Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The League of Women Voters of Florida says the state’s decision to not allow early voting on college campuses is unconstitutional, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in Tallahassee.
The League and six students — one from FSU and five at the University of Florida — sued Secretary of State Ken Detzner in his role as Florida’s chief elections officer.
The 49-page complaint (available to read here) seeks a court order barring Detzner from “enforcing his interpretation of the Early Vote Statute” that doesn’t allow early voting in buildings on campus.
In 2014, the city of Gainesville sought guidance from Detzner over whether UF’s student union building could be used as an early voting site.
He said no, “opin(ing) not only that the student union was not a permissible early voting site, but that no ‘college- or university-related facilities’ could be used as early voting sites,” the complaint says.
It adds that in doing so, Detzner — who reports directly to Republican Gov. Rick Scott — “acted with the intent, at least in part, to suppress the vote of young voters in Florida.”
Nope, said Scott spokesman John Tupps: “In fact, students at the University of Florida can vote at multiple locations on campus …” (True, they just can’t vote early on campus.)
“The political organization and the partisan D.C. lawyers that filed this frivolous lawsuit know that under Gov. Scott’s leadership, he’s made it easier for Floridians to vote,” Tupps added. “This political group waited four years to challenge this interpretation. This is obviously an election year gimmick to distort the facts.”
Evening Reads
“Donald Trump’s team gets payback for Marco Rubio on Venezuelan assassination plot” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“Dramatic bodycam footage shows gunbattle at Trumps’ Doral hotel” via David Ovalle and Charles Rabin of the
“What Florida Democrats can learn from tonight’s Georgia governor primary” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times
“Chris King shakes up Democratic primary in governor race” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel
“Bloody Democratic primary looms in race to replace Ileana Ros-Lehtinen” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald
“Congressional candidate John Ward is under fire for saying Puerto Rican evacuees shouldn’t vote in Florida” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“Brian Mast, Bill Posey, others urge feds to suspend bonds for Brightline” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Judge faces discipline for racially derogatory remarks” via the News Service of Florida
“Void the warrant and destroy the records. So says lawyer of Hernando County commissioner up on prostitution-related charges” via Barbara Behrendt of the Tampa Bay Times
“Pest alert triggered in Florida after rare fruit fly find” via Pal Rusnak of Growing Produce
Quote of the Day
“It is agriculture, (a) cow pasture for 60 years. This comes up every election.” — U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, after the lodging of a complaint that undeveloped property he owns in Brevard County is being undervalued for tax purposes.
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Wake Up Early?
The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet in Charlotte County and consider numerous parole cases. That’s at 9 a.m., Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, 7474 Utilities Road, Punta Gorda.
The Florida Public Service Commission will hold events in Hillsborough County to provide information to senior citizens about issues such as energy conservation, applying for the Lifeline program and avoiding utility scams. That’s at 10 a.m., Brandon Senior Center, 612 North Parsons Ave., Brandon. Also, 1 p.m., Ruskin Center, 905 Sixth St. S.E., Ruskin.
The Revenue Estimating Conference will hold a post-session “impact” conference related to lottery operations. That’s at 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.
A “Governor’s Veterans Service Awards” ceremony will be held in Pinellas County. That’s at 2 p.m., C.W. Bill Young Armed Forces Reserve Center, 2081 Grand Ave., Pinellas Park.
The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of “Be Scam Smart” workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. That’s at 6:45 p.m. Central time, St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 1 St. Francis Dr., Gulf Breeze.
