Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 6.18.18

State Capitol Building in Tallahassee, Florida

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.

By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel McAuliffe, Jim Rosica, and Drew Wilson.

The last time we ran the INFLUENCE 100, we said, “Influence is difficult to quantify but you know it when you see it.”

Well, if it’s worth saying, it’s worth repeating.

Click here to read who’s on the INFLUENCE 100.

You’ll “know it” when you peruse this latest edition of the 100, a review of the most influential people in Florida policy and politics.

Once again, the list covers campaign consultants and the people they get to open their wallets. The people who decide who becomes a candidate and who stays home.

Then there are the ardent advocates. The media elite. The people who make “The Process” in Tallahassee work. You know, the ones who decide which bills get filed — and which never see the light of a Capitol copy machine.

As before, don’t expect to see anybody in elected office, running a state or other government agency, or running for office.

We’ll say this again, too: “Influence may be hard to define, but who’s influential is easy to see.”

Click here to subscribe to INFLUENCE Magazine.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

—@marcorubio: Negotiations with Cuba & #NorthKorea are very different. Deal with Cuba was about rewarding dictatorship with diplomatic recognition in return for nothing. Negotiation with North Korea about avoiding nuclear war & millions dead. Kind of a big difference

—@NelsonForSenate: On this day six years ago, the DACA program was enacted offering protection to millions of children brought this country, the only country they know. We must pass a permanent legislative solution to protect #Dreamers — we can’t keep kicking the can down the road.

—@AndrewGillum: On #FathersDay I am standing with the families being inhumanely torn apart on our southern border. I demand that @ScottforFlorida — who is now asking for our vote to be our next Senator — stand up to the Trump Administration & support S. 3036, the Keeping Families Together Act.

—@JamesGrantFL: We cannot ignore the fact that people living under oppressive and brutal regimes will continue to pursue freedom. The need for economically sustainable, operational, and secure immigration policy cannot be overstated. Enacting it consistent with our principles is a must.

—@AGGancarski: If America’s English language national media covered realities of lives in Mexico & places south, there may be a better understanding of why people move here. It’s remarkable how much of our narrative is shaped on rendering cultures as “other” and depersonalizing ppl from them.

—@TheRickWilson: The cheering section in the “conservative” media that has been screeching with joy over Trump‘s executive orders, his unlimited pardon power, steamrolling the rule of law, etc. ad nauseam is STRANGELY silent on why he doesn’t just change the family separation policy by diktat.

—@DeFede: .@FLGovScott also said Monroe County asked the state to come in. But we went back to the September 27 Monroe County Commission meeting and found none of that was true. (See attached transcript) Monroe officials said the company they hired was on the job.

—@DavidJollyFL: Had a long talk with a 6th grader tonight who told me about his classroom active shooter drills. They practice hiding in closets. Once a month. I guess many parents are living this, but I can’t believe Members of Congress are. Laws would change. Laws should change.

—@Conarck: Receiving complaints from those with loved ones in Florida prisons who have spoken out publicly against visitation process. They say their partners are being placed in confinement. Will be working to verify over the next couple of weeks. Please send similar stories my way.

—@fred_guttenberg: Father’s Day is a day for us dads to remember our main purpose, and that is our commitment to the safety of our families. Trust me, the fun times stop when you lose one of your children. Do not let your family become the next to suffer like this.

—@TheHideaway10: $1 off coffee drinks for members of the free press. All day, every day.

— DAYS UNTIL —

Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 4; Florida GOP Sunshine Summit starts — 10; Democratic gubernatorial candidates debate in Fort Myers — 20; MLB All-Star Game — 29; Deadline for filing claim bills — 44; ‘The Race for Governor’ Republican gubernatorial debate — 44; ‘The Race for Governor’ Democratic gubernatorial debate in Miami — 45; Start of the U.S. Open — 70; Primary Election Day — 71; College Football opening weekend — 73; NFL season starts — 81; Future of Florida Forum — 100; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida U.S. Senate debate — 127; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida Governor debate — 128; General Election Day — 141; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 241; 2019 Legislative Session starts — 260.

— TOP STORY —

In some ways, qualifying for the November elections is only a formality.

Candidates have been raising money for months, appearing at campaign events and eyeing their opponents. But with the qualifying period starting Monday in hundreds of state and local races, some candidates could be in the express lane toward election.

As of Friday morning, three incumbent state senators — Majority Leader Wilton Simpson and Sens. Lauren Book and Gary Farmer — had not drawn opponents as of Friday morning.

Meanwhile, 21 House candidates, including two newcomers, also could be headed toward election without opposition. They are state Reps. Jayer Williamson, Mel Ponder, Brad Drake of Eucheeanna; Halsey Beshears of Monticello; Ramon Alexander of Tallahassee; Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee; Kimberly Daniels of Jacksonville; Stan McClain of Ocala; John Cortes of Kissimmee; Kamia Brown of Ocoee; Bruce Antone of Orlando; Al Jacquet of Lantana; Emily Slosberg of Boca Raton; Bobby DuBose of Fort Lauderdale; Evan Jenne of Dania Beach; Joe Geller of Aventura; Shevrin Jones of West Park; Barbara Watson of Miami Gardens; and Kionne McGhee of Miami.

