Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Rep. Randy Fine, a Palm Bay Republican, is asking Gov. Rick Scott to “immediately remove West Melbourne Deputy Mayor ‘Coach’ John Tice from office after Tice was arrested for stealing taxpayer dollars,” his office said in a Thursday news release.
Fine said he made the request “as the state representative representing the bulk of West Melbourne.”
“The charges against Tice are serious and merit his immediate removal,” Fine, elected in 2016, said in a statement. “He simply cannot be allowed to have any political power over the people of West Melbourne, let alone serve as the next-in-line in the event of an issue with the Mayor.”
According to Florida Today, Tice “was arrested Thursday morning on fraud-related charges connected with his former job as executive director of Melbourne’s Liberty Bell Memorial Museum.”
The 65-year-old “faces charges of scheme to defraud under $20,000, communications fraud, depositing an item with the intent to defraud and grand theft,” the paper reported.
“To be clear, John Tice’s crimes did not occur in the City of West Melbourne,” Fine said. “ … I have spoken frequently about the culture of corruption that I believe exists in Brevard County. The fact that an elected official in one city could apparently steal from another city while under observation from an elected official of that second city shows that the corruption is complex and entangled.”
McKinley P. Lewis, Scott’s deputy communications director, said the governor “expects all elected officials to behave ethically and responsibly. Our office is reviewing the details and we will keep you updated on any action taken.”
Evening Reads
“Donald Trump visit would ruin Palm Beach church’s Easter egg drop” via Howard Cohen of the Miami Herald
“Mike Pence to visit Sanibel for a week’s vacation” via Melissa Montoya of the Naples Daily News
“Parkland families prepare for first Easter, Passover after massacre” via Max Jaeger of the New York Post
“Bill Nelson pledges VA will not be privatized” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Darryl Rouson on voting rights: Fix this now” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
“Supreme Court rejects Death Row appeals” via the News Service of Florida
“Shooting suspect’s brother pleads no contest to trespassing” via Terry Spencer of The Associated Press
“University of Florida paid $67K for white nationalist Richard Spencer’s event” via The Associated Press
“Dan Adkins, Hartman & Tyner suing each other over lost ‘millions’ ” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
“Florida sweet corn looks tight until Easter” via Fresh Plaza
Quote of the Day
“It is critical that all proposed and ongoing Florida projects receive your full and fair consideration while taking into account each project’s value to the local community, our state, and to our nation as a whole.” — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, in a letter sent Thursday to the Army Corps of Engineers, urging priority for scores of Florida water projects from the Herbert Hoover Dike to the harbors in Jacksonville and Pensacola.
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Wake Up Early?
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation will host a “Celebrating Women in Business” event at 1 p.m., Augustus B. Turnbull III Conference Center at Florida State University, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.
The Policy Subcommittee of the Tobacco Advisory Council, which advises on the Comprehensive Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Program, holds a conference call at 1 p.m. The number is (888) 670-3525, and the participant code is 5720848571 then #.
The Florida Self-Insurers Guaranty Association’s Board of Directors will meet to discuss general business. That’s at 2 p.m., 1427 E. Piedmont Drive, second floor, Tallahassee.
