Peter Schorsch
The big story of the week in Jacksonville happened Wednesday evening. Mayor Lenny Curry plans to put his pension tax referendum up to a vote in August. Curry’s plan hopes to tackle the unfunded pension liability that bedevils local budgets, including the one being devised for next fiscal year
The official reason: “This is a financial crisis and we need to get certainty on solving the unfunded pension liability. The earliest date we can go is August.”
Going in August or in November matters in this case because of what the pension tax is intended to facilitate.
The “deferred contribution” model of paying off the pension tax creates breathing room via amortization of the obligations of the closed pension plan. The amortization payment in the projected 2017 actuarial valuation stands at $118 million, amortized over 18 years. A 30-year term would lower the payment to $80 million; if 57 percent of that is counted as an asset, the amortized payment is $56 million. In a billion-dollar budget, that projected $62 million in savings represents 6.2 percent more operating capital.
Good stuff! But a caveat: The old defined benefits pension plan won’t be fully funded for decades; even in 2045, it would be at 60 percent.
Whatever the projections, the pension tax now looms over all local campaigns. Candidates backed by the Mayor will, no doubt, make the case. As will the myriad locals who still want to be on good terms with Hizzoner.
What of those left out in the cold? Will they take the anti-tax “populist” position? In crowded races, especially in state House Districts 11 and 12, there’s no reason not to – if Curry isn’t backing you anyway.
Curry needs to get to 50 percent plus 1 in August. His political team believes he has the personal favorability and name ID numbers to do it.
But another caveat …
August voters, by and large, will be conservative Republicans, voting in the battle royale of the GOP Senate primary (as of yet, neither Alan Grayson nor Patrick Murphy have made plays here. And independents, of course, will only be showing up to vote on this, which should suppress their vote unless they’re motivated).
Are the most conservative voters in Duval ready to vote to “extend” their half-cent sales tax? Including the subset who chafed over Curry backing Marco Rubio instead of Donald Trump in March? That question may be what this whole effort is predicated upon.
Another development worth watching: How will voters – who by and large know that they have no pension, that they will work until they die – react to paying a tax until 2060 to protect Jacksonville pensions, most notably, that of John Keane and the Police and Fire Pension Fund.
Get your popcorn ready. Word is that the Chamber wasn’t enthusiastic about a tax referendum when Alvin Brown was mayor. Now, of course, it’s all in.
Everyone who “matters” is. But will the voters be?
– “Seeking swift resolution to massive pension debt, Mayor Lenny Curry wants voters to weigh sales-tax in August” via Nate Monroe of The Florida Times-Union.
>>> Look for the same ace team that propelled Curry to the Mayor’s Office to manage the August referendum. The team’s leadership will fall to Curry’s chief advisers and political dynamic duo, Brian Hughes and Tim Baker. Look for Hughes wearing out his tires on the back-and-forth drive from Tallahassee to Jacksonville, while Baker encamps in Jax. Joining them will be the numbers geniuses from Data Targeting, led by Pat Bainter. One question not yet answered is the political entity that drives the campaign, although rumors are that a new, stand-alone committee will likely be formed.
“Tommy Hazouri human trafficking awareness bill hits bump in Finance” via FloridaPolitics.com – 2016-130 would require posting “public awareness signs” regarding human trafficking in strip clubs (“adult entertainment facilities”) and the seedier “bodywork” parlors. Questions emerged in Finance regarding the financial effect of this legislation, including a registry and database of businesses, that would require dedicated staff resources that Council Vice President Lori Boyer observed would occasion a “bureaucracy” … John Crescimbeni, saying that he supports the bill, noted that the legislation is more limited than state requirements, adding that if the legislation would be extended to all industries with human trafficking issues, enforcement would be more of an issue. After the 40-minute discussion, a frustrated Hazouri said that the deferral was “disappointing to people who have been pushing on this.”
>>Speaking of Hazouri, he’s listed in this week’s edition of FOLIO as “one of 29 influential locals who stomp around, kicking ass and taking names, saving lives through advancements in medicine, opening their hearts and homes to strangers, and generally crusading for the environment, social justice, truth and the American way, Northeast Florida-style.” Here’s the cover:
“Lenny Curry deserves credit for fighting Jax’s failed septic tanks” via John Burr – Protectors of the St. Johns River should give Curry credit for his focus on battling failed septic tanks in the city. The city’s admittedly small $30 million, five-year plan to clean up some of the worst problems is the first effort announced by the city in many years to try to control a major source of water pollution to the St. Johns and its many tributaries. The urge to throw in a scatological metaphor here is overwhelming, but I will resist.
