Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Bruce Nathan, the Stuart man now suing to get back on the ballot for governor as a no-party affiliated (NPA) candidate, knows he’s in a David-versus-Goliath battle with the state.
And that’s why he’s doing it.
“Somebody finally has to make this stand, (to say) that the Division of Elections doesn’t have the final word,” he told Florida Politics after a Monday afternoon bench trial. “It’s time for us, the people, to take our country back, our state back. The government has run over us.”
Nathan is suing the Division of Elections to get on the November ballot as an NPA candidate for governor, even though he lost the GOP primary for the office in August.
The longtime physical therapist, who’s never before held elected office, argued his own case Monday, schooling himself in the law over the last week, he said.
“We’re all no party affiliates first, then we put a party on top of that,” he told Circuit Judge Karen Gievers.
But to lose a partisan primary and then stay on the ballot as an NPA candidate for the same office subverts the process, argued Ashley Davis, an attorney for the state.
Allowing him on the ballot would render the primary election “superfluous,” she said. “ … He has been eliminated from the race. He cannot (now) recast his candidacy as an NPA.”
Gievers said she will get a ruling out as soon as possible but “probably not today.”
“I would like to see a little more gravitas,” Nathan said after the hearing, referring to the state’s roughly 3.5 million registered NPA voters. “There should be more ability for us to have a say.”
Evening Reads
“Donald Trump and Rod Rosenstein to meet Thursday after Rosenstein weighted resignation” via Kevin Johnson and David Jackson of the USA Today
“If Rosenstein is out, this official from Florida recount could step in” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald
“Trump and Disney: It’s not the first time politics sneaks into theme park” via Gabrielle Russon of the Orlando Sentinel
“New Bill Nelson ads attack Rick Scott, reflect on space flight” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Nelson’s campaign to donate rest of donations it received from Al Franken PAC” via Ashley Killough, Ryan Nobles and David Wright of CNN
“Andrew Gillum, Ron DeSantis funnel money to political parties” via the News Service of Florida
“GOP Cabinet candidates bring in cash” via The News Service of Florida
“A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 4” via Julie Hauserman of the Florida Phoenix
“Feds launch audit of Keys debris contract” via Jim DeFede of CBS Miami
“Darren Soto looks like a growing factor in Florida politics” via Kevin Derby of the Florida Daily
“April Freeman, Democratic candidate for CD 17, dies unexpectedly” via WWSB ABC 7
“Report: ‘True cost of government’ has state $11.6 billion in the red” via John Haughty of Florida Watchdog
“Florida ‘Best and Brightest’ bonus lawsuit heads to mediation” via Jeff Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times
“Sheriff: Pasco deputy kills wife, himself, leaving 4 kids” via The Associated Press
“Tallahassee reconsidering change to bar hours yet again” via Jeff Schweers of the Tallahassee Democrat
“Look up: It’s a full harvest moon tonight” via WFTS
Quote of the Day
“We’ll be determining what’s going on. We want to have transparency, we want to have openness.” — President Donald Trump to reporters Monday, after reports that he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will meet later this week.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host meetings that are part of an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. That’s at 9:30 a.m., Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. Also, 2 p.m., Department of Children and Families, 33 Brent Lane, Pensacola.
James Sweeney, chief economist for Credit Suisse, is slated to speak to the Economic Club of Florida. That’s at noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.
State Rep. Bob Rommel, a Naples Republican, is slated to raise money for his re-election campaign in Collier County’s House District 106. Democrat Sara McFadden is challenging Rommel in the Nov. 6 election. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Edgewater Beach Hotel, 1901 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples.
