Peter Schorsch
The good news, according to the latest Mason-Dixon Florida poll: “Florida voters give Gov. Rick Scott positive ratings for his handling of the state during Hurricane Irma.”
The bad news? “Floridians may hesitate to evacuate next time.”
Statewide, 35 percent rated the governor’s performance as “excellent,” while 31 percent rated it “good,” 25 percent said it was “fair,” only 4 percent felt it was “poor.” Another 5 percent said they weren’t sure.
“Scott’s rating split along partisan lines, with 89 percent of Republicans rating it as ‘excellent’ or ‘good,’ compared to 49 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of independents,” the poll said.
And yet, “the widespread evacuation orders, coupled with the shifting storm track, resulted in many people evacuating into the path of Irma,” it said. “The heavy traffic and the distance many were required to travel could present problems for emergency managers in future hurricanes.
“Statewide, almost one-in-three Floridians (32 percent) left their home during Irma — and not all of them did because they were ordered to. In fact, 43 percent of those under a mandatory evacuation order did not leave their homes. However, 13 percent of state residents evacuated even though they did not have to do so.
“Next time ‘round could be a different story, as many Floridians indicate they will rethink their actions,” the poll went on. “Statewide, only 57 percent say that they will follow an evacuation order in the face of a hurricane similar in strength to Irma.
“Within the four categories of evacuation status related to Hurricane Irma, the results show that 19 percent of Floridians were ordered to evacuate and did so. Among this group, only 71 percent said they would definitely do so again.”
And “54 percent of Floridians were not ordered to evacuate and stayed in their homes. If ordered to leave in a future hurricane, only 62 percent said that they definitely would.”
Coming up, the usual assortment of tidbits, leftovers and not-ready-for-prime-time moments by Jim Rosica, Peter Schorsch, Scott Powers. Mitch Perry and Andrew Wilson.
But first, the “Takeaway 5” — the Top 5 political stories from the week that was:
Levine ready to run? — Miami Beach Mayor Phil Levine appears ready to announce a bid for Florida Governor Wednesday, with what his consultants call an “important announcement” in Miami about the future of Florida. Levine, a Democrat who has openly discussed the prospect of running for governor either as a Democrat or an independent, has set a 10:30 a.m. event Wednesday in the Wynwood District of Miami. While not yet running, Levine has been leading all Democrats in raising money toward the governor’s race, with more than $4.7 million in his All About Florida Political Committee. Most of that, around $2.5 million, came from his own wallet. The Miami Beach mayor has made a fortune from companies he founded, mainly providing support to the cruise line industry.
Democrats head to Orlando — Florida Democratic Party Chair Stephen Bittel leads the march this weekend as his party gathers for its annual state conference at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort. It will be the first mass gathering of state Democrats since June’s Leadership Blue debacle in Hollywood, where complaints from black state lawmakers about being snubbed onstage led Bittel to call them “childish” and accuse them of “playing the race card.” Bittel apologized in the aftermath and promised to be more sensitive to racial issues. The mood in Orlando will no doubt be buoyant, considering Annette Taddeo’s victory in the Senate District 40 special election — bringing the number of Democrats in the 40-member Senate to 16. Her win is raising hopes that 2018 could be a big year for the Party, with the top prize of the governor’s mansion, which has eluded Democrats for nearly two decades. The party also invested heavily in St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman’s re-election contest next month.
Website portends Corcoran bid — With the recent addition of Go Big Media, a national and well-respected digital marketing firm, House Speaker Richard Corcoran launched a new website Tuesday. Accompanying RichardCorcoran.com is a website for his political committee Watchdog PAC. The new website features an extensive first-person bio and issue pages on immigration, taxes and spending, education, government accountability, among others. All issues that Corcoran has been focused on during his tenure in the House. This also comes after the recent high-profile hires of Tony Fabrizio for polling, Jamestown Associates for media, and Taylor Budowich, a former national Tea Party leader who is heading up Watchdog PAC’s communications. And while Corcoran’s political intentions remain unknown, it’s clear he is putting together a serious operation which now includes a robust online presence.
Shaw mulling AG run — The freshman House Democrat from Tampa went on the record this week about his considerations of a run in 2018 for state Attorney General. “As a result of my work as a consumer advocate, community leader and lawyer, it’s clear to me now more than ever that everyday Floridians need a champion,” he said. “I haven’t made a decision about 2018 but I’m honored to have been approached by several local and national leaders about serving Floridians as their attorney general. Right now, my priority is to fight for the issues that are most important to my constituents in HD 61.” Shaw, son of the late Supreme Court Justice Leander J. Shaw Jr., was Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate under then-CFO Alex Sink.
Paulson leaves Ag. race — Republican Paul Paulson has quit the Agriculture Commissioner race and throwing his support behind state Rep. Matt Caldwell in the GOP primary to replace termed-out Adam Putnam. Paulson, an Orlando businessman, decided to bow out this week and said he was asking supporters to “get behind Matt Caldwell, and do whatever you can to help him become our next Commissioner.” Paulson had been the fourth-place candidate in fundraising, even accounting for the $642,000 he put into the campaign through loans, which he will mostly get back.
