Gillum Pulls Off Upset In Democratic Governor’s Race
August 29, 2018
In what could be one of the biggest upsets in recent political history in Florida, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum won Tuesday’s Democratic primary for governor, setting up a battle against Republican Ron DeSantis in November.
Gillum, 39, captured more than 34 percent of the vote, compared to former Congresswoman Gwen Graham’s 31.4 percent.
A crowd of supporters assembled at The Hotel Duval in Tallahassee was exuberant as election results showed Gillum slowly making gains on Graham throughout the evening, chanting “Bring it home” and “I believe we will win.”
Gillum told the crowd that the race wasn’t about him.
“This race is about every last single one of us,” he said
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 in after picking up endorsements from progressive icon U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and financial backing from billionaires Tom Steyer and George Soros.
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, the daughter of former Gov. Bob Graham who was long considered the frontrunner in the race.
“He represents the future in many ways,” Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez, a former state representative, told The News Service of Florida at Graham’s election-night watch party.
Gillum, who would be Florida’s first black governor if elected in November, trailed in the polls and in fundraising over more than a year of campaigning.
“What has made Andrew’s campaign so powerful is that he’s not just working hard to win an election, he has laid out a vision for a new course for the state of Florida and our country. No one person can take on the economic and political elites on their own. Tonight, Floridians joined Andrew in standing up and demanding change in their community. That’s what the political revolution is all about and Andrew Gillum is helping to lead it,” Sanders said in a statement following Gillum’s primary victory.
Tuesday’s primary set the stage for what will be one of the most closely watched races in the country, as Democrats try to flip the governor’s mansion after being shut out of power for nearly two decades.
Each of the Democratic gubernatorial wannabes harped on a theme of being the best-situated candidate to recapture the governor’s office and rekindle the dominance Democrats held for a century in the Sunshine State.
With support from national groups backing black candidates and progressive politicians, Gillum laid out a campaign strategy relying on “black voters, brown voters, younger voters and poor voters,” he told The News Service of Florida in an interview this month.
Greene, a latecomer to the race who poured nearly $38 million of his own money into the primary campaign, insisted that he was the only Democrat who could outspend Republicans. Greene also pledged to unfold his wallet to aid Democrats, who consistently have been outraised and outspent by the GOP, up and down the ballot.
After continuing to trail in the polls, however, Greene appeared to pull the plug on his campaign in the days leading up to Tuesday’s primary. Greene on Monday canceled a planned election-night watch party at his Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa in Palm Beach. In a statement issued by his campaign, the candidate said he instead was going to watch the election results at home with his wife and three young children.
Levine, who was shown in some polls as running neck-and-neck with Graham as the election neared, also maintained that he would be the strongest Democrat to take on the Republican contender in November.
Congratulating Gillum on his primary victory, Levine called the Tallahassee mayor “a fierce fighter who has what it takes to lead our state forward, and he can count on my help every step of the way.”
Throughout more than a year on the campaign trail, Levine consistently pointed to successes racked up during his tenure as mayor of the popular South Florida destination to support his pitch for governor. But naysayers contended many of his claims were unfounded, and his critics, including Greene, accused him of being a bully.
Levine took credit for addressing sea-level rise, by installing pumps and raising roads, as one of his major accomplishments as mayor. Miami Beach spent $500 million to install the pumps, but some scientists later blamed the pumps for dumping fecal matter into the shores off South Beach. The analysis prompted outrage from Levine, who called the report “sloppy science” and disparaged the Miami Herald for its reporting on the issue.
Levine also took credit for raising the minimum wage in Miami Beach — an effort that’s been tied up in court — and for reforming what he called a “broken” police department. He’s also been praised for advancing policies that earned the city perfect scores for LGBTQ inclusiveness.
But the former Miami Beach mayor quickly rallied behind Gillum on Tuesday night.
“This is a fight for the future of our state and the soul of our nation, and it’s a fight that we are going to win. We’re going to elect Andrew Gillum, the first black governor in the history of the state of Florida, re-elect Senator Bill Nelson, and win seats up and down the ballot — we will rise to the occasion and take back our state! Democrats, let’s get this done,” Levine said in a statement.
In the 2018 midterm elections many have deemed the “year of the woman,” Graham played up her role as a PTA mom who once worked for Leon County schools.
Graham, who was both mocked and revered for her predilection for hugging, delivered one of the most memorable lines of the Democrats’ campaign season during an April debate in Tampa.
“I seem to be the one,” she sighed, after being attacked by two of her opponents. “It’s Gwen and the men.”
At a July debate in Fort Myers, Graham used a bright pink blazer as a prop as she stood beside her four dark-suited rivals.
“You may notice I look a little different than my other friends up here on the stage,” she said, adding that she’s “a mom” and a “PTA president.”
King tried to appeal to progressive Democrats as the candidate with the most “bold” agenda.
King — whose conversation is peppered with “transformational,” “big ideas,” and “bold” — tried but failed to make inroads in an election dominated by candidates with deeper pockets and national backing.
