Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Thank Goodness For Friday
August 3, 2014
It looked like one of those lazy, hazy midsummer weeks in Tallahassee, when the news cycle joins the residents of the capital city in being stifled by the heat.
The biggest news was — what? The first of many campaign promises that former Gov. Charlie Crist will make as he tries to reclaim his old job? Incumbent Gov. Rick Scott’s inquiries into the traveling habits of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s board members?
Then came Friday.
That’s when Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis ordered the Legislature to draw new congressional districts by Aug. 15, something that will probably require lawmakers to return to the Capitol for a special session. And there are few things lawmakers would like to do less in the middle of campaign season than go to Tallahassee.
Add to that the latest fuel in the always-burning fire between Scott’s office and the Obama Administration and a hearing on how the state should regulate a limited form of medical marijuana, and Friday proved to be a bit of a boost to an otherwise lackluster week.
A CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA?
The last 15 years would seem to prove that Florida doesn’t need anything too complicated to produce a bit of election chaos. A close presidential election or unexpected surge of voters is enough to do the trick.
But Lewis looks to be on the edge of turning the state’s electoral checkers into three-dimensional chess, raising the prospect of a special election that would affect some (but not all) of Florida’s congressional districts. The special election could be announced less than week before the date of the Aug. 26 primary elections.
In addition to telling lawmakers Friday to come up with a new congressional map after he earlier declared two of the districts unconstitutional, Lewis ordered Secretary of State Ken Detzner and local elections supervisors to propose a new voting schedule for any districts that lawmakers would have to redraw.
Lewis didn’t actually order a new election for the seats, and might not until after Aug. 20, when he could hear oral arguments if they are needed.
“It is necessary to get a revised map in place and for me to consider additional evidence as to the legal and logistical obstacles to holding delayed elections for affected districts in 2014,” Lewis wrote. “Time is of the essence.”
Legislators running for office could say the same, given that they need all the time they can get to raise money, and soliciting campaign cash during a session is banned. And that doesn’t even get into the logistical gymnastics that local supervisors say would be required to pull off another election.
Still, the League of Women Voters of Florida, part of a group of organizations and voters that challenged the map, praised Lewis’ ruling.
“This is a champagne moment for Florida voters, who have waited too long for fairly drawn congressional districts,” Deirdre Macnab, the group’s president, said in a statement issued after the ruling. ” … We believe that the restoration of legitimate, representative democracy is well worth one extra trip to the polls.”
Some elections officials were more worried about what might happen to absentee ballots that have already been cast and early votes that will be submitted before and even during the arguments before Lewis.
“It would cause massive voter confusion, and that’s not fair to voters,” said Brian Corley, the supervisor of elections in Pasco County.
Lewis’ decision wasn’t the only election-related kerfuffle making headlines Friday. Scott’s office and campaign slammed as “blatantly political” a letter from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announcing that the Justice Department is monitoring changes to Florida’s election laws.
Scott’s campaign manager Melissa Sellers, in a statement, said the White House is trying to bolster the efforts of Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.
“Attorney General Eric Holder’s letter is just more politics from President Obama — as the White House desperately tries to prop up the sagging campaign of their candidate, Charlie Crist,” Sellers said in her statement. “It isn’t surprising that the same president who used the IRS to persecute his political opponents is now using his attorney general to try the same tactic.”
FLORIDA GOING GREEN?
Like a gateway drug that leads to harder stuff, it seems that the Legislature’s decision to allow limited forms of medical marijuana is merely a precursor to more widespread pharmacological uses of the green, leafy substance.
But first, the state has to set up rules for a form of marijuana that purportedly doesn’t get users high but can dramatically reduce or eliminate life-threatening seizures for children with a rare form of epilepsy. Lawmakers approved that form this spring, as a proposed constitutional amendment looms on the November ballot that could lead to legalizing more-traditional pot for medical purposes.
The Department of Health held a workshop on a draft rule Friday as it races to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement the new law. Prospective pot business owners are griping about being forced to haul their product across the state instead of being able to sell it at multiple storefronts as part of the draft regulations for the new industry.
Also at the top of the list of complaints: health officials’ plan to use a lottery system to pick who will be granted one of five highly sought-after licenses to grow, process and distribute the low-THC cannabis.