The newcomers are Alex Andrade of Gulf Breeze; and Joe Casello of Boynton Beach.

That all could change, of course, before qualifying ends at noon Friday. Some of those legislative candidates could draw opponents at the last-minute. Meanwhile, other candidates could cruise into office — if opponents do not qualify.

But it’s safe to assume that candidates across the state will be regularly checking the state elections website to find out who qualifies — and who doesn’t.

— MAYOR FOR GOVERNOR —

Democratic front-runner Philip Levine’s campaign is built largely on talking points of his tenure as Mayor of Miami Beach, but a closer examination suggests his blunders at the city’s throne could undermine his accomplishments.

The Miami Herald — which has had its fair share of bouts with Levine — recently published a story on the former Mayor’s watch over Miami Beach. It’s a testament to Levine’s character; details are equal parts progressive ambition and suspicious wheeling and dealing.

A reader will see that the Mayor’s politics are cutthroat — a bit of prose is even dedicated to artistically rendered severed heads of Levine’s political rivals — and will notice a pattern of Levine benefiting personally from major governing decisions.

Greener pastures: Per a former political strategist, who now is a Republican operative, “Levine openly talked during his 2013 campaign about treating his time on the third floor of City Hall as a springboard to better things, like becoming governor or president. Two other sources familiar with Levine’s aspirations confirmed this.”

Ouch: The Herald’s David Smiley and Joey Flechas note, “Two years after campaigning against cronyism and special interests, Levine would spend spring afternoons on his 70-foot boat … and at Fisher Island making phone calls to developers and city contractors for campaign cash … into a political committee called Relentless for Progress, whose RFP acronym was conspicuously the same as the acronym the city used for competitive contract solicitations.”

Good, bad or ugly?: Ultimately, voters’ interpretation of the Mayor will determine if he makes it to November. “Levine … will sink or swim come the Aug. 28 primary at least in part because of what Levine the mayor did over the last few years.”

— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —

“Ron DeSantis setting up $12M TV buy through primary day” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida — The St. Johns County Republican is funding the ad campaign through both his campaign and political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. The first ads for his campaign will start running in late June and continue through the Aug. 28 primary. When, exactly, DeSantis would go on air has been one of the pressing questions of the GOP primary. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s camp and his allies, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and a dark money group tied to the state’s sugar industry, have flooded the airwaves with $11 million worth of primary ads, prompting questions about whether DeSantis’ campaign was waiting too long to get on the air. DeSantis’ first ads will start airing on broadcast TV starting June 26. His campaign and affiliated political committee currently have about $9.7 million cash on hand, but the ad buy represents future airtime reservations, which means the money to fund them can be paid later.

“Gwen Graham returns to her Leon roots” via Lloyd Dunkelberger of the News Service of Florida — It was a homecoming for Graham as she addressed the Capital Tiger Bay Club. The Democratic candidate for governor recalled coming to Tallahassee as “kind of a geeky 15-year-old” in 1978, when her father, Bob Graham, was inaugurated as Florida’s new governor. She had to make the transition from a Miami high school to a new school in the smaller, more Southern environs of the state capital, she said. “The people at Leon High School and the people of North Florida embraced our family … and that’s where it started for me,” Graham said.

First on #FlaPol — “Jeff Greene preparing to launch Governor’s race ad blitz, with education on his mind” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Greene is getting ready to reintroduce himself to Floridians with his first round of TV commercials starting next week. And while he’s remaining coy on the content, the Palm Beach billionaire real estate investor is making it clear that public education reform is at the top of his list of issues. “It’s all well and good to say I have good ideas. You have to be able to get things done. The way I look at this election, for me, this is like an eighteen-wheeler moving down the highway, you know, pretty high-speed. It’s basically the Republican governors and the Republican-controlled Legislature that has sat in Tallahassee for a long, long, time,” Greene said in a lengthy interview with Florida Politics … “What that truck has done, is it has dismantled a lot of things I’m talking about. It has not been focused on upward mobility for people who are kind of behind the eight ball. It has not been focused on improving education or taking care of people who need help from Tallahassee,” he continued. “So, you need someone who can, No. 1, jam the brakes on that truck, turn it around and start going the other way quickly.” … “Do I want to stack up my resume alongside the resumes of Gwen Graham, Andrew Gillum, Chris King and Philip Levine?” he said. “All day long.”