Suffice it to say, the $30 million announced this week (to be paid jointly by the city and the Jacksonville Electric Authority) is a proverbial drop in the bucket to address a potentially $500 million problem. The real solution is to extend the JEA’s sewer lines into old and new neighborhoods and get homes off polluting septic tanks.
The septic tank industry makes the point that septic tanks are not the problem, it’s the people who don’t maintain their sewage system that cause the pollution. Like all good obfuscations, this line of argument contains some truth, but it matters not in the summer when the St. Johns River turns a sickly green and fish die from algae blooms ignited by septic tank waste.
Particularly galling: the fact that many hundreds of homes on the river and its tributaries in Duval County, waterfront homes worth a pretty penny, are on decades-old septic tanks. Such homeowners could certainly afford to hook into a city sewer line, if in fact the JEA would extend one to their property.
It’s past time that Jacksonville get its, um, septic tank contents together, and take real steps to help the St. Johns, which public officials like to refer to as “our gem” and “the lifeblood of Jacksonville.” Thank you, Mayor Curry, for keeping the discussion alive and well.
“After crowds turn up for Spark Walk, where does One Spark go next?” via Alexa Epitropoulos of the Jacksonville Business Journal – Early estimates by Downtown Vision put the turnout of Spark Walk event at about 70,000, the biggest attendance at an Art Walk the organization has seen, though those early numbers are, at this point, an estimation based on their experience. So, what does that mean for the future of One Spark’s future? One Spark Board Member Michael Munz said: “I think it’s a huge success.” Munz said he wasn’t sure how long it will take to become sustainable, and that the One Spark team has thought about looking to one of One Spark’s original inspiration, Grand Rapids festival ArtPrize, for guidance. The team is also looking to major festival South by Southwest to see what it can learn. “We’re looking at some similar events and figuring out what their successes and what we can learn from them,” Munz said. “We now have four good years of experience under our belt and some really smart people that can help us evaluate it.”
Top talker – “Our city should let its party flag fly!” via Ron Littlepage of the Florida Times-Union – People most likely left this year’s version of One Spark with different takes on the event. Some enjoyed the entrepreneurs who lined Laura Street to show off their ideas. Some hoped the one-day event would return to the previous format of several days of fun. My impression was the same as when I attended the previous three One Sparks: Jacksonville is a wonderfully diverse city, and Jacksonville loves a good party. While showcasing entrepreneurs may be the organizers’ driving force behind One Spark, it’s the festival atmosphere — the music, the food, the libations, the seeing and being seen — that carries the day. If I were mayor — and we can all be thankful that I’m not — I would have a full-time staffer whose job would be creating fun festivals for downtown. Why downtown? Because it’s everyone’s neighborhood.
“About 400 First Coast businesses support proposed HRO measure in Jacksonville” via Drew Dixon of the Florida Times-Union – The Jacksonville Coalition of Equality now has about 400 local businesses agreeing to support the approval of a human rights ordinance that would provide anti-discriminatory protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents. The nonprofit activist organization announced … companies such as Florida Blue, Winn-Dixie and CSX Transportation have committed to keep “people from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.” Currently, Jacksonville is the largest city in the United Sates that allows discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. The City Council has postponed addressing a measure designed to end such discrimination.
“Surgeon General talks ‘Culture of Prevention’ “ via FloridaPolitics.com – “We have some of the best health care facilities in the world but we’ve all come to realize … that if we don’t pay attention to prevention, we’re going to lose out, because more and more people are getting sick,” SG Vivek Murthy said. He’s a world removed from surgeons general of the past. He sees how “7 out of 10 people in America [have] chronic illness.” And he sees that to remedy that “collective action to make our communities stronger” is essential.