Lawyers for Costa Farms, one of the state’s biggest nurseries, implied that the rule might be challenged if the lottery provision is not dropped. Health officials have indicated they want to keep the lottery system intact, in part to avoid drawn-out legal fights.
Department of Health General Counsel Jennifer Tschetter said the draft rule includes a “heightened standard with qualitative analysis, but ultimately a lottery” would remain in the final proposal.
“Our goal is to get this product to patients as soon as possible,” she said. “We want to get a rule in place that can be in effect 20 days after it’s adopted.”
The hearing came just a few days after a new poll found that almost 90 percent of Florida voters want doctors to be able to order marijuana for patients.
Young and old Floridians overwhelmingly support letting sick patients get high for medical reasons, according to the poll, but getting voters to put medical marijuana into the state constitution is still not a guarantee.
The poll by Quinnipiac University, released Monday, found that 88 percent of Florida voters — including 83 percent of voters age 65 and older and 95 percent of those between 18 and 29 — approve of medical marijuana
But even supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment acknowledged that the poll results may overestimate Floridians’ support.
“The poll is just another demonstration that support for this is broad,” said Ben Pollara, executive director of United We Care, the group responsible for getting the proposal on the November ballot and working to get it passed.
But critics of the proposal, who’ve pumped at least $3 million into efforts to kill it and are prepared to spend more, blasted the semantics of the poll, as well as its findings. The proposal that will appear before voters in November, bankrolled by Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, would allow doctors to decide whether patients who have debilitating medical conditions could receive medical marijuana. Doctors could not “prescribe” the substance, which would be distributed by state-licensed operators.
“This poll has been, and continues to be, a complete outlier in support of medical marijuana because it asks a question that won’t be on the ballot. Amendment 2 doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription,” said Sarah Bascom, spokeswoman for the “Vote No on 2″ campaign.
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?
In one of Scott’s few activities this week not connected to his campaign — at least not on the surface — the governor’s office indicated it wants the head of state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to explain why Scott’s requested ban on foreign travel hasn’t been followed.
Karl Rasmussen, Scott’s director of Cabinet affairs, sent a sharply worded letter Thursday to Citizens President Barry Gilway advising him to attend the Aug. 19 Cabinet meeting to discuss why Citizens board members continue to take international business trips.
“Gov. Scott previously called on Citizens board members to change their travel policy so it prohibited international travel and permitted only essential employees to attend board meetings,” Rasmussen wrote. “Recent media stories report that not only have these requests been rebuffed, but Citizens board members have continued international travel, sometimes at excessive costs to state taxpayers.”
The Palm Beach Post reported Sunday that Citizens Chairman Chris Gardner was given approval to spend two nights in a $425-per night resort in Bermuda in April.
Gardner was working on a multimillion-dollar reinsurance issue for Citizens. The hotel rate exceeded Citizens’ $373-per night cap on Bermuda travel.
Gardner repaid the difference in May after the Post asked for the travel records.
Gilway, who said this week only that he would attend the Cabinet meeting, has previously defended some of the travel, noting that international travel sometimes comes with high costs that are hard to avoid.
STORY OF THE WEEK: A Leon County judge orders the Legislature to redraw congressional districts by Aug. 15, a requirement that will likely lead to a special session.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It sounds a little cozy to be staying at your daughter’s apartment.”—George Collins, an Orlando Republican and tea party member challenging Rep. Tom Goodson, R-Titusville, on questions about the incumbent’s residency.
McDavid ‘Sew N So’ Club Honored With State Association Award
August 3, 2014
The McDavid “Sew N So” Club has won the Florida Health Care Activity Coordinators Association 2014 Community Involvement Award. The club provides residents at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center with handmade wheelchair caddies, pillows, lap robes and activity pillows. They also assist with special occasions. The award was presented recently in Daytona Beach to club member Hilda Malone. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shriners Hospital To Provide Free Medical Screenings
August 3, 2014
On August 5, medical staff from Shriners Hospitals for Children – Galveston will host a free screening clinic for children up to age 18 in Mobile.