“Quote from a 20-year-old King has him apologizing today” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising — Democratic gubernatorial candidate King is grappling with a single quote that could be read with anti-Semitic overtones, attributed to him back when he had been a 20-year-old Harvard University sophomore, bitter over losing a close and contentious 1998 campus election for Undergraduate Student Council president. “I was nailed to the cross,” King was quoted in a Newhouse News Service story published Feb. 28, 1999, in the Times-Picayune of New Orleans. “And most of the editorial staff that was so hard on me, the vast majority were Jewish.” Today, King does not specifically recall making the statement quoted by the Newhouse News Service story, but he is not disputing it. He apologized for it and disavowed any anti-Semitic overtones as not of his beliefs. The comment attributed to him about the editorial staff had been a reference to the staff of the campus newspaper, the Harvard Crimson, which had editorialized against King’s candidacy, in part because he was well-known as an evangelical Christian. “This quote from when I was 20 years old is completely at odds with my beliefs. It was a hurtful and stupid comment and I apologize,” King said in a written response.

Levine significantly expands regional staff — On the heels of recent polling giving the former Miami Beach Mayor the lead, the Levine for Governor campaign announced the expansion of its team, as well as the launch of a significant statewide field program. The new roles include Deputy Regional Area Directors Brian Bees, Palm Beach; and Miles Davis, North Florida. Campaign Coordinators include Matthew Byrd, Tampa; Madeline Streilein, Tampa; Jonathan Santiago, Central Florida; Emily Frost, West Palm Beach; Darren Steptoe, West Palm Beach; Chris Hill, Broward; Wes Crew, Broward; Carol Solano, Miami; and Chelsea Leger, Miami.

“Richard Corcoran’s political committee continues spending spree in May” via Florida Politics — House Speaker Corcoran won’t be on the ballot this year, but that hasn’t stopped his political committee from spending beaucoup bucks. Topping the expenditure list was more than $50,000 in payments to public opinion research firm Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, which has worked with many Republican politicians including Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. Watchdog PAC paid the firm $44,750 for a survey, $7,500 for research consulting and another $2,000 for research services. Tallahassee shop Rapid Loop Consulting received $46,275 for travel expenses, web design, office supplies and meeting expenses; Jacksonville-based Political Capital received $40,000 for fundraising and political consulting; and $25,000 apiece to Capital City Friends of NRA and political committee Citizens Alliance for Florida’s Economy. Watchdog PAC spent $341,361 in all last month, leaving it with $1.63 million banked heading into June.

“Nikki Fried campaign video features marijuana grow-op, call for gun control” via Florida Politics – According to newly filed Agriculture Commissioner candidate Fried, the state is lax on gun control and too overbearing on medical marijuana. In a new campaign video, the Democrat makes her introduction to voters by setting up a dichotomy between pot and assault rifles. “One helps sick and dying Floridians and is overregulated,” Fried says of marijuana. “And the other one is used to terrorize our schools and our communities and is barely regulated at all.” Her advocacy for pot bridged into her campaign, where it will likely be a defining element. In the video, which features pan shots of a Southwest Florida marijuana grow operation, she asks, “Honestly, what type of Agriculture Commissioner could be against a plant and the farmers who grow it?” The video will air on Fried’s social media. To watch the video, click on the image below:

Ashley Moody rolls out more endorsements in Attorney General’s race — Republican Moody announced a new wave of elected officials who believe the former Hillsborough County judge is the most qualified to succeed AG Pam Bondi: State Sens. Rob Bradley of Orange Park, Kathleen Passidomo of Naples and Keith Perry of Gainesville; Speaker Pro Tempore, state Rep. Jeanette Nuñez of Miami and Rep. Lawrence McClure of Plant City; Commissioners Mike Cella of Clay County; Todd Dantzler, Polk County chair; Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey of Pasco County; Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Ken Burke; Tax Collector Larry Hart of Lee County; Palm Shores Mayor Carol McCormack; Seminole Mayor Leslie Waters; Coral Gables Vice Mayor Frank Quesada; Ocala Councilman Justin Grabelle; and Pasco County School Board Member Allen Altman.

Happening today — Tampa Democratic state Rep. Sean Shaw, a candidate for Attorney General, will speak to the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee meeting, 6 p.m., IBEW union hall, 966 Liberty St., Jacksonville.

“Felons’ rights backers top $400,000 in May” via the News Service of Florida — The committee Floridians for a Fair Democracy, which helped lead efforts to get the initiative on the November ballot, raised $409,220 in cash last month and had nearly $453,000 in cash on hand as of May 31. Nearly half of the money in May came in a $200,000 contribution from the Washington, D.C.-based Sixteen Thirty Fund, which backs social and environmental issues. The proposed constitutional amendment, if approved by 60 percent of voters in November, would automatically restore voting rights for all nonviolent felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution. Felons convicted of murder and sexual offenses would not be eligible.

“Personnel note: Major B. Harding joins greyhound group’s legal team” via Florida Politics — Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Major B. Harding has joined the Florida Greyhound Association legal team. The addition of Harding, a high court appointee of the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, was announced Wednesday by association general counsel Jeff Kottkamp. Harding served on the Florida Supreme Court 1991-2002; Kottkamp was Florida’s lieutenant governor from 2007-11 under Gov. Charlie Crist. The association, which represents owners and breeders, is now fighting against Amendment 13, a proposed state constitutional change put on the November ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission. The measure aims at ending dog racing in the state. It needs at least 60 percent approval to be added to the constitution. In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted at 12 tracks. A lawsuit against the amendment was filed in Leon County.

