade County.
By The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: There was a primary voter turnout of 34.3 percent at the precinct located at the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Identify Released Of Man Shot And Killed In Cantonment; Investigation Continues
September 1, 2018
A man is dead after an early Saturday morning shooting in Cantonment.
The victim has been identified as Douglas Curtis Lloyd, 30, Deb Henley, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said Monday morning..
The shooting happened inside a residence in the 1600 block of Chemstrand Road about 4:24 a.m. Deputies responded and found an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds. Lloyd was pronounced deceased on the scene.
One person was taken into custody and questioned, but that individual was not arrested.
Additional details have not been released; Henley said the investigation is continuing.
File photo.
Elderly Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty After Pets Found In ‘Deplorable’ Home
September 1, 2018
An elderly woman has been charged with a dozen felony counts of animal cruelty after a dead dog was found in her kitchen and a dozen animals were found living in squalor.
Janice Skinner Wilson, 80, was charged with 12 felony count for her alleged mistreatment of two cats and 10 dogs in her home. She was released on a $12,000 bond in the case that was directly filed by the State Attorney’s Office.
An Escambia County Animal Control officer reported the smell in Wilson’s home was unbearable with small dogs “popping out of everything” in generally deplorable living conditions.
A dead dog was found under Wilson’s kitchen sink. She told the animal control officer that rats killed and were eating the dog, according to court documents.
The report states the house was covered in furniture, old food, clothes, paper and trash. As authorities were inside the home on a court order, they found a severely injured animal hiding in the trash and debris. It has been attacked by another animal and had not been taken to the vet, according to animal control.
All of the animals were removed from the property. The injured animal and a dog who went into labor were provided care by a veterinarian.
Court documents indicate Wilson was under a previous court order not to posses any animals.
Wilson’s address was listed as both Ernestine Road off Olive Road and Stacey Road in Cantonment on court documents. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $12,000 bond.
West Florida Tops Tate (With Gallery)
September 1, 2018
The West Florida Jaguars doubled upon the Tate Aggies for a 40-20 win Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment.
The Jags held a 21-0 lead over Tate at the half, powered by three touchdown passes from quarterback Trevor Jordan, including a pair to Amir McDaniel. 48
Tate’s touchdowns included a long pass from Hunter Riggan to Patrick Palmer, and a quarterback keeper from Riggan.
The Aggies will be on the road at Gulf Breeze, and West Florida will play host to D’Iberville, MS, next week.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Hurricanes Blow Past Northview 41-20 (With Gallery)
September 1, 2018
The Flomaton High School Hurricanes stormed into Bratt and beat the Northview Chiefs Friday night 41-20.
Daquan Johnson was the eye of the hurricane, with five touchdowns for Flomaton.
For the Chiefs, Aunterio Minor sent the crowd to their feet when be broke free from a pile that included almost the entire Flomaton team and emerged upright and on his way 53-yards for a touchdown.
Northview’s other scores were an 83-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Seth Killam to junior Adam Aliff and a 10-yarder from Killam to junior Trent Kite.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Coach Derek Marshman said it was the “little things” that cost the Chiefs the win.
“It was a game down in the fourth quarter when they busted one on fourth down and short,” he said. “We just never could get back within a single score.”
He said multiple missed tackles cost Northview the game.
“I thought we threw the ball really well tonight. I thought we played the run well interior-wise,” he said. “We had some kids step up and really run the football well. I thought Aunterio Minor played a heck of a game. We had some young guys step up, like Tyler Ray. He’s a sophomore that had been playing JV this season. He stepped up and made some big plays for us at the receiver position.”
The Chiefs will play host to South Walton next Friday night, while Flomaton will have an off week to prepare for a trip to Excel, AL, on September 14.
For a photo gallery, click here.
(A photo gallery with Northview and Flomaton bands, cheerleaders and fans will be posted this week.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Closure Planned For Untreiner Avenue At Nine Mile Road
September 1, 2018
Untreiner Avenue between Nine Mile Road and the Home Depot parking lot will be closed to through traffic beginning Tuesday, Sept. 4, instead of the previously scheduled start date of Friday, Aug. 31. Traffic will be detoured along Fowler Avenue South. The closure will consist of improvements to the sanitary system.
The roadway closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately 10 days and every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road before Thursday, Sept. 13.
If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time periods, another notice will be issued.
Click map to enlarge detour and closure information.
Deputies Recover Stolen SWAT Team Fully Automatic Rifle
September 1, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has recovered a M4 rifle that was stolen early this week from an ECSO SWAT vehicle.
Further information on the recovery was not provided.
About 11 p.m. Saturday night, several items including a fully automatic .223 caliber M4 and several magazines of ammunition and a Taser were stolen from an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT sergeant’s vehicle. Three juveniles – Tahier Harper, 16, Torrance Sumler, 17, and Erick Smith, 17 – were charged in connection with the vehicle burglary.
A silver Ford Escape were seen fleeing the area following the burglary.
The ECSO High Intensity Patrol Unit located the vehicle, and after a brief pursuit Smith and Harper were apprehended. Several items belonging to the Sheriff’s Office were found in the vehicle, according to investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 433-STOP or Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-9620.
Dozens Graduate From Crisis Intervention Training
September 1, 2018
The 39th Crisis Intervention training course graduated dozen of participants Friday, including participants from Escambia County Corrections, EMS, Fire Rescue and Sheriff’s Office, along with other local agencies.
The 40-hour training program is recognized and used throughout the country, emphasizing a partnership between law enforcement, the mental health and substance abuse treatment systems, mental health advocacy groups and consumers of mental health services and their families. CIT is designed for first responders who handle crisis calls involving people with mental illnesses, including those with co-occurring substance use disorders.
Throughout the week, participants had the opportunity to hear from instructors from the law enforcement community along with mental health professionals. Certified CIT Mental Health Coordinator Mary Carter from Lakeview Center Inc. was the facilitator for the training, which also included tours of the West Florida Community Care Center in Milton, Lakeview’s Acute Stabilization Unit and the Baptist Behavioral Unit. CIT participants learned crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques through role play, also getting an opportunity to hear powerful stories from those in the community who suffer from mental illness or who have family members with mental illnesses.
Northwest Florida CIT has held 39 training classes with 911 graduates since it began in 2006, spearheaded by Lakeview Center Inc. CIT’s mission is to provide a safe environment for persons with mental illness by partnering with agencies and systems within the community. These actions facilitate growth, strength and stability in the lives of persons with mental illness, carried out through education, communication and cooperation from those who serve the citizens of the community.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