“Health Disparities focus of Community Conversation” via FloridaPolitics.com – As Council president, where will Lori Boyer lead Council in terms of addressing Jacksonville’s inequities in the sphere of public health? Monday night’s Community Conversation on health needs and disparities provided Jacksonville with some indication … She asserted that city government can “facilitate healthy lifestyles wherever possible,” and that “we have a lot of different initiatives” headed into that direction. Whether such action can address generational inequities, which cut along community fissures in race and class that panelists discussed with great specificity, is an open question. With funding a perpetual challenge in low-tax Duval County, individual initiative is a must … “It’s not the same model that the state uses … and it’s not the same model that the Chamber uses so we’d have to create our own,” Boyer said.
“Times-Union buries coverage of Florida’s ‘murder capital’ during gang turf war” via John Burr – The carnage is so routine that The Florida Times-Union posts the latest inside of its Metro section. Item 1, Page B-2 of the April 5 Times-Union: Two teenagers shot to death in a broad daylight shootout, the 30th and 31st homicides in Jacksonville so far this year. A police officer is quoted imploring the community to talk to police to “stop this violence.” Item 2, same page: 20-year-old man shot to death last week in a drive-by shooting had been shot two times previously. Item 3, same page: 19-year-old seriously wounded, shot four times in the leg after walking from a convenience store at 1 a.m., tells police he doesn’t know who shot him.
For decades, Jacksonville has been known as Florida’s murder capital, with the highest total of deaths per year, despite the metro area being less than half the population of Miami or Tampa Bay. Clearly, the city is amid a gang turf war, and we can only surmise that the war is over control of the drug trade. Just as clearly, the police are getting little to no co-operation from people in the neighborhoods directly affected. Jacksonville’s “no snitching” culture is alive and well. Meanwhile, the bodies of young men continue to stack up at the morgue.
“Jax leadership mobilizes against sexual assault” via FloridaPolitics.com – State Attorney Corey said this week’s event was a fulfillment of a 2-year-old dream. In April 2014 “our team began the process of identifying untested rape kits,” she said. To that end, Corey said, the SAO worked to secure funding, and in September, a $1.9 million federal grant was approved to facilitate the process of finally stemming the backlog of test kits, some dating back more than two decades. Now, Corey said, over $3 million is earmarked for the process … Between local measures and legislation on the state level requiring timely tests of kits, Corey says progress has been made.
“Conflict between Matt Shirk, Angela Corey continues to build” via A.G. Gancarski of FloridaPolitics.com – In recent weeks, the office of 4th Circuit Public Defender Shirk has been liberal with criticisms of Corey, as both pivot toward August primaries. February saw Shirk’s office castigate Corey’s shop for disregarding the wishes of the victim’s mother in a murder case, pursuing the death penalty against her wishes, and violating confidentiality by showing the video of the killing to the victim’s brother to strengthen its case (something the mother, Darlene Farah, said has driven a wedge between she and her son). This week, Shirk contended … that Corey’s office exhibited “an atmosphere of contempt … for our very successful Veterans Court,” with only 19 of 111 cases the PD wanted referred to Veterans Court not drawing SAO objections. Corey, meanwhile, [said] his letter was a “diatribe” that was “ridiculous … unprofessional … rather infantile” and “absolutely not based in fact.”
Tweet, tweet: @AngelaCorey2016 PACKED house of Young Republicans to see Angela last night in Avondale. Thank you @JaxYRs for hosting us! #TeamCorey
“4th Circuit hiring contract attorneys to handle appeal motions” via Max Marbut at the Jax Daily Record – The circuit’s in-house lawyers will be getting help after City Council approved the transfer of $86,521 from the Court Innovations-Cash Carryover account to be used to hire contract attorneys … . As of Oct. 1, there were 1,282 motions awaiting review … They will be paid $50 per hour … the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in January moving the decision in Florida death penalty cases out of the judge’s chamber and into the jury room is likely to increase the number of motions filed by defendants who will challenge the legality of their sentences. That makes it even more important to be able to hire contract attorneys … Contract attorneys may work full- or part-time and many work from home … The search will be conducted statewide and it could be a months-long contract, considering the backlog and the expected increase in the never-ending flow of post-conviction motions.
“Aaron Bean celebrates grand opening of Eagle View Windows expansion” via Melissa Ross of FloridaPolitics.com – Sen. Bean was seen in the video invite for the grand opening celebration of a major expansion at Eagle View Windows. According to the owners, with the opening of the new 82,000-square-foot facility in North Jacksonville, the company is doubling its current number of employees.