“Group ramps up to elect Democrats up and down Florida ballot” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times — For Our Future Florida, part of a $70 million national battleground state effort funded by a coalition of labor groups, never actually stopped working in Florida after Donald Trump won the state in 2016. Alongside other progressive groups including Indivisible, Women’s March, Mi Familia Vota, Florida Voices for Health, and Progress Florida, it has been helped put together women’s marches, phone banks, and empty chair town hall meetings spotlighting Republicans avoiding public events. “We’ve helped organize over 500 rallies, trainings and town halls and knocked on 302,714 doors since the 2016 election,” said Field Director Jenn Whitcomb. They are not doing this in a vacuum. Conservative groups such as the Libre Institute targeting Puerto Ricans have been engaging with voters for months, and the Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, have had dozens of field organizers working across Florida for months.

“Democrats asked to investigate whether Alan Grayson paid protesters” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel — two prominent Democratic Party women from Central Florida are asking the national party to investigate what they contend were Grayson-paid protesters at Darren Soto rallies, including one carrying a sign that called U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel “senile.” In a letter to the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin and former U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder said they were “astonished and horrified” to see protesters with offensive signs at a Soto rally in Orlando that featured Frankel. “The worst was directed at Rep. Frankel: ‘Lois Frankel, Still Senile’,” the women wrote. “When asked why they were there, one of the sign holders replied that they had been paid by Alan Grayson,” Chapin and Schroeder wrote.

Florida retailers back Kelli Stargel in SD 22 —— The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) PAC is endorsing incumbent Republican Stargel in Senate District 22, which encompasses most of Polk County and south Lake County. “In her role as Senate Finance & Tax Chair this past year, Senator Stargel showed continued leadership in her support of Florida’s retailers by including in the tax package a reduction in the business rent tax and multiple sales tax holidays,” said FRF President/CEO R. Scott Shalley. Stargel works as the investment property manager for her family-owned small business in Lakeland. She is Chair of the Finance & Tax Committee, Vice Chair of Health and Human Services Appropriation Committee and has served as Chair of the Higher Education Committee, the Regulated Industries Committee and is the Deputy Majority Leader.

“Belinda Keiser antes up another $500K out of pocket for SD 25 campaign” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — With more than $600,000 added to candidates’ coffers in May, the race for Senate District 25 just got a whole lot richer. However, a whopping $500,000 of that was in the form of a self-loan from Keiser to her campaign. That’s on top of nearly $55,000 in donations earned by Keiser in her first month as a candidate for SD 25. Keiser, who serves as vice-chancellor of Keiser University, announced her bid back in early May. For some, the move raised eyebrows, as Keiser is based in Broward County. SD 25 covers Martin and St. Lucie counties as well as a piece of Palm Beach County. Keiser has also taken heat for numerous past donations to Democrats despite her decision to run as a Republican. The influx of money into her campaign could help Keiser fight back if her opponents try to target her on those issues.

FMA blasts Kaiser in SD 25 with mailers, video — The Florida Medical Association PC ‘Better Florida Fund Corp’ announced in independent expenditure in the Senate District 25 race against Keiser. The ad seeks to paint Kaiser as a Broward County Democrat moving from Parkland to run in SD 25; gave thousands to Democrats ($141,667) and nothing to Trump. According to the ads, she also ran for office as a Democrat (Broward County state House seat in 2000). The FMA also points out that Keiser used her Keiser University address in Port St. Lucie on her filing papers as opposed to her home address in Parkland. Ad ends with “Vote No on ‘Blue Wave’ Keiser.” Keiser will likely face state Rep. Gayle Harrell in the Republican primary in SD 25, which includes Martin, St. Lucie and part of Palm Beach counties.

“Hillsborough elections supervisor played favorites with Susan Valdes” via Florida Politics — Valdes is eyeing a run for the Florida House, for the seat being vacated by Janet Cruz. In preparation for a bid for House District 62, Valdes resigned her seat on the Hillsborough County School Board just before the deadline. The supervisor’s office told Tampa Bay Times reporter William March that Valdes had not resigned by the deadline. Tom Alte, a consultant working with the Michael Alvarez campaign, got the same answer at first — with the added detail that the resignation letter was rejected — before he found out supervisor’s office was taking the “unprecedented” step of reconsidering that decision. “This is something that wouldn’t be done for any other candidate,” Alte said. “It very clearly violates the statute.”

“Terry Power owes alimony, records show; he says no” via Florida Politics — Power, a Republican candidate for House District 64, owes nearly $88,000 in alimony, according to court records reviewed this week. A document in the case from Pinellas County shows a “payoff amount” of $87,904. It also lists a “balance due” of only $4,668. In a statement to Florida Politics, however, Power says he doesn’t legally owe any of that money: “I am 100 percent current on all of my court-ordered alimony obligations.” Power, an Oldsmar retirement plan consultant, is challenging incumbent state Rep. Jamie Grant in the Republican primary for the seat, which covers northwest Hillsborough County and a slice of eastern Pinellas County. The area leans heavily Republican.