Jack Latvala signs on to fracking ban
Clearwater Republican Sen. Latvala this week signed on to co-sponsor a bill (SB 462) that would ban hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking,” in the Sunshine State.
“We want to applaud Senator Latvala for continuing to show leadership in protecting Florida’s water from the dangers associated with fracking,” said Jorge Aguilar, the Florida director for advocacy group Food & Water Watch.
“Now more than ever, Florida’s elected officials must act swiftly to hold off the expansion of the oil and gas industry in Florida. Just this week, the industry got the green light from a state judge to search for oil in Broward County, near one of the densest population areas in the country and a few miles from the source of drinking water for millions of residents.”
The Senate bill is Latvala has agreed to co-sponsor was put forward by Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young, while its House companion was introduced by Treasure Island Republican Rep. Kathleen Peters, one of Latvala’s longtime allies in the Legislature.
“Over the past few weeks, Senator Latvala has spoken out about the undue influence of energy utilities in our state,” Aguilar said.
“It is these same companies that lobbied to stop the ban bill from being enacted in 2017. We hope that other leaders in the Senate and the House show the same leadership that Senator Latvala is showing by supporting this ban bill and rebuffing the energy special interests in our state.”
Randy Fine tells Brevard County Commission to cut ‘pork’ spending
Freshman Republican Rep. Fine has a sent a message to the Brevard County Commission: Cut the pork barrel spending.
Fine, who chairs the Brevard County Legislative Delegation, took umbrage with the commission’s recent decision to spend $14.5 million on projects he says are of the “pork barrel” variety instead of taking on the recent dumping of 20 million gallons of raw sewage into the Indian River Lagoon.
“Instead of repairing and modernizing its sewage system, they decided to spend taxpayer money to make it easier for kayakers to paddle through the sewage,” Fine said. “It defies logic; it defies explanation. This dereliction of duty raises questions about whether our County Commission is fit to oversee the County, or whether more aggressive steps need to be taken to ensure our citizens are served.”
Those projects include:
— $7 million for an “indoor multiuse sports arena and hotel project” in Titusville
— $5 million for upgrades to the Viera Regional Park’s soccer and lacrosse fields
— $1.7 million to expand a campground at Palm Bay Regional Park
— $500,000 for a “Keepers Cottage Museum” at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, and
— $200,000 to upgrade a pier area in Indian Harbour Beach near where the sewage was dumped.
“When I got into politics, I knew that the politicians thought differently than those of us that live in the real world,” Fine said. “But you have to question the sanity of people who thought spending money on a pier next to a raw sewage dump was a better idea than actually fixing the raw sewage dump.”
Instagram of the week
Barbara Watson named “County Champion”
State Rep. Watson, a Miami Gardens Democrat, was recognized this week for her “commitment to preserving local government’s ability to decide what is best for the people it serves,” a news release said.
The Florida Association of Counties presented the 2017 County Champion Award to Watson at her Tallahassee office.
“Tallahassee often thinks it knows best, but what I know is best is to trust our local officials to do what is right for their communities,” Watson said in a statement.
“They are on the ground, living and breathing the issues that affect the daily lives of their neighbors. I would like to thank the Florida Association of Counties for this award and for highlighting the service of our local leaders. I will always be committed to protecting local control.”
DEO gives out $91K for economic development projects
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced this week that it’s giving a boost to a handful of small-town projects through Competitive Florida Economic Development grant funds.
“DEO is committed to using our resources to help all Florida communities flourish. The Competitive Florida Economic Development Project grants offer valuable tools to help support communities in reaching their local economic development goals,” said DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor.
Making the list for grant funds were projects headed up by Broward, Citrus, Holmes and Wakulla counties, as well as the towns of Clewiston, Green Cove Springs, Hastings and Newberry.
DEO said the grant funds are available to all counties and municipalities to help communities learn more about local assets and economic conditions, and develop specific local projects.
Awards through the program measure between $5,000 to $15,000.
Florida insurance companies give big
The nonprofit that helps administer the needs-based Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program has gotten a big boost from the insurance industry this year, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Step Up For Students thanked insurers for the help and gave an even bigger shoutout to Tower Hill Insurance, which has chipped in more than $3 million since 2011 — enough to provide scholarships to more than 600 of Florida’s most underprivileged students so they can attend a private school secure transportation to attend an out-of-district public school.
“We are so grateful for Tower Hill’s investment in our program and the children who depend on it,” said Step Up CFO Joe Pfountz. “The company’s generosity is crucial to the work our team does and shows just how much they really care about Florida’s kids and its future.”
The group said the typical pupil served through the program comes from a single-parent household where the average income is $25,353. A recent study found that students who receive these scholarships for at least four years are 40 percent more likely to attend college than their public-school counterparts, and 29 percent more likely to earn an associate degree.