“CSX wins one over DOT” via Daniel Ducassi of POLITICO – The Florida Supreme Court upheld a ruling in favor of Jacksonville-based railroad company CSX Transportation and against the Florida Department of Transportation. The case involves a 1936 crossing agreement between the predecessors of CSX and the transportation department. That agreement allowed FDOT, then the State Road Department, to build a road that crossed tracks owned by Seaboard Air Line Railway Co., now CSX. The agreement also had the State Road Department assume all costs and legal responsibility associated with the crossing. A lower court awarded CSX more than $500,000 against FDOT as a result of that agreement because of a settlement the Jacksonville company paid after a fatal accident at the crossing in 2002. A couple was driving along State Road 52 in Pasco County, and when a lumber truck drove over the tracks, its trailer disconnected and the lumber fell onto the couple’s car, killing the husband and injuring his wife. The couple’s lawyers argued the crossing was poorly maintained. Justices upheld the lower court ruling, finding in a 7-0 decision that the clause that has FDOT assume legal responsibility for the crossing is valid. The lower court found that because CSX did not require a lump sum payment at the time, and that the only consideration for the agreement was the indemnity clause, the money was simply FDOT’s payment for a license “that apparently was free of charge for its first 65 years.”
“Duval County Public Schools save $6M in utilities with help from JEA program” via Max Marbut of the Financial News & Daily Record – The additional funds aren’t from a tax increase, cutting teacher salaries or providing less instructional materials. They are gained from conserving electricity, which JEA helped the system accomplish. Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said it wasn’t difficult to decide how to spend the money. “It will allow us to fund additional teaching positions in our schools to help students with reading and math,” he said. The district’s energy cost of $151.42 per student is the lowest among the seven largest urban school districts in the state and the second-lowest cost per student among Florida’s 67 school districts.
“Trapac negotiations with JaxPort could lead to shipper’s exit” via Jensen Werley of the Jacksonville Business Journal – If the Jacksonville Port Authority can’t successfully renegotiate its lease with Japanese terminal operator Trapac, the Asian cargo shipper could leave Jacksonville, the port CEO and board members said during a meeting about the negotiations. At stake is Trapac’s $300 million investment in its Jacksonville facility and a significant amount of the nearly 10,000 direct jobs that come from the port. “They are not the only game in town, but they helped us get to where we are, and we would want to do everything we could to ensure they remain here,” Jaxport CEO Brian Taylor said … “But it is clearly possible we may not reach a set of terms that is acceptable to them or acceptable to us.” Among other things, Trapac is asking the Port Authority to move its terminal to a location that would be guaranteed 47 feet of water.
“As container cargo ships become larger, so do the demands on Florida ports.” via JaxPort.com – As the Intracoastal Waterway and St. Johns River converge at Mile Point, the largest, deep-draft container vessels calling JAXPORT’s terminals can only enter the harbor twice daily at high tide. Completing the Mile Point project will significantly reduce this restriction, saving carriers and shippers time as these ships unload and load at JaxPort terminals. Currently, larger container ships can only travel the St. Johns River during two four-hour periods of the day because of the tidal effects at the Mile Point location. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the construction of the project. Crews are excavating along the shore and laying rock mats underwater that will serve as the foundation for the western training wall. Phase I should be completed in the fall. Phase II will begin a year later and focus on restoring marshlands. The state has advanced $43.5 million for design and construction of the Mile Point harbor improvement project.
“Birdseye view of JaxPort Mile Point growth initiative” via Jacksonville Port Authority Facebook page –Photographer Mark’s Photo provides a bird’s eye view of one of JaxPort’s major growth initiatives: Mile Point. The Army Corps of Engineers is correcting cross-currents that restrict the movement of larger ships in and out of the channel during certain times of the day. Phase I is expected to be completed in the fall of this year. Phase II will begin a year later and focus on restoring marshlands.