Chip LaMarca releases first digital ad in HD 93 race — The Lighthouse Point Republican is releasing his first digital video, “Working for You,” a 90-second spot highlighting LaMarca’s roots in House District 93 and his commitment to improving economic opportunities in Broward County. LaMarca is seeking the seat of term-limited state rep. George Moraitis, which covers eastern Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

To view the ad, click the image below:

“‘There was no abuse’: Michael Caruso counters allegations in interview” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — House District 89 Republican candidate Caruso denied allegations of abuse and financial delinquency in a new interview exclusive to Florida Politics. Caruso sat down to share his side of the story after a piece published yesterday detailing those allegations. Many of the accusations stem from a messy divorce proceeding with his ex-wife, Beverly, Caruso says. Indeed, despite the bitter back-and-forth between him and his ex-wife, Caruso says the couple eventually agreed to split custody of the kids. “If I was the bad guy that I supposedly am, do you think she’d give me custody of the kids? If I was the child abuser, or I was the violent one, or the one who was mentally disturbed?” He adds: “Would a judge allow it?”

More notes from the trail:

—“Roger Stone gets behind Scott Sturgill in CD 7 race” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising

—“Rebekah Bydlak has over $100K on hand for HD 1 bid” via Florida Politics

—“Lee Mangold gets AFL-CIO endorsement in HD 28 race” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising

—“David Simmons backs David Smith in HD 28 race” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics

—“Matt Matin withdraws from HD 44 race, endorses Melanie Gold” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising

—“HD 114 challenger Javier Enriquez raises more than $20,000 in May” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics

— STATEWIDE —

“Scott fires back in lawsuit over early voting on campus” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times — Scott’s administration fired back in federal court, seeking to undercut a League of Women Voters lawsuit over early voting on college campuses. The League last month sued Scott’s chief elections official, Secretary of State Ken Detzner, whose office in 2014 interpreted state law to exclude state university buildings from a list of sites available for early voting. Scott’s lawyers asked the federal court to step aside and let the case be decided by a state judge. “A state court, interpreting state law, can decide the case on narrow, statutory interpretation grounds and, perhaps, avoid any constitutional issues,” the state’s brief said. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, an appointee of former President Obama, who has ruled decisively against Scott in two previous voting rights cases. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are nine students at UF and Florida State.

“State judge rules in favor of environmental groups on conservation spending” via Bruce Ritchie of POLITICO Florida — State Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ruled in favor of environmental groups in a case involving a 2014 ballot measure that set aside money for water and land conservation. During a hearing, Joseph W. Little, attorney for Florida Defenders of the Environment, told Dodson the amendment only allows for land acquisition and restoration, and for other activities only on land purchased after 2015. Dodson agreed, calling Little’s argument the “core issue” in the case. Dodson said: “When I read it in its entirety — I come to the conclusion that it clearly refers to conservation lands purchased after the effective date of the amendment.” Dodson canceled a trial in the case scheduled to start July 23. He asked attorneys for the environmental groups to prepare an order for him and said he expects it to be reviewed by the 1st District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court.

“State budget glitch may doom homeless money” via John Kennedy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — The state budget set to take effect July 1 includes $4.1 million in grants for homeless organizations helping needy families. But lawmakers this year left something out of the budget — language directing the state to actually spend the money. As a result, 27 homeless agencies from the Keys to the Panhandle seem likely to be out cash, some losing as much as $350,000. It’s a large portion of what many say already is a meager amount spent on helping struggling Floridians. “This is such a small amount of money in the state budget, it’s practically a rounding error,” said Dawn Gilman, chief executive officer of Changing Homelessness, Inc., which this year received $258,500 from the state to serve Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. “But the homeless don’t get much attention from the Legislature. So, for our organizations, losing this is big, and it really hurts,” she added.

“State tops 100,000 marijuana patients — but no more providers” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Florida now has topped 100,000 “active” and “qualified” patients in its medical marijuana use registry, the Department of Health announced in an email Friday. But again, according to a department official, that doesn’t mean the department will issue another four licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, as provided under state law. The state had exceeded 100,000 overall almost two months ago — coincidentally on April 20, or 4/20 — in its medical marijuana use registry. Friday’s mark of 100,372 refers specifically to those that have an approved patient identification card application. “That figure does not completely reflect an actual threshold that would trigger the new licenses,” spokesman Devin Galleta said in a phone interview Friday.

Scoop — “State investigating ‘possible’ criminal breach of driver’s license info” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Agents are “investigating possible improper use of personal identifying information” of the state’s licensed drivers put online by a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) vendor, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman confirmed … FDLE agents in Tallahassee — including the agency’s Cyber Crime Squad — were working the case, which she said falls under the “active” criminal investigation exemption to the state’s public record law. The same vendor now at issue, Unisoft Communications of Miami, had previously been flagged in 2016 — about a year before the DHSMV agreed to a new contract — for posting the personal information from two individuals’ driving records, records show.

