Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
We almost forgot to wish a happy birthday to Kim McDougal, Gov. Rick Scott’s former chief of staff, and now GrayRobinson’s Senior Director of Government Affairs.
McDougal’s been busy lining up clients, according to lobbying registration records, with an emphasis on her “passion” for education-related issues, as a press release announcing her July hire put it.
Clients for the 2018 Legislative Session include the Broward College Foundation, the College of Central Florida Foundation, the Florida School Boards Association, and the University of Central Florida Foundation.
Still others are Disasters, Strategies & Ideas Group, a Tallahassee-based “general management consulting services” firm, and Lighthouse Central Florida in Orlando, “activity centers for disabled persons, the elderly, and persons diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
And there’s one client she had to withdraw from representing under the state’s lobbying ban, of course: the Executive Office of the Governor.
Evening Reads
“U.S. drone sales to top $1 billion for first time” via Axios
“Speaking at USF, Andrew Gillum takes aim at Gwen Graham’s voting record” via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
“Despite scrutiny Florida’s tourism agency paid out bonuses” via The Associated Press
“Sarasota lawmaker Alex Miller is resigning from Legislature” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“Legal challenge to education law grows to 10 districts” via Erica Breunlin of the Daytona Beach News-Journal
“Lawmakers say greyhound racing persists only because of an outdated law” via Julia Jenae of WTLV
“Major GOP donor wins regulatory fight with local governments” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
Quote of the Day
“As a mother with two teenage boys (and) CEO of a rapidly growing business, I have come to the conclusion that I must spend more time at home than my service in the Legislature would allow.” —state Rep. Alex Miller, a Sarasota Republican who resigned from the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Bill Day’s Latest 
Breakthrough Insights 
Wake Up Early?
A joint committee of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine is scheduled to meet to discuss issues related to medical marijuana. That’s at 8 a.m. in the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport, 5555 Hazeltine National Dr., Orlando.
The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold a preview of unclaimed property set to be auctioned Saturday. Be there by 9 a.m., at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando.
Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist of St. Petersburg will hold a town hall for constituents at St. Petersburg College’s Clearwater Arts Auditorium, 2465 Drew St. The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The unclaimed property auction itself mentioned above is 10 a.m. Saturday, also at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando.
Democratic state Reps. Robert Asencio and Daisy Baez will join beneficiaries of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and others at an event 6:30 p.m. Sunday to “discuss the benefits of DACA and the risks if the program is revoked.” It’s at Winston Park Clubhouse, 8100 SW 132 Ave, Miami. Sunday’s event is part of a nationwide “Dreamer Dinners” campaign.
