Committee Moves Forward With Florida Voting Bill
March 11, 2014
A Senate committee Monday moved forward with a bill that would allow online voter registration in Florida and put new restrictions on drop-off locations for absentee ballots.
The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee unanimously approved introducing the measure (SPB 7068), which will still have to return to the panel for another vote. Because of that, Democrats backed away from offering amendments that could still become flashpoints in the debate over the measure.
Much of the controversy over the provisions in the bill focused on language that would allow elections supervisors to provide secure boxes to receive absentee ballots, but only at early-voting locations and supervisor of elections’ offices.
The language is a response to a Nov. 25 directive by Secretary of State Ken Detzner essentially ordering supervisors to stop providing locations other than the supervisors’ offices where voters could drop off completed absentee ballots.
But Pinellas County Supervisor Deborah Clark threatened to defy that order in a set of elections to choose a successor for the late Congressman C.W. Bill Young. Eventually, Detzner agreed not to go to court in an effort to force Clark to follow the directive.
Ethics and Elections Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said the incident is part of a long-running quest by Clark to move toward voting by mail. He claimed Clark opens just three early-voting locations in an effort to push voters toward casting absentee ballots.
“What we have here is we have one supervisor of elections who has decided to try to do everything possible to have vote-by-mail elections. … She’s made a policy decision that affects everybody, that we’re going to have mail elections,” Latvala said. “And I just frankly think that’s wrong.”
Latvala said that, in part, he was trying to force Clark to open more early-voting locations, and complained about the possible unintended consequences of voting by mail.
“I’m waiting on the day when somebody gets indicted on the Thursday before the election, and they get elected because everybody’s already voted and they can’t get their ballot back,” he said.
The online voting-registration portion of the bill, following legislation filed by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, was applauded by Democrats on the committee and voting-rights organizations, though some are concerned about a provision of the legislation requiring people who use the method to vote in person the first time.
By encouraging Democrats to offer their amendments when the bill comes through the committee again, the panel avoided a politically sensitive clash over the possible use of Reitz Union at the University of Florida as an early-voting location. Democrats were looking to reverse an order from Detzner barring the student union from being used as an early-voting site in municipal elections.
Latvala contended that if elections officials had asked to use the site as a “bonus pick” provided by law, instead of trying to use it under a provision that allows officials to designate a community center as a site for early ballots, it would have been approved.
“I think there would have been a different answer if it had been asked that way. … No one asked that question with respect to the Reitz Union,” he said.
But UF students who showed up at the meeting still said the rules should be changed.
“There’s no reason why the student union should be used as the bonus location when it could easily be an already-set location,” said Jose Miranda, 21, a senior at the university.
Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law Under Fire, But Likely To Remain
March 11, 2014
Civil-rights leader Al Sharpton led a crowd of about 1,000 people to the Florida Capitol on Monday, demanding that Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature fix or repeal the “stand your ground” self-defense law.
Sharpton marched alongside the parents of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, two teens the marchers said were wrongly killed under Florida’s first-in-the-nation law, which allows people to use deadly force when they feel their lives are in danger and provides immunity from prosecution.
“Florida is ground zero for a sick and wicked law that has now spread through 23 other states,” Sharpton told the crowd on the Capitol steps. “It started in Florida, and we’ve come to start the ending of it in Florida.”
Speakers ranged from prominent black pastors to radio personality Tom Joyner to Democratic politicians who tried and failed to repeal the law last year.
The speakers invoked Martin, who was killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, and Davis, who was killed by Michael Dunn in Jacksonville, both in 2012. They also invoked Marissa Alexander, who faces 60 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband.
All three are African American.
“Now, this bill started out fine,” said U.S. Rep. Corinne Brown, D-Fla.. “Defend your castle. That’s your home. But there’s something wrong when you can shoot a warning shot and get 60 years — Miss Alexander — and you can shoot and kill a black person and feel threatened when you started the fight!”