“Jacksonville Transportation Authority celebrates bus rapid transit initiative” via Melissa Ross of FloridaPolitics.com – JTA says there have been four straight months of ridership growth since launching the First Coast Flyer’s “Green Line.” The rapid bus service operates between the authority’s Rosa Parks Transit Station and Interstate 295 along Lem Turner with stops at major destinations, including FSCJ, VA Clinic, UF Health and Gateway Town Center. JTA also launched a new mobile app for riders called “MyJTA” in conjunction with the Flyer. JTA says the route averages 2,100 trips per weekday and has provided 200,372 trips since it opened Dec. 7, 2015. It’s a much-needed win for the agency, given that criticism of its management of Jacksonville’s much-maligned Skyway system continues apace.
“Flagler County officials face 4 new ethics, elections complaints” via Matt Bruce of The Daytona Beach News-Journal – Several Flagler County leaders were named in a slate of new complaints filed recently with the Florida Commission on Ethics and the Florida Elections Commission, Flagler Attorney Al Hadeed told county commissioners … filings include an ethics complaint against County Administrator Craig Coffey, and one elections commission complaint apiece against Hadeed, Coffey and the five members of the County Commission as a whole. Hadeed said the four complaints bring the tally of ethical grievances filed against Flagler officials since November 2014 to 26. Of those, 13 have been dismissed, three resulted in settlements, and 10 are pending … This marks the first time that Coffey has been named as a respondent in the growing number of complaints lodged primarily with the ethics and elections commissions, although the list also includes filings with the Florida Bar, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Circuit Court.
“Anheuser-Busch brewery to host Florida Recycling Summit” – The Florida Recycling Summit at Anheuser-Busch Brewery will be held Wednesday. Sessions include “Recycling @ Work,” changes in products and recycling efforts, and – behind the scenes guided tour showing sustainability efforts as well as how beer is brewed and bottled. Summit begins at 2 p.m. at 111 Busch Drive in Jacksonville. Admission is $75. The Summit is presented by the Florida Recycling Partnership, Publix, Florida Beverage Association, Keep Florida Beautiful and Waste Management. To register go to www.flrecycling.org or contact Keyna Cory at [email protected].
“Brumos sale nets $76M” via Roger Bull of The Florida Times-Union – “In deeds filed Tuesday with Duval County Clerk of Courts, the sale involved seven transactions for a total of $75.95 million … Brumos owned dealerships on Atlantic and Blanding boulevards, selling Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Porsche and Smart Car … Land Rover Jacksonville on Atlantic Boulevard, Fields Cadillac Jacksonville on Blanding Boulevard and Fields Cadillac St. Augustine on Outlet Mall Boulevard.”
“Jacksonville tax software company thwarts patent infringement lawsuit” via Drew Dixon of The Florida Times-Union – The lawsuit was filed in February 2015 by Aatrix Software Inc. based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, against Greenshades Software Inc. claiming the Jacksonville firm infringed on two patents. Those patents essentially covered filings to the Internal Revenue Service for payroll taxes. The case went to the U.S. District Court Middle District in Jacksonville in October for consideration by Judge Harvey Schlesinger. He issued his ruling March 30 in favor of Greenshades when he dismissed the lawsuit. The court found that Aatrix’s software on tax preparation basically provided an “abstract idea” of filing taxes and that could be applied to generic computer use. The alleged infringement of the patents was not valid, the court ruled, because the patents were not eligible for consideration in the case because a human could have performed the same service using a pen and paper. Timothy Gillis is the managing partner of Gillis Way and Campbell law firm in Jacksonville which represented Greenshades and said the lawsuit was basically frivolous.
“Report focuses on sea level rise impacts in St. Augustine” via Sheldon Gardner of The St. Augustine Record – As early as the year 2030, about 25 percent of St. Augustine’s land area — mostly salt marsh — could be flooded by 1 foot of sea level rise. With 5 feet of sea level rise, close to 70 percent of the city’s land area would be flooded, according to a report by the University of Florida through the Florida Resilient Communities Initiative. A 5-foot sea level rise scenario is not projected to develop before 2085. The report, for which the city budgeted $15,000, gathered information from existing studies and data to focus on how St. Augustine could be affected by sea level rise, what can be done and some available tools that can be used.