—“State probes possible misuse of confidential driver’s license info” via Steve Bousquet and Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times

“They knew she was a suicide risk. Girl, 15, was still able to hang herself in the lockup.” via Carol Marbin Miller of the Miami Herald — Florida juvenile justice administrators knew that Alleny Carbone was at risk of taking her own life: During at least a dozen stays in state custody, she had been placed on suicide alert. Yet on the night when the 15-year-old fashioned her own sports bra into a makeshift noose at the Bradenton lockup, no one was watching. Alleny’s dad, Victor Carbone, said he was told his daughter was under suicide watch at the state’s juvenile lockup. Department of Juvenile Justice administrators said that Alleny “was not currently under suicide precautions.” Either way, it appears Alleny, who was in foster care, succumbed to her demons — the culmination of a years-long battle with depression. By the time authorities discovered her body, in a sitting position, she was unresponsive. Alleny, who is from Bartow in Polk County, becomes the 13th youth to die in DJJ custody under questionable circumstances since 2000.

“Hospitals worry about ‘confusing picture’ on health website” via Christine Sexton of the News Service of Florida — Consumers won’t be able to find price information on 71 hospitals for a variety of health care services if the state Agency for Health Care Administration sticks with a plan to make facility-specific information available to consumers before industry giant Florida Blue and other insurance carriers begin submitting paid claims data to the state. That’s troublesome to Florida Hospital Association President Bruce Rueben, who worries that an early release of the facility-specific information on the FloridaHealthPriceFinder website will confuse, not enlighten, consumers. The 71 hospitals are in 48 counties scattered across the state, including heavily populated Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, and rural counties across the Panhandle, according to the hospital association. For example, Leon County has two hospitals — Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Capital Regional Medical Center — but without the claims data from Florida Blue and other carriers, people can’t compare prices for services at the facilities.

“Cooling towers imploded at Florida power plant” via The Associated Press — The identical, 462-foot towers were imploded at St. Johns River Power Park in Jacksonville … Jacksonville Electric Authority and Florida Power & Light contracted Total Wrecking & Environmental to handle the implosion of the cooling towers and demolition of the power park for $14.5 million. The project is expected to be completed in April 2020. They were the second tallest cooling towers to be imploded in the world, Total Wrecking & Environmental said. Preparation took about 10 weeks for the implosion. It was over in just more than 10 seconds. More than 1,500 pounds of dynamite and 12,000 linear feet of detonation were used.

“Adam Corey gave Edison discount to Mayor’s Office, too; city attorney says it benefited public” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat — Corey, who’s mixed up in the FBI’s public corruption investigation, instructed colleagues at The Edison restaurant to give a catering discount to Mayor Gillum’s Family First Week programs in 2016. But there was nothing improper about the discount, the Mayor’s Office said, noting that it benefited the public rather than the mayor himself. And while the Mayor’s Office spent nearly $7,000 on the catering, it was later fully reimbursed by Whole Child Leon, which acted as fiscal agent for the initiative. Corey discussed the discount in a text message May 20, 2016, to John Minas, then chef of the restaurant, and Sam McKay, then general manager. The text also mentions Eddie Kring, who served as The Edison’s catering director. “What is the actual cost for the upcoming breakfast events we are doing for the Mayor’s summit for children?” Corey asked. “I need to give them a discount. Let me know ASAP. Sam and Minas, work with Eddie on this and let me know. Thanks.”

— IRMA AD NAUSEAM —

“Irma produced a litigation wave at Citizens Insurance, committee told” via Michael Moline of Florida Politics — Hurricane Irma-related lawsuits surged at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. early this year, representing a nearly 50 percent increase in the company’s litigation load compared to the same period in 2017. More than 90 percent of those lawsuits originated in South Florida. The state’s insurer of last resort fielded 4,287 legal claims in January through April, the vast majority involving residential policies. Irma claims represented 60 percent of that litigation, according to a report delivered to Citizens’ claims committee during a telephone conference call Wednesday. In nearly half of the lawsuits, policyholders hadn’t disputed Citizens’ adjustment decisions before filing, even though the company encourages them to update claims based on emerging information about the scope of their damage. “These insured are just giving over the option and opportunity to further adjust the claim with us and just going straight to sue,” Elaina Paskalakis, Citizens’ vice president for claim litigation, told the committee.

“Citrus growers end worst season in decades” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida — The latest forecast numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show no change in the past month for orange production, which is off 34.7 percent from the earlier growing season. Meanwhile, grapefruit production has fallen another 1.8 percent from a May forecast, coming in at half of what was picked in the prior growing season and at its lowest level in nearly a century. “This brings a very difficult citrus season to a close,” Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to a quiet, resilient season in the fall.”