But House Judiciary Chairman Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, defended the law against criticism from Sharpton and others.
“This scenario that he’s painted that old white vigilantes are going around hunting down young teenage black kids and murdering them in the street — he knows that is not what’s happened,” Baxley said. “That fits the myth, and that fits the scenario that he wants to paint, but it’s a very dangerous one. It’s very irresponsible, and it will get people hurt that shouldn’t be.”
After the 17-year-old Martin was shot and killed in February 2012, Zimmerman was not immediately charged; he claimed he shot the teen in self-defense. Protests spread nationwide, and in their wake Gov. Rick Scott appointed a task force to review the “stand your ground” law. The task force, which concluded its work before a jury acquitted Zimmerman of second-degree murder charges, recommended minor tweaks to the law but concluded it should remain intact.
Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin in self-defense, but did not use “stand your ground” to avoid being prosecuted. The law, however, spawned changes to jury instructions that at least one Zimmerman juror said resulted in the not-guilty verdict.
After Zimmerman was acquitted last July, a group called the Dream Defenders sat in at the Capitol for 31 days, calling for a special legislative session on the law. State leaders denied the request.
Davis, also 17, was killed at a gas station in a car with three other black youths after arguing with Dunn over loud music. Dunn, a white man, claimed he shot at the teenagers because he thought they had a weapon in the car. Last month a Jacksonville jury found Dunn guilty of four charges related to the shooting — but could not reach a decision on first-degree murder.
That prompted the Rev. R. B. Holmes, Jr., the vice-chairman of Scott’s “stand your ground” task force, to ask the governor to seek a repeal of the law.
“Mister Governor,” Holmes called Monday. “I served as the vice-chair of your task force. We said to you, ‘Please, sir, study this law.’ If this law (is) being applied unjustly, unwisely and unfairly, then the moral thing to do is repair it or repeal it.”
Holmes, who is black, has said that Scott should implement the task force’s suggested review of the law “to analyze if black people and poor people are being the victim of misapplication.”
The likelihood of that is not great. A bill that would have repealed “stand your ground” failed last fall, and lawmakers are now considering expanding the law. The House Judiciary Committee voted overwhelmingly last month to approve what has become known as the “warning shot” bill, readying it to go to the full House. The bill (HB 89), sponsored by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, would grant immunity to people who threaten to use force, including displaying weapons or firing warning shots, in self-defense.
In any case, Baxley, the House sponsor of “stand your ground” when it passed in 2005, said the law didn’t apply in the cases or either Martin or Davis, because their killers were charged and tried before juries.
He also said he’d tried to explain to members of the black legislative caucus that “there is no color line” in the “stand your ground” law.
“As a matter of fact, the numbers show that twice as many African Americans are protected by our law than the general population, if you look at the number of people who successfully use self-defense claims of stand your ground to avoid prosecution,” he said.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Northwest Florida House Members Have Big Money Month
March 11, 2014
Across North Florida, incumbent House Republicans raked in campaign cash in February, according to newly filed finance reports.
In Escambia County’s District 1 which includes North Escambia, Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, collected $37,300 during February, giving him an overall total of $107,250. Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Midway, raised $60,950 for his campaign account during the month, bringing the overall total to $109,000 as he seeks re-election in House District 3 in Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties.
Meanwhile, across the top of the state, Rep. Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, raised $42,350 during the month, giving him a total of $120,671 in Clay County’s District 18. To the east and south, Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, brought in $28,801 in February and reported an overall total of $73,796. Hutson is seeking another term in House District 24, which includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties.
by The News Service of Florida
Blue Angels Change NAS Pensacola Practice Times
March 11, 2014
The Blue Angels are changing their Tuesday and Wednesday weekly practice demonstration times onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) for the 2014 air show season. The scheduled practice demonstrations will now begin at 11:30 a.m. onboard the air station.
This change more closely matches the time the Blue Angels typically perform at air shows. The later practice time will also help alleviate some of the traffic arriving onboard the base during the busy morning commute.