“By investing in the future of our students, we are investing in the future of Florida,” said Tower Hill Prez Don Matz. “One of our top priorities at Tower Hill is to give back to our community as much as we can, and we choose to start with these deserving students.”
Brecht Heuchan honored
Heuchan, president and owner of Contribution Link in Tallahassee, will receive the Innovative Community Engagement (ICE) Foundation’s 2017 Earned Legacy Award.
The nonprofit group is hosting its annual Service Ball presented by Comcast at 7 p.m. Saturday at the University Center Club at FSU. The Ball serves as an event to honor community leaders and organizations for their commitment to service.
“Service in its simplest form is meeting the needs of another,” Heuchan said in a statement. “I don’t know of a higher calling than this.”
The ball serves as the ICE Foundation’s major community fundraiser.
“The Service Ball allows us to not only honor great individuals and organizations in the community but also come together and have a great time,” said G.C. Murray Jr., Esq., President & Founder of the ICE Foundation.
Proceeds from the Ball go toward the ICE Foundation’s mission of stimulating different segments of society through mentorship, service and professional development.
Ride the ‘title wave’ at downtown library
The Friends of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library will hold the Fall “Title Wave” used book sale this weekend.
The event, at the Leon County Main Library downtown (200 W. Park Ave.) in the garage facing Bronough Street, will be Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
“Browse through a wonderful selection of used books and other materials at this popular book sale,” a news release said. “The community can purchase used books, videos, DVDs and more.”
The sale benefits the Friends of the Library, an organization dedicated to building community interest, pride and financial support for the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library.
For more information, call Cay Hohmeister, Library Director, at (850) 606-2616, or email at [email protected].
Leon County receives national community, media relations awards
Leon County Government won five national awards for excellence in government public information and communications from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) and Granicus Solutions, the most significant provider of cloud-based software solutions to government organizations, according to a news release.
“The 3CMA Savvy Awards are awarded to government organizations for creative and successful programs in three communication and marketing divisions: tools, graphic design and photography, and processes,” it said. “Granicus Digital Strategy Awards are presented for effective and innovative approaches to digital strategy and excellence in key areas including transforming access to services, creative and innovative use of digital tools, and improving citizen engagement.”
“Our Leon County citizens have come to expect timely, relevant, and engaging communication about our programs and services,” Leon County Commission Chairman John Dailey said. “And our County communications efforts continue to exceed expectations and reach citizens in the many different ways they follow us.”
The following programs and services received awards:
— Created Equal, for Community Visioning or Branding.
— Build Your Bucket, for Resident Participation.
— Leon Works Expo, for Special Events.
— 2017 Sustainable Communities Summit, best in the category of Promotional Video.
“Every County program, event, client and customer has a story to share,” said Mathieu Cavell, director of Leon County Community and Media Relations. “Our team works hard every day to turn stories into action and to connect our citizens with the County services that can change their lives and shape our community. These national awards acknowledge our work and set an even higher bar for us to exceed next year.”
Tallahassee solar farm at maximum capacity
The City of Tallahassee announced this week that “subscriptions for the Capital City’s first solar farm have reached maximum capacity,” even before construction has been finished.
“City leaders have seen a tremendous outpouring of support for the 20-megawatt (MW), 120-acre solar farm currently under construction on the property of the Tallahassee International Airport (TLH),” a city news release said.
“More than 2,000 residential customers and many businesses have signed up to participate since open enrollment for Tallahassee Solar, the City’s community solar program, began July 1,” it added.
“As a community, we are setting an example for the whole state to follow,” said Miaisha Mitchell, the City Utility’s Citizen Advisory Committee Chair. “Our city government and electric utility provider has embraced what it means to be the capital of the Sunshine State by investing in solar.
“The addition of Tallahassee Solar further demonstrates the City’s commitment to providing clean renewable energy to customers,” she added. “Tallahassee’s first solar farm is still under construction and already has sold out its expected energy output. The good news is that this is only the beginning.”
Customers who wish to sign up for the Tallahassee Solar waiting list can visit Talgov.com/Solar. To learn more, call (850) 891-4968.
City’s building ratings stay strong
The City of Tallahassee has maintained its “class 3” rating for commercial construction and “class 4” rating for residential construction, which are well above the national average, the city said in a news release this week.
Typically, a class 3 rating is the highest level achieved by communities.
The City’s Building Code Enforcement program recently underwent review and rating by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).
The effectiveness of building codes can affect how structures will fare in natural disasters, and building code enforcement can have a significant influence on the economic well-being of a municipality and the safety of its citizens.
ISO collects information on a community’s building code adoption and enforcement services, analyses the data and assigns a classification from 1 to 10, with 1 representing the highest class level.
ISO is an insurer-supported organization that provides advisory insurance underwriting and rating information. Learn more about local building codes at Talgov.com/Growth.
Now for this week’s edition of Capitol Directions:
The Associated Press and the News Service of Florida contributed to this week’s edition, republished with permission.