“Florida’s spiny lobster harvest stunted by the 2017 hurricane season” via Dayna Harpster of National Fishermen — Immediately after Hurricane Irma blew through south Florida in early September 2017, about 154,000 of the 350,000 lobster traps deployed annually in the waters around the Florida Keys were severely displaced or lost. About 60,000 were recovered by early May. Landings data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows nearly 3.3 million pounds harvested between the season’s start Aug. 6, 2017, and its conclusion March 31, 2018. The previous year’s total was about 5.4 million pounds, and it was thought to be a fairly slow year, as well. This year, the average price per pound was $9.30, with August averaging the lowest price at $6.72 and February the highest at $11.66. “Dock prices started out on the slow side,” Islamorada lobsterman Gary Nichols agreed, but then rallied. February’s high reflects so many being exported to China for the Chinese New Year, he said.

— D.C. MATTERS —

“Trump’s move to redefine water rule threatens wetlands banks” via Jason Dearen of The Associated Press — A private firm is making big money selling promises about some gator-infested Florida swampland. The Panther Island Mitigation Bank is part of a federal system designed to restore wetlands across the United States. Banks like this sell “wetlands mitigation credits” to developers for up to $300,000 apiece, offsetting the destruction of marshes by construction projects elsewhere. It’s a billion-dollar industry that has slowed the loss of U.S. wetlands, half of which are already gone. This uniquely American mix of conservation and capitalism has been supported by every president since George H.W. Bush pledged a goal of “no net loss” of wetlands, growing a market for mitigation credits from about 40 banks in the early 1990s to nearly 1,500 today. Now the market is at risk. Administrator Scott Pruitt’s Environmental Protection Agency has completed a proposal for implementing Trump’s executive order to replace the Waters of the United States rule, or WOTUS, with a much more limited definition of what constitutes a protected federal waterway. “It would destroy wetland mitigation banking at the federal level,” said Royal Gardner, a professor at Florida’s Stetson University College of Law.

“Trump associate Roger Stone reveals new contact with Russian national during 2016 campaign” via Manuel Roig-Franzia and Ros Helderman of The Washington Post — One day in late May 2016, Stone met a man with a man who called himself Henry Greenberg, who offered damaging information about Hillary Clinton … Greenberg wanted Trump to pay $2 million for the political dirt, Stone said. “You don’t understand Donald Trump,” Stone recalled saying before rejecting the offer. “He doesn’t pay for anything.” Later, Stone got a text message from Michael Caputo, a Trump campaign communications official who’d arranged the meeting … “How crazy is the Russian?” Caputo wrote according to a text message. Noting that Greenberg wanted ‘big’ money, Stone replied: “waste of time.” Two years later, the brief sit-down in Florida has resurfaced as part of special counsel Robert Mueller‘s sprawling investigation … Stone and Caputo now say they believe they were the targets of a setup by U.S. law enforcement officials hostile to Trump. They cite records showing that the man who approached Stone is actually a Russian national who has claimed to work as an FBI informant. … Greenberg denied that he had acted on the FBI’s behalf when he met with Stone.

Assignment editors — Tampa Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Former State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, Olivia Babis, and local activist Karen Clay hold a news conference to call out Gov. Scott’s poor record on health care issues and his refusal to stand up to the Trump administration’s attacks on pre-existing conditions, 1 p.m., 344 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa.

“Ballard Partners signs Sentry data systems and ARTOC auto” via Florida Politics — Sentry Data Systems bills itself as a “pioneer in automated pharmacy procurement, utilization management and 340B compliance.” … the company develops data analytics software for the health care industry that helps providers order prescription drugs and comply with medication pricing rules. Founded in 2003, the South Florida-based company has built a client base of more than 11,000 hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. Ballard’s other new client, ARTOC, was for a time Egypt’s sole importer of cars manufactured by Czech Republic-based Škoda Auto. While most Americans would struggle to pick the 121-year-old automaker’s badge out of a lineup, they’re likely familiar with its parent company, Volkswagen Group.

— OPINIONS —

“Fathers deserve more than stuff for Father’s Day. They deserve respect” via Marco Rubio for The Federalist — Like so many other things in our culture today, the commercialization of this holiday obscures its true meaning. Father’s Day is about so much more than store sales and cheesy coffee mugs. It is, to borrow the words a resolution President Calvin Coolidge once signed on its celebration, a day “to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations,” and remind ourselves of the importance of fatherhood to our country. It is something that, unfortunately in today’s culture, needs to be repeated often and with clarity: fathers matter. Their responsibilities in families and society are all essential to the strength of our country. Fathers and mothers serve equally important, but distinct, functions in raising children. Fathers play the indispensable role in protecting their families from harm, encouraging children to overcome challenges, disciplining children with authority, and teaching boys how to become responsible men by modeling responsibility themselves. This should not be controversial. In fact, it is an area of bipartisan agreement.

— MOVEMENTS —

Appointed — Gary Cooney to the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court; Matthew Caldwell to the Broward College District Board of Trustees.

“Dream realized: Jonathan Kilman opens his own influence firm” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Veteran lobbyist Kilman has finally realized a “long-term dream of starting (his) own firm” with the creation of Converge Government Affairs, with offices in Miami, Orlando and Tallahassee. Kilman, formerly with the Foley & Lardner law firm, announced the new concern last week in a LinkedIn post … Kilman is keeping his inaugural client list close to the vest, but a look at his past lobbying disclosures shows companies such as video game maker Electronic Arts, ride-hailing platform Lyft, and autonomous-truck developer Starsky Robotics. “I think it’s fair to say that you’ll see many of the clients that we represented in the past will continue to be our clients in the new firm,” he said.