The pediatric burn care center is internationally recognized for acute burn care and reconstructive surgery, but the hospital also provides expert care conditions that include pressure ulcers, infected wounds, amputations, microtia deformities, craniofacial deformities, hemangiomas, port wine stains, hairy nevus, soft tissue infections, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa and necrotizing fasciitis.
All care and services at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Galveston are provided regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Additionally, local chapters of Shriners International in Mobile, Biloxi, and Pensacola provide transportation to and from the hospital and assist in offsetting transportation costs.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to visit with families from various communities across Alabama, Mississippi and Florida,” said Mary Jaco, hospital administrator. “Our goal is to identify children with specialty needs and ensure that they receive the care they need regardless of their families’ financial situation,” Jaco continued.
The free screening clinic will be hosted on Tuesday, August 5 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Mobile chapter of Shriners International at 7701 Hitt Road in Mobile
Wahoos Beat Smokies 2-1
August 3, 2014
Juan Duran homered in the seventh inning with two outs to break a 1-1 tie, and the Blue Wahoos bullpen held on for the 2-1 win at Smokies Park on Saturday night.
The Smokies got their lone run in the first, when Jon Moscot (W, 6-10) issued a bases-loaded walk to Christian Villanueva. Moscot went on to turn in a great start logging 6.0 innings with four walks and five strikeouts. He allowed just five hits on his way to his sixth win of the season.
Seth Mejias-Brean tripled home Pensacola’s first run in the fourth to tie the game at one. Smokies right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha over ran the line drive leading to the triple which scored Chris Berset from second base. In the seventh, Juan Duran worked the count full after falling behind 0-2 before launching the go-ahead and game-winning home run into the left field stands.
Fabian Williamson followed Moscot into the game with two scoreless innings before Shane Dyer (S, 14) pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Cubs top pitching prospect C.J. Edwards started for the Smokies, but was limited to just 3.1 innings before reaching his pitch limit. He allowed just 1 R/ER on two hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts. Tony Zych (L, 4-5) took the loss in relief for Tennessee. The home run was the only hit and run he allowed over 1.1 innings.
The Blue Wahoos were able to hold Smokies shortstop Addison Russell to just a 1-for-4 game, making him just 2-for-13 in the series against his hometown team.
Pensacola can win the series with a victory on Sunday afternoon. The Wahoos will send RHP Robert Stephenson (5-7, 4.19) to the mound against Smokies RHP Pierce Johnson (3-4, 2.98). First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT at Smokies Park.
Teen Cited After Running Stop Sign, Hitting Car And House
August 2, 2014
A Pensacola teen was ticketed after running a stop sign and hitting a vehicle and a house Friday afternoon in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 16-year old David Lane Godwin was traveling west on Kingsfield Road in a 2014 Dodge Challenger when he failed to stop for a stop sign at County Road 97. His vehicle was hit by a 2006 Ford 500 driven by 51-year old Tamala Ann Mattheiss of Cantonment, forcing the Dodge Challenger to travel about 63 feet before striking a house in the 1700 block of Highway 97.
Godwin and Mattheiss were both transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious injuries. Godwin’s passenger, 15-year old Preston Layne Walker of Cantonment, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The house sustained about $3,000 in damages, according to the FHP.
Troopers cited Godwin for running a stop sign.
Pictured: A vehicle collided with another vehicle and a house Friday afternoon in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Sample Ballots Mailed To Escambia Voters
August 2, 2014
Sample ballots for for the August 26 primary election were mailed to Escambia County voters this week. The sample ballot includes a ballot image, the voter’s polling location and information on early voting, absentee voting, and voting on Election Day. A sample ballot is also available at EscambiaVotes.com.
Voters have three different ways to cast their ballot:
- By Mail: Voters may vote by mail using an absentee ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), or fax (850-595-3914). Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, August 20. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location. Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com by clicking Track My Ballot.
- Early Voting: Early voting will be available Saturday, August 16 through Saturday, August 23 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Early voters will cast paper ballots through our digital scanners. Two new locations have been added, giving voters seven sites from which to choose:
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street
- Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Pensacola Interstate Fair, 6655 Mobile Highway
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- At Your Precinct: The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day, August 26, using our digital scanners. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until
7:00 p.m. An AutoMARK ballot marking device is also available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.
