Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A proposed Florida Commission on Ethics opinion says Tony Glover, formerly the state’s top gambling regulator, can lobby his former department as long as he doesn’t do it for the specific divisions he once worked for.
Glover had requested the staff-written advisory opinion, released Thursday, which will be considered for approval at the commission’s Oct. 20 meeting.
Glover, who now has his own law firm, was deputy director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) and later of the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering (DPMW), which regulates gambling. Both are under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
State law says certain state employees “may not personally represent another person or entity for compensation before the agency with which he or she was employed for a period of two years following vacation of position, unless employed by another agency of state government.”
But the ethics commission has interpreted that to mean “one’s agency is not necessarily one’s entire department, but rather the lowest departmental unit within which one’s influence would exist.”
Therefore, the lobbying ban applies to Glover as to ABT for two years after he left April 29, 2016, and two years after he quit DPMW this Sept. 5, the opinion says. Other parts of DBPR are fair game.
The opinion adds that Glover is not prohibited “from providing advice concerning a particular subject matter with which you were involved while in public employment,” as long as it doesn’t violate the ban as applies to him.
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An update on last night’s ‘First Shot’: Yesterday, we told you about an elevator certificate in a downtown Tallahassee parking garage that listed “Graf Orlok” as the governor of Florida.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which issues such certificates, Thursday said an official visited the elevator, removed the prank one, and replaced it with a real one.
The fake one appeared to be, yes, a cheap, doctored photocopy.
As explained previously, “Graf Orlok” is the name of the main character, based on Dracula, in the 1922 silent film “Nosferatu.” (“Graf” is German for “Count.”)
So somebody really doesn’t like Gov. Rick Scott—and is a connoisseur of Expressionist horror films. Go figure.
Evening Reads
“FEMA removes statistics about drinking water access and electricity in Puerto Rico from website” via Jenna Johnson of The Washington Post
“Still booming with retirees, The Villages gives Donald Trump, GOP edge in Florida” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
“Yes, Florida’s pool of voters is shrinking. Here’s why.” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
“Repealing the Jones Act would help Puerto Rico. But it could hurt Florida.” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald
“Hurricane Irma’s lawsuit chasers” via the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board
“Multiple Democrats raise over six figures in race to replace Ileana Ros-Lehtinen” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald
“After Irma, state doesn’t waive fees for KidCare insurance” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
“Fearing Nate, state of emergency declared in North Florida” via Kristen Clark of the Miami Herald
“Workers’ comp drops off legislative map” via the News Service of Florida
“Last shelter used for Hurricane Irma evacuees closes” via The Associated Press
“Hulk actor wants to smash fracking in Florida” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat
“Filmed near Disney, ‘Florida Project’ shines bright light on hidden homeless” via Jake Coyle of The Associated Press
Quote of the Day
“He has never voted to support things like Obamacare expansion, the Charlie Crist tax increases, and Big Brother-style red light cameras.” — U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of northwest Florida, explaining why he endorsed fellow Republican Matt Caldwell for agriculture commissioner in 2018. They also served together in the Florida House.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early
The state Board of Respiratory Care is scheduled to meet in Central Florida. That’s at 8:30 a.m., Sheraton Lake Buena Vista, 12205 South Apopka Vineland, Orlando.
Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican, is expected to tour a Rayonier Advanced Materials plant in Nassau County. The tour begins at 9 a.m., Rayonier Fernandina Plant, 10 Gum St., Fernandina Beach.
The state Revenue Estimating Conference will hold what is known as an “impact” conference. It begins at 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol, Tallahassee.
The Florida Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists will hold a conference call. That’s at 9 a.m. The call-in number is (888) 670-3525 and the participant code is 7342425515.
Sen. Dorothy Hukill, a Port Orange Republican, is scheduled to speak about legislative issues during an annual conference of the Property Appraisers’ Association of Florida. It’s at 10 a.m., Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach-Cape Canaveral, 3435 North Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach.
Campaign-finance reports are due for candidates in special elections in state House District 44 and House District 58. Former Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, an Orlando Republican, left the District 44 seat this spring after being appointed a judge on the 5th District Court of Appeal. The candidates in an Oct. 10 special general election are Republican Bobby Olszewski and Democrat Eddy Dominguez. Former Rep. Dan Raulerson, a Plant City Republican, resigned from the District 58 seat because of health issues. Republicans Yvonne Fry and Lawrence McClure are battling in an Oct. 10 GOP primary, with the winner advancing to a Dec. 19 general election.
