Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Now we come to the payoff.
Campaign-finance reports are due Friday for the Sept. 26 special elections in Miami-Dade County’s Senate District 40 and House District 116.
Republican Jose Felix Diaz, Democrat Annette Taddeo and no-party candidate Christian “He-Man” Schlaerth are vying for the Senate seat. Republican Daniel Perez and Democrat Gabriela Mayaudon are running for the House district.
Most eyes are on the Senate race, however, to replace disgraced ex-Sen. Frank Artiles.
He stepped down rather than face a hearing that could have resulted in his expulsion. Artiles, a Cuban-American Republican from Miami-Dade County, made national news after he accosted two black lawmakers, reportedly calling one a “b****h” and a “girl” in a dispute over legislation at a private club in Tallahassee, and using a slang variation of the ‘N-word.’
As of Thursday, Diaz had won the numbers game, showing a total of $1.05 million raised, with Taddeo at just over $190,000. Schlaerth posted a little more than $500 in contributions and $3,200 in loans.
Diaz also got a boost this week with an endorsement from his hometown newspaper, the liberal-leaning Miami Herald editorial board.
“A conservative Republican, (Diaz) is not always beholden to ideology,” the paper said. “He has shown several times over that he can legislate as a moderate, working across the aisle and seeking compromise to craft laws that have real-time, street-level effectiveness.”
Evening Reads
“Fed says Harvey and Irma will have no lasting economic impact” via Jeff Cox of CNBC
“Claims for U.S. jobless aid fall as hurricane impact recedes” via Paul Wiseman of The Associated Press
“Health Secretary Tom Price’s trip to Florida raises new questions about spending” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
“Was it a crime? 10 patients at nursing home died after Irma” via the Associated Press
“Local lineman dies working to restore power after Hurricane Irma” via WFTS
“Sources: Family court judge tops list to fill U.S. attorney post in Miami” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“Judge refuses to toss out ex-lawmaker’s conviction” via Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida
“Why Irma drained the water from Tampa Bay” via Craig Pittman of the Tampa Bay Times
“Irma may speed the end of orange juice, America’s biggest source of ‘fruit” via Caitlin Dewey of The Washington Post
Quote of the Day
“I’m just doing my job … Always need a Plan B in this business.” — Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for Governor Adam Putnam, while serving breakfast to a group of Jacksonville elementary students on Thursday.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early
Steve Seibert, interim executive director at The Florida Humanities Council, speaks at Café con Tampa. Admission is $12 (cash only), with breakfast buffet included. That’s at 8 a.m., upstairs at Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.
Sen. Dorothy Hukill, a Port Orange Republican, will speak at the Space Coast Symposium, hosted by the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce. That begins at 8 a.m., with the Hukill panel discussion at 11 a.m., Space Coast Convention Center, 301 Tucker Lane, Cocoa.
Associated Industries of Florida will hold the “Florida Water Forum,” with Sens. Rob Bradley and Debbie Mayfield, and Reps. Matt Caldwell and Rep. Jake Raburn, at 8:30 a.m., Loews Royal Pacific Resort, 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new veterans’ mental health center. It’s at 10 a.m., Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, C.W. Bill Young Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Building 111, St. Petersburg.
The Florida State University Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. The board holds committee meetings starting at 8:30 a.m., with a full board meeting at 12:30 p.m. That’s at FSU’s Turnbull Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.