Voters are reminded to bring their photo and signature ID with them to the polls, and are encouraged to contact the Elections Office by phone or e-mail with any questions.
Report: Crime On The Decline In Escambia County
August 2, 2014
The latest numbers released Friday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office show a downward trend in the number of crimes in the county.
The semi-annual Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) statistics for the first half of 2014indicate the number of violent crimes in Escambia County decreased by 16.2 percent with the total index crimes down 11.4 percent compared to the first half of 2013. Other positive trends included a reduction in property crimes by10 percent. Most significantly, instances of robbery fell by nearly 40 percent.
Homicides were down 22 percent from nine in the first half of 2013 to seven in the first half of 2014. Forcible sex offenses were down 15 percent, while aggravated assault/battery crimes dropped 8.6 percent. Burglaries dropped 12.9 percent, larcenies were down about 9 percent and motor vehicle thefts dropped about 20 percent.
The number of arrests were also down, adults by 16.1 percent and juveniles by 21.5 percent.
The Escambia Count Sheriff’s Office submits the semi-annual crime stats to to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Confirmed In Escambia Horse
August 2, 2014
An unimmunized horse in Escambia County was recently euthanized because it contracted the mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
According to the Escambia County Department of Health, unimmunized horses throughout the county are at risk for this disease. Horse owners are encouraged to keep current all equine immunizations for mosquito-borne diseases.
To protect horses from the effects of this disease, vaccinations should be current and delivered on a frequency of two times each year, every six months in consultation with a local veterinary professional. In horses, the clinical presentation of EEE includes the following: apprehension, depression, elevated temperature, head shaking, muscle twitching, incoordination, weakness of hind limbs, inability to stand, aimless wandering, head pressing and listlessness.
EEE was first recognized in Escambia County, Florida in 1937.
While EEE rarely infects humans, transmission of the virus to humans is possible from the bite of an infected mosquito. Human signs and symptoms of EEE infection can include sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, and coma. Severe cases of EEE infection in humans can lead to brain damage or death. Persons experiencing symptoms of a mosquito-borne disease should seek immediate medical care.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 2, 2014
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the week ending July 31.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Escambia River when he observed a boat beached on a sandbar with three people sitting in it. As he approached them, he observed one of the men make a quick movement as though he was hiding something. After receiving consent to search, Officer Hutchinson located a drug pipe in a tackle box. One of the men stated that he used to smoke meth and he kept the pipe in case he ever wanted to again. Officer Hutchinson then located a bag of cannabis which the other man stated that he brought. He issued notices to appear to the two men for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.
Officers responded to a call regarding a drifting PWC near the Garcon Point Bridge. The US Coast Guard (USCG) and local fire and rescue personnel also responded. The owners of the PWC reported that three girls left on the PWC and were missing. After a quick search, the girls were located between Gulf Breeze and Pensacola by Midway Fire and Rescue as the strong current had swept them away from land and towards the Three Mile Bridge. The girls hit a wave in the rough bay and fell off of the PWC. The strong winds kept them from reaching the PWC, but they were wearing PFDs and stayed together for several hours until they were rescued.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Weekend Gardening: August To Do List
August 2, 2014
Here are gardening tips for the month of August from the UF/IFAS Extension program:
What to Plant
- Bedding Plants: The hottest days of summer limit planting now to heat tolerant vinca, gaillardia, bulbine, and coleus.
- Bulbs:Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
- Herbs: Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger,Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
- Vegetables: This month starts the fall planting season. Many cool season crops can be planted now, including a final crop of warm-season vegetables such as pepper. Tomato can be planted for the fall garden.
- Lawn problems: Damaged areas can be the result of insects, disease, or irrigation problems. Be sure to determine the cause so the proper remedy is used. Use a sharp mower blade and only remove 1/3 of grass blade to reduce stress on the lawn.
- Palms: If older fronds are yellowing, you may have a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.
- Poinsettias: Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.
- Ornamental Plants: Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants. Fertilize those plants that show signs of deficiencies.
- Bedding Plants: Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.
- Adjust irrigation based on rainfall.
- Deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms.
- Monitor the garden for insects and disease.
- Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and water until established.