The 39-year-old King, however, took credit for changing the shape of the governor’s race, starting with laying the groundwork for nearly all candidates — with the exception of Republican Adam Putnam — to refuse money from U.S. Sugar, the powerful “special interest” many critics blame for contributing to an outbreak of toxic algal blooms on both coasts.
An earnest and enthusiastic father of three young children, King told the News Service this month he was in the race to win but at the same time acknowledged it’s an “uphill race” for him.
“I’ve got two gazillionaires I’m running against,” he said, referring to Greene and Levine. He called Graham “the daughter of one of the great political icons” who “was one of my idols,” referring to former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: Andrew Gillum watches election returns Tuesday night. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Jay Split Volleyball Matches
August 29, 2018
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Jay Lady Royals split volleyball matches Tuesday at Northview.
The junior varsity Chiefs defeated Jay 25-7, 25-10.
The varsity Royals beat the Chiefs 25-8, 25-23, 28-26.
Northview will travel to T.R. Miller Thursday beginning at 4 p.m., while Jay Will be at Flomaton Thursday beginning at 4 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Election Results
August 28, 2018
Complete, but unofficial, election results from Escambia County:
Escambia Deputy Injured In Highway 29 Traffic Crash
August 28, 2018
[Updated] An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was injured in traffic crash Tuesday afternoon on Highway 29 at Well Line Road in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 79-year old Rose Coval of Cantonment was stopped on Well Line Road when she pulled her 2014 Chevrolet directly into the path of an ECSO Tahoe that was southbound on Highway 29. The deputy, 32-year old Jerome Zaid, received minor injuries and was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Coval and her 17-year old passenger were not injured.
Coval was cited by the FHP for violation of right of way.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Nine Mile Road Crash
August 28, 2018
Three people were injured in a two vehicle crash about 10:50 Tuesday morning on Nine Mile Road at I-10. Further details have not been released as the Florida Highway Patrol continued their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Residents, Businesses Want Solutions After Cantonment Railroad Crossing Blocked For Hours
August 28, 2018
Residents and business owners are continuing to call for solutions after a stopped train blocked a Cantonment crossing for over two hours Tuesday morning.
They said blocking the Becks Lake Road crossing, just east of Highway 29, leaves residents and business employees no other way in or out, creating a potential public safety issue by blocking emergency services from entering the area. A local business representative said it also impacts their business because employees can’t get to work.
An Escambia County spokesperson said 911 dispatchers were not notified by the railroad that the crossing was blocked.
We reached out to CSX, but have not received a response.
Pictured: A train blocking the Beck’s Lake Road Tuesday morning. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thousands Vote Before Election Day
August 28, 2018
More Floridians have voted before Tuesday’s elections than in past primaries.
In Escambia County, 29,880 votes were cast before the polls opened on a Tuesday, a 14.28 percent turnout already. Of those, 17,779 votes were cast by mail and 12,100 were cast early. There aer 209,031 registered voters in Escambia County.
Nearly 1.86 million votes had been cast statewide as of Monday, with almost 1.2 million vote-by-mail ballots returned and another 658,800 ballots cast at early-voting sites, according to the Florida Department of State. Florida has 13 million registered voters.
Volunteer Firefighters Practice Water Shuttles – Something That Saves You Money
August 28, 2018
Volunteer firefighters from four North Escambia fire stations practiced moving a lot of water quickly Monday night at the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Rescue.
The firefighters from Century, McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill learned about tanker truck and drop tank set up procedures…a process that is part of keeping fire insurance ratings and insurance costs lower for local residents.
Tanker trucks and a “drop tank” holding thousands of gallons are used to shuttle and supply water to firefighters when there is no or an inadequate water supply from a nearby fire hydrant.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
$646K Grant To Stabilize Gully Threatening Local Neighborhood
August 28, 2018
Escambia County will use a grant to stabilize a gully that is threatening homes and property in local neighborhood.
The $646,930 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program Grant will be used to stabilize the Motley Court Clear Creek Gully, which begins at the end of Motley Court north of East 10 Mile Road.
The drainage way is located within a 30-foot right of way starting at the north end of Motley Court and extending about 1,700 feet to Clear Creek. An open ditch has eroded into a meandering gully, ranging from 10 to 40 feet wide, 3-20 feet deep and extending to University of West Florida property.
At one location along the gullet an almost vertical slope has been identified adjacent to a property owner’s privacy fence on Crooked Oak Drive. Should this gully be left unattended, Escambia County officials said damage to private properties, homes and and continued degradation of eroded sediment in Clear Creek is eminent.
Escambia County has awarded a $75,265 contract to HDR Engineering, Inc. for design services for the project.
Weapons Stolen From Escambia Sheriff’s SWAT Vehicle
August 28, 2018
Three teens are accused of stealing weapons from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, and those weapons are still missing.
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.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the weapons and other items.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 433-STOP or Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-9620.
The investigation is in connection with several other vehicle burglaries in the same area, the ECSO said.