The Blue Angel pilots will be at the National Naval Aviation Museum Wednesdays immediately following the practice demonstration to meet the public and sign autographs.
Public viewing of the Blue Angel practice demonstrations is available at the designated seating area behind the museum.
Pictured: The Blue Angels practice at NAS Pensacola last year. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Senate Backs Tax Holiday Smaller Than Scott Wants
March 11, 2014
Senators started moving forward Monday with a sales-tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers, but the proposal is a week shorter than requested by Gov. Rick Scott.
The sponsor of the bill, however, hasn’t closed the book on extending the proposed discount timeframe from three days to 10 days.
The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Monday unanimously supported the measure (SB 792) by Sen. Anitere Flores that would lift sales taxes on clothes, school supplies and electronics for three days at the start of August.
The Miami Republican said a big factor in the eventual length of the sales-tax holiday period will be updated revenue estimates Wednesday from state economists.
“I’m hopeful that there is going to be some more money for us to be able to invest in this,” Flores said after the committee meeting. “To me, the 10 days (for a sales-tax holiday) is more important because the 10 days encompasses two weekends.”
In December, the state economists, formally known as the Revenue Estimating Conference, projected lawmakers would have a surplus of about $1 billion to play with as they craft a spending plan for the next budget year.
Scott later proposed a 10-day holiday period that his office estimated would save taxpayers about $60 million.
The Revenue Estimating Conference projected a 3-day school sales-tax holiday would reduce state and local government revenue by $39 million.
The economic estimate factored in individual pieces of clothing worth up to $100 being sales-tax free.
Scott in his sales-tax holiday request asked for the clothing discount to be $100 or less.
Under Flores’ bill, during the discount period, no sales tax would be collected on purchases of clothing that costs $75 or less, school supplies that cost $15 or less, and personal computers and related accessories for non-commercial use that costs $750 or less.
Flores said the clothing total will also depend upon the revenue projection.
The House version (HB 1015) sponsored by Rep. Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, includes a 10-day tax-free period starting Aug. 1. It would give a tax break on clothes that cost $75 or less.
Flores’ proposal must still get through the Senate Finance and Tax Subcommittee and the Appropriations Committee.
Macy’s, Associated Industries of Florida and the Florida Retail Federation expressed their support for the Senate bill on Monday. Retailers are expected to offer additional deals to highlight the discount period and draw people to buy items that will continue to be taxed.
The back-to-school tax holiday has ranged from three to nine days since lawmakers introduced it in 1998. The discount wasn’t provided during the recession in 2008 and 2009 and has been set at three-days the past four years.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Jay Upends Northview’s Varsity; Northview’s JV Downs Jay
March 11, 2014
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals split a couple of games Monday in Bratt.
The junior varsity Chiefs defeated the JV Royals 7-2, while the varsity Chiefs lost to Jay 2-1.
In varsity action, Aaron McDonald was 1-2, Branon Freeman was 1-3 and RJ Pritchett was 1-3 with a double and an RBI for Northview. For Jay, Dalton Edwards was 3-3 with 2 RBIs, A.J. Nash was 1-3 and Steven Archer 1-3. Dalton Edwards pitched seven for the Jay win, allowing one run, four hits, one error and striking out 10. Brannon Freeman took the loss for the Chiefs, pitching five while allowing two runs an five hits.
Northview will travel to Holmes County Tuesday with the JV playing at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00. The varsity Jay Royals will host T.R. Miller at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge
Controversy Emerges Over Allowing Guns In Schools
March 11, 2014
Military veterans or retired law-enforcement officers with concealed weapons permits and special training could be designated to bring guns into elementary, middle and high schools under a proposal moving through the Florida Legislature.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee approved the controversial proposal (SB 968) by a 5-2 vote on Monday over the objections of the Florida School Boards Association and members of the public, many of whom had participated in a march earlier in the day led by civil-rights leader Al Sharpton. The group was protesting the state’s “stand your ground” law. Florida parent groups and the state teachers’ union also oppose the measure.
