Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
First, a program note: SUNBURN will take another day off tomorrow while Peter Schorsch is on vacation. The state’s premier political morning newsletter will return soon.
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Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga will give the annual “State of the Judiciary” address tomorrow during The Florida Bar convention in Orlando.
That’s slated for 12:15 p.m., at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane in Orlando.
What Labarga will say is, as always, a closely held secret.
He’s set to depart the chief’s role July 1 when Justice Charles Canady takes over the reins. Canady was previously chief justice 2010-12. The two-year position rotates, although Labarga served two consecutive terms.
“He is still working on his remarks,” spokesman Craig Waters said earlier this week, who added that Labarga usually rewrites his speeches up to the last minute.
Waters did say Labarga’s remarks “will be brief and mainly will highlight the work of the three retiring Justices.”
Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy A. Quince all face mandatory retirement on the same day — Jan. 8, 2019. Altogether, they’ve served roughly 64 years on the state’s highest court.
We’re willing to bet, however, Labarga won’t be mentioning the legal controversy over replacing those three justices.
The League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause sued last year, saying term-limited Gov. Rick Scott doesn’t have authority to appoint three new justices on the last day of his term, which coincides with their retirement date.
Scott can’t replace the outgoing justices — perceived as the court’s liberal-leaning trio — because he’ll be out of office earlier on the same day all three retire, and their terms last till midnight, the organizations argued.
In December, the court itself dismissed the challenge, saying the issue wasn’t ready for judicial review.
Evening Reads
“Marco Rubio: Donald Trump ‘is optimistic and needs to be’ but rest of us should be skeptical of North Korea” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