Regional lobbying registrations – Jane Hennessy, Paul P. Sanford & Associates: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida; Deno Hicks, Southern Strategy Group: Tote Maritime Puerto Rico; Gary Lieffers, Lieffers and Associates: Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; Bethany Linderman: Florida Blue; Guidewell Mutual Holding Company; Evan Power, Cruz & Company/Strategic Access Group: Matrix OneSource; Paul Keith Steinbrecher: JEA; Paul Wharton, Paul Wharton Ph.D. Consulting: Beaver Street Enterprise Center
“Score a win for Southern Strategy Group” via A.G. Gancarski of FloridaPolitics.com – Clay County Schools Superintendent Charlie Van Zant, Jr., held a news conference announcing the success the school district had during this past Legislative Session in Tallahassee. Van Zant lauded the work of Reps. Cummings, Van Zant Sr., and Sen. Bradley in helping the district secure $1 million of supplemental capital funding for their “Academies of Clay” initiative. Coordinating the day-to-day advocacy efforts in Tallahassee: Southern Strategy Group … Matt Brockelman helmed the project, coordinating with the Clay County legislative delegation and governor’s staff. The “Academies of Clay” initiative is the state’s first districtwide experiential learning model providing every high school student in the district the opportunity to participate in a theme-based, small learning community that connects students’ interests with curricula covered in the classroom. Clay County’s high school graduation rates have increased 9.5 percent in the past four years, which is well above the state average. The state’s additional capital investment in the academies is indicative of the program’s success, and legislators expect the district’s positive trend to continue and become an example for other regions to follow.
Spotted at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s regional meeting Thursday: John Finotti of Tucker Hall; Bert Ralston of VoxPopuli Communications; Ergetu Merete of Wells Fargo; State Sens. Travis Hutson and Audrey Gibson; Marty Fiorentino, Mark Pinto and Tom Griffin of the Fiorentino Group; Alan Mosley of Jax Chamber; JaxPort’s Brian Taylor; Suzanne Goss of JEA; Husein Cumber of Florida East Coast Industries; LeAnna Cumber; State Reps. Clay Yarborough, Gracie McCastler, Jay Fant, Dick Kravitz, Charles McBurney, Cyndi Stevenson, Katherine Van Zant, Paul Renner and David Santiago; Florida House candidates Jason Fischer, Sheri Treadwell and Mark MacLean; Jay Fant fundraiser Carolyn Tucker; Joel Pangborn and Quintin Kendall of CSX Transportation; Anne Marie Kendall; Stanley Bishop of Exit Real Estate Gallery; Jennifer Chapman of Fidelity Investments; Jon Urbanek of Florida Blue; Jacksonville City Councilwoman Anna Lopez-Brosche; Bob White of BBVA Compass; David Clavier of CRA Inc.; Christian Whitfield; Terrance Freeman.
— FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
“Ron DeSantis, Travis Hutson, Paul Renner pitch to Flagler Republicans” via A.G. Gancarski of FloridaPolitics.com – Flagler County Republicans in Palm Coast got a triple dose of Republican candidates. State Rep. Renner, state Sen. Hutson and Senate candidate (and local congressman) DeSantis all made their case to an appreciative crowd of about 100 people at the Flagler County Republican Club at the Palm Coast Community Center. To a man, they delivered a limited government message. DeSantis led off in his rapid fire cadence, talking about introductions and how, when he threw out the first pitch at a baseball game, the PA announcer read the full-length version of his bio. Hutson recounted the Legislative Session, noting $557 million in tax cuts, including the manufacturing equipment tax that was a priority of Scott’s. Renner led off with a quip. “You know I was in the military because of my lousy haircut,” Renner said, adding that his wife is “cute too,” before “saying a couple of words about our politics generally.”
Tweet, tweet: @Firstlighthouse Happy to have reps from the offices of @marcorubio @RonDeSantisFL @Vote4Cyndi @Paul_Renner here for a tour today!
“Audrey Gibson, Mia Jones both ‘absolutely’ eyeing Corrine Brown’s CD 5 seat” via Melissa Ross of FloridaPolitics.com – “Absolutely,” said Jones, one of four veteran Jacksonville politicians seen as a viable contender to run in Brown’s stead. The others are former Jax Mayor Alvin Brown, state Sen. Gibson, and former state Sen. Tony Hill. “I believe that you have to keep all options open, and it would definitely be something that I would consider doing,” Jones told WJCT. Gibson, a member of the Senate redistricting committee and intimately familiar with the redrawn map and the process, said she’s also ready to vie for the congressional post. “Yes, I would definitely consider running in that district,” Gibson said, while also pointing out much hinges on Brown’s fate and whether she decides to run in the redrawn CD 5.
