Last Call for 4.5.18 — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics

Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

A celebration of life and memorial service for the late Walter Dartland will be held this Friday, April 6, at 11 a.m., at the FSU Alumni Center, 1030 W. Tennessee St., Tallahassee.

He died March 1 after a battle against lymphoma.

Tributes to the man known as ‘Florida’s superhero consumer advocate and champion’ will be shared by Dartland’s family and friends. More recently, Dartland, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District against Republican Neal Dunn.

Dartland “made life better for millions of Floridians and Americans with a lifetime of service in taking on corporate giants and others whenever the public interest was being subverted,” said his longtime friend and Tallahassee PR guru, Ron Sachs.

“From fighting and beating Ford for early-rust defects in many of their models back in the 1980s and authoring Florida’s landmark ‘Lemon Law,’ to protecting consumers from faulty vehicles and championing the case for black residents in Port St. Joe whose homes were falling apart from shoddy construction, Walt Dartland never backed down from a consumer challenge,” Sachs added.

Evening Reads

“Above normal hurricane season forecast” via Kim Miller of the Palm Beach Post

“Will disaster contracting issue raise a story of controversy” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics

“Leon County judge rules against school districts’ challenge of HB 7069” via Jeffrey Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times

“New law Scott signed makes public access to beaches harder to establish” via Craig Pittman of the Tampa Bay Times

“Calls increase for Irma aid to flow to farmers” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida

“Constitutional review panel’s ‘style’ committee wraps up work” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics

“Another GOP candidate for Attorney General. Another mysterious windfall in campaign cash.” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times

“Gus Bilirakis, Kathy Castor target Zombie Campaigns loophole with new restrictions” via Chris O’Donnell and Noah Pransky of the Tampa Bay Times/WTSP

“Milton Democrat hopes to run against Matt Gaetz” via Jennie McKeon of Northwest Florida Daily News

“Donna Shalala reports $1.17 million haul in 3 weeks” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida

“Workers run for their lives as crane topples over in St. Petersburg” via The Associated Press

Quote of the Day

“Ultimately the thing that drives long-term debt is the structure of very important programs that I support, Medicare and Social Security. I want to save those programs. They need to be reformed for future generations.” — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, in Jacksonville.

Bill Day’s Latest

Breakthrough Insights  

Wake Up Early?

Campaign finance reports are due Friday in an April 10 special election in Palm Beach County’s Senate District 31. Democrat Lori Berman and Republican Tami Donnally are running for the seat, which became open when former Sen. Jeff Clemens, a Lake Worth Democrat, resigned after disclosures about an affair with a lobbyist.

The Republican Party of Florida will start its two-day spring quarterly meeting, with the events including an evening “chairman’s caucus” meeting. That’s at 9 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tampa Airport-Westshore, 4500 West Cypress St., Tampa.

Republican candidate for Governor Adam Putnam will make a “tax-related announcement” in Tampa. That’s at 10 a.m., Kimmins Contractors, 1501 E. Second Ave., Tampa.

Grace Nelson, whose husband, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, is running for re-election this year, is scheduled to take part in a “meet and eat” event with the Greater Tarpon Springs Democratic Club. That’s at 11:30 a.m., Mama Maria’s 503 North Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs.

The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches will host a discussion about school safety after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. That’s at 11:45 a.m., Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Cohen Pavilion, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.

Staff members for GOP U.S. Sen. Rubio will hold “mobile” office hours in Osceola County. That’s at 1 p.m., Advance Senior Center, 2260 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee.

Ed Moore, president of Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida, and Rudy Fernandez, a former White House staff member for President George W. Bush, are scheduled to take part in a media conference call to discuss results of a poll on immigration issues by New American Economy and TargetPoint Consulting. That’s at 2:30 p.m. Media call-in number: 1-877-876-9177. Conference ID: NAEPoll.

Nelson will host a roundtable discussion with local elected officials to discuss issues important to the community, including the recently passed government spending bill and the latest efforts in Congress to address school safety and gun violence. That’s at 3:45 p.m., Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, 3201 Scherer Drive North, Clearwater.

Putnam also will host a “Florida Feast” for supporters. That’s at 6 p.m., Blackbeard’s Ranch at the Seminole Wind Chickee, 15800 Coker Gully Road, Myakka City.

House Democratic Leader-designate Kionne McGhee will host a ‘town hall’ panel discussion on gun violence and the need for improved school safety. That’s at 7 p.m., Cutler Bay Town Center Council Chambers, 10720 Caribbean Blvd., Cutler Bay.