The measure is similar to one pushed by the National Rifle Association in the aftermath of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 students and six school staff.
Under the bill, principals and school superintendents could appoint staff members or volunteers who are military veterans with honorable discharges, active military or retired law enforcement officials as gun-toting “designees.” They would be required to carry concealed weapons with them at all times on school property. The designees would have to undergo 40 hours of school-safety training and an additional 12 hours of special training annually, comprised of eight hours of active shooter training and four hours of firearm-proficiency training.
The measure is intended to prevent another Sandy Hook or Columbine in Florida and would be optional, said bill sponsor Alan Hays, R-Umatilla.
“Part of our tactics here is to not let those perpetrators of evil, for them to think there’s no weapons at a school so I can go in there and not have any resistance. They don’t know that there are going to be weapons there but neither do they know that there are not,” Hays said.
But Florida School Boards Association Executive Director Wayne Blanton said that many schools already have school resource officers, who are active law-enforcement officers, and that the goal is to have such an officer in each school.
“Uniformed, trained, police officers in every school… That’s what we really need,” Blanton said. “We do not need teachers, or in this case, volunteers, in our schools, carrying weapons.”
The proposal now leaves decisions about whether to have an armed “designee” up to school principals. Hays said he would amend the measure to allow school boards to decide whether they want such a program, instead of leaving it up to principals.
by Dara Kim, The News Service of Florida
Sherri Carter Named Bratt Elementary Teacher Of The Year
March 11, 2014
Third grade teacher Sherri Mooney Carter was named Teacher of the Year at Bratt Elementary School.
Carter has been teaching for 18 years – her first eight years as a kindergarten teacher at Century Elementary and her last 10 years at Bratt. She received her bachelor degree from the University of West Florida and earned a master’s degree from Troy State University.
Carter said she loves teaching and working with students and parents.
She was honored at the Golden Apple Awards reception recently at New World Landing in Pensacola.
Softball Wins For Tate, Northview
March 11, 2014
The Tate Lady Aggies (10-1 , 5-0) continued their winning ways Monday with an 11-1 win over Fort Walton Beach. Tori Perkins hit a home run for the Lady Aggies. Tate Hitters: Casey McCrackin 2-3, R, 2 RBIs, 2 2B; Kaylen Rowell 1-2, 2B; Rachel Dunsford 2-4, R, 2B; Tori Perkins 1-3, R, 3 RBIs, HR; Bridget Dall 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B; Brooke Howe 1-3, R, 4 RBIs, 2B.
The Aggies will host Crestview Thursday at 6:30.
The Northview High School Chief’s varsity softball team defeated Freeport Monday, 9-1. A junior varsity game was scheduled, but Freeport does not currently have enough JV players for a team due to injuries.
Going Up: Construction Continues On New Ernest Ward Middle
March 10, 2014
Construction is making visible progress for a new $17 million Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. The new building, expected to open to students as early as January 2015, following Christmas Break 2014, will be an ultra modern, energy efficient building.
Escambia County voters played a big part in making the $17 million facility a reality, thanks to the voter-approved half cent sales tax. Escambia is one of 16 of Florida’s 67 counties where voters have approved the half cent sales tax, which can be used for construction projects.
“If it were not for the half cent sales tax, we could not do things like build the new Ernest Ward,” Escambia County Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.
For more photos showing the construction progress as of about two weeks ago, click here. NorthEscambia.com will continue to provide construction updates and photos periodically over the next year.
The oldest buildings on the current Ernest Ward campus, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.
Pictured top and inset: Recent aerial photos of construction at Ernest Ward Middle School show the footprint of the new building, directly behind the current school. (courtesy FastAerial.com). Pictured below: Class construction. Pictured bottom: The foundation. Pictured bottom: Lunchroom foundation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