“CD 6 Candidate Brandon Patty clears $110K in Q1 2016 fundraising” via A.G. Gancarski of FloridaPolitics.com – “Combined with our strong grassroots organization, we’re laying the foundation for success in the primary and in November … We need real conservative solutions, not business as usual, not more tough talk with no action. I am prepared to fight for the people of the 6th District to ensure a better future for Florida and America,” Patty said … [noting] strong initial support, which includes many leading Northeast Florida movers and shakers in the donor class, including Mark Bailey, John D. Baker, Jay Demetree, and David Hutson … Mac McGehee, Hap Stein, and Peter Rummell have all donated.
“CD 6 candidate David Santiago plans Jax luncheon” via FloridaPolitics.com – CD 6 Republican candidate David Santiago will hold a meet-and-greet luncheon in the 904 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the River Club. It’s billed as a “meet and greet,” not a fundraiser. And Lenny Curry will be on hand … Santiago and Curry worked together on Hispanic outreach during Curry’s time as RPOF chairman. More recently, Santiago advocated for the Jacksonville pension tax bill on the floor of the Florida House. Santiago, an Army veteran of Puerto Rican descent with a I-4 home base, is someone who many members of the Republican Party of Florida would like to see succeed in this race, both for what he brings to the table, and in terms of outreach to the burgeoning Central Florida Puerto Rican community.
Save the date – State Reps. Paul Renner and Cyndi Stevenson host a joint fundraising reception in their re-election campaigns for House District 24 and 17, respectively. Event begins 6 p.m. April 19, at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, 11 Magnolia Ave. in St. Augustine. RSVP at [email protected].
“Is HD 11 Republican Sheri Treadwell guilty of résumé inflation?” via FloridaPolitics.com – “FloridaPolitics.com has learned that HD 11 Republican Sheri Treadwell has changed language on her website recently, downplaying previous claims about being a direct appointee of George W. Bush. The Before and After, as in the old diet ads, presents a striking contrast. Before: Treadwell claimed that she was ‘appointed by the President to several positions in the Commerce Department.’ After: she ‘served the President in several positions as an appointee in the U.S. Department of Commerce.’ Treadwell’s appointment as a Confidential Assistant, under her maiden name of Sheri Valera, falls under a different category: a Schedule C excepted appointment. There is no record of a direct Presidential appointment on the White House archive of Bush Administration nominations.”
Tweet, tweet: @TFreemanJax: “I am so thankful for volunteers like Carlo [Fassi] who join me to knock on doors.” (Freeman is running as a Republican in HD 12)
“David Shoar campaign has more than $200K” via The St. Augustine Record – The money’s been flowing in for St. Johns County Sheriff Shoar. Less than a month after filing to run for re-election, Shoar’s campaign has received more than $201,000 in monetary contributions. Contributors include State Attorney R.J. Larizza, former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, local banker Eddie Creamer — who’s also running for property appraiser, Nocatee development companies, St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Robert Hardwick, St. Augustine Police Chief Loran Lueders, and developer David Hutson. The amount far exceeds contributions so far to any other local candidate running for election.
“Malcolm Anthony to run for circuit judge” via The St. Augustine Record – Ponte Vedra attorney Anthony, 57, recently announced plans to run for circuit judge … Anthony, a former Congressional candidate, is “a 32-year member of the Florida Bar and former prosecutor,” according to the release. The 7th Circuit includes St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Putnam counties. “After much consideration, I believe the time has come for me to offer my years of experience to the people of St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Putnam counties as a Circuit Judge,” he said.
“St. Augustine Commissioner Leanna Freeman files for re-election” via The St. Augustine Record – Freeman was on the St. Augustine Planning and Zoning Board for several years before becoming a commissioner. “It’s really been an honor to represent the community. … I think that I have a history of asking tough questions on matters that concern the community,” she said. No other candidate had entered the race for her seat as of Wednesday. Mayor Nancy Shaver and Vice Mayor Roxanne Horvath have also filed to run for re-election.