New and renewed lobbying registrations:

Travis Blanton, Jon Johnson, Darrick McGhee, Johnson & Blanton: Consortium of Florida Education Foundations

Kevin Marino Cabrera, Southern Strategy Group: Tallahassee Corporate Center C/O Hall Investments

Marisa Carrozzo, Amber Crooks, Nicole Johnson: The Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Agustin Corbella, Greenberg Traurig: JP Communications

Nicole Graganella, Trevor Mask, Peter Murray, Katherine Webb, Colodny Fass: FedNat Insurance Company

Brian Jogerst, BH & Associates: Health Diagnostic Management

Jenna Paladino, Paladino Public Affairs: IMCS Group

Adam McGill Ross, 6th Judicial Circuit State Attorney

— ALOE —

“Universal’s new ‘Cinematic Celebration’ nighttime show to debut this summer” via John Gregory of Orlando Rising — “Universal’s Cinematic Celebration” — ditching the “Epic Cinema Under the Stars” tag — and will include heavy use of water fountains and effects being constructed on a large platform in the park’s lagoon. “The show combines an all-new storyline with full panoramic water screens accented by additional multilayered water screens, pyrotechnics and — for the first time — more than 120 dancing fountains and projection mapping to transform the entire waterfront and surrounding buildings into a vivid celebration of epic movie moments and beloved characters,” Universal said in a news release. Projection mapping, which has become a mainstay of nighttime shows in other Orlando parks, hadn’t been mentioned in the earlier post. It would set the show apart from other shows based around water screens like Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and World of Color at Disney’s California Adventure. The latter has several elements in common with Universal’s new show, though Disney has boasted it has nearly 1,200 fountains, 10 times what Universal is promising.

“Avenue Eat & Drink joins growing list of shuttered Tallahassee restaurants” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics — Elected officials aren’t the only ones subject to brief stints in the capital city. Avenue Eat & Drink, a popular downtown eatery on East Park Avenue just blocks from the Capitol, has indefinitely shut down, according to owner and operator Chris Clark. Clark said the location “hopefully” could be up and running again soon — perhaps under the same name — but financial woes forced Clark to file bankruptcy on what’s evolved into one of a few staple eateries for anyone looking to grab a bite downtown. Avenue and Clark in late May were sued for defaulting on a cash advance, according to court records. That resulted in Clark, a veteran of the service industry and longtime Tallahassee restaurateur, bankrupting the business, although he told Florida Politics he has faith in its redemption.

“The Southern is dead. Long live Pizza Deck!” via Florida Politics — Friday night The Southern Pub and Fat Noodle closed in downtown Tallahassee … like all great things that manifest in a majestic unending cycle of death and rebirth, the owners of a new restaurant will be sweeping out the last of the Southern dust bunnies and rapidly gear up to roll out the Pizza Deck … a collaboration between the owners of Metro Deli, a popular Monroe Street restaurant that seems to have learned how to survive in the Darwinian food scene of the capital, and the wildly popular Pizza Bruno from Orlando. To bring the culinary magic Pizza Bruno relies on a special gas-fired, wood-burning oven custom-made from a shop next to the Ferrari factory in Italy. This bit of Old World kit will be shipped to New York, with fabricators trained in the ancient art of pizza oven assembly actually bringing it to Tallahassee for installation in the former Southern space. Hopefully, Pizza Deck can become a place for some fun Italian comfort food and cold craft brews by the time committee weeks start in the fall.

“What we talk about when we talk about Anthony Bourdain” via Mark Hinson of the Tallahassee Democrat — The real reason food writer and TV personality Bourdain came to Florida State University in February 2011 was that he was invited by the Creative Writing Program. Poet Erin Berliu drafted the letter. Opening Nights then-director Steve MacQueen sent it. Bourdain jumped at the chance. That easy. He spent the morning talking to members of the Dedman School of Hospitality. That night he lectured a sold-out house at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, even though he ragged on Southern matriarch Paula Deen most of the time. After that was over, he signed every book and posed for every photo during a reception at the College of Music. “We are really working you hard,” MacQueen said to Bourdain at one point. “You tell me when you don’t want to do something.” “Man, I’m not on my feet for 12 hours in a hot kitchen,” Bourdain said. “This is a piece of cake. This is a pleasure.” And he meant it. His fave novel was Walter V. Higgins’ taut, crime drama “The Friends of Eddie Coyle.” what does a novel about a middle-aged, low-level gunrunner in a cruddy part of Boston have to do with writing about food? Everything. “From the opening paragraph, it tells you everything about the book ahead,” Bourdain said, and I paraphrase. “Nothing is wasted. I used it as my template when I sat down to write. I threw away everything that was not necessary.”

Happy birthday

Celebrating during our extended absence was state Sen. David Simmons (Wednesday).