Say what? – “Duval GOP committeewoman implies Barack Obama is Muslim” via A.G. Gancarski of FloridaPolitics.com – In the year of Trump, people have gotten a bit looser with memes. Exhibit A: State Committeewoman Cindy Graves, who is running to be a delegate to the national convention this year. Graves posted an image … to her Facebook page. It’s pretty self-explanatory. The Democratic donkey, turned into a one-hump camel, with the Islamic crescent moon on it. Among those who “liked” it? The aforementioned [party official Kim Crenier]. Is Barack Obama a secret Muslim? That’s not really an open question to anyone who has been listening to him the last eight years. Or even before, when the GOP was maligning him with association with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who also is not a Muslim.
What Julie Delegal is reading:
– In an unusual turn for the food-and-homes luxury publication, Jacksonville Magazine published a story about the disappearance and death of 21-month-old Lonzie Barton. (See “Crime and Punishment,” April issue.) The blue-eyed, blond-haired toddler vanished last July, and his skeletal remains were finally recovered in January. JSO Chief Tom Hackney, prosecutors, and public defenders crafted the plea deal that helped bring closure to a heartbroken city.
– The Times-Union reports that Lonzie Barton’s remains were finally laid to rest last Tuesday in Glen-St. Mary, Georgia. His estranged parents Chris Barton and Lonna Lauramore Barton, were granted leave from prison to attend the private funeral service, as was the man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the toddler’s death, his mother’s boyfriend, Ruben Ebron. V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Home provided burial services to the family for free.
– Poverty and poor health go together, writes columnist Tonyaa Weathersbee. University of Florida pediatric medicine professor Jeff Goldhagen says that 85% of health outcomes are poverty-related. A study from Ferguson, MO, bears out what Goldhagen is saying. Poverty and the cumulative trauma of living in a violent community can cause toxic stress that changes humans at the genetic level. Nancy Cambria writes, in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article that ran in the Florida Times Union last Sunday, “Brain imaging, biochemical tests, genetic testing and psychiatric trials show toxic stress ravages growing children—inviting maladies such as asthma, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, and stroke in adulthood.”
RIP Derek Kinner via First Coast News – Kinner, 57, passed away Saturday afternoon. He had been in Hospice for a little over a day, as he ended his battle with terminal lung and brain cancer … In February, Kinner was set to go on a cruise – his dying wish – when he was turned away for not having his birth certificate while boarding. “Everybody knows that I am going to die and I have gotten so much support from so many people,” Kinner said after the incident. “That’s really my biggest concern quite frankly is them. They pitched in to do this and get it done. And I can’t get it done.”
“UNF professor receives Fulbright Award to conduct research in Asia” – Joshua Gellers, assistant professor of political science at the University of North Florida, has been awarded a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Award to conduct research on public participation in the environmental decision-making process through an affiliation with the Department of Geography at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Awards are open to U.S. scholars who have recently completed their doctoral degree within the last five years. These grants present an opportunity for scholars to deepen their expertise, acquire new skills, work with additional resources and make connections with others in their fields. “Dr. Gellers is doing path breaking research on public participation in environmental decision making in Asia,” said Matthew Corrigan, chairman of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. “This award is evidence of the quality and prominence of his research.”
“USS Adams group needs $2M from donors” via David Chapman of the Jax Daily Record – The Legislature and Gov. Scott were kind to the group trying to bring the USS Adams to Downtown. Now the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association hopes others in Jacksonville will be just as generous. The group in recent weeks received a $1 million state appropriation under the heading of “historic properties restoration,” with the funds ultimately used to help house the ship along the St. Johns River … . Initially, the needed improvements and ship repairs were budgeted at about $3.5 million … The state funding means the association can focus on seeking just the budgeted $2.5 million for rehabbing the ship and bringing it to Jacksonville.
“Jax to honor national champion Ribault Ladies’ Basketball team Tuesday” via A.G. Gancarski of FloridaPolitics.com – Jacksonville plans a Parade of Champions to honor the national championship basketball team from Ribault High School. “Bluesday” starts at 3 p.m. Tuesday, with a parade leaving the Jacksonville Landing and culminating with a 3:30 p.m. celebration in Hemming Park. At the start of the Council meeting at 5 p.m., the team will be honored with a presentation in City Council chambers.
And the best news of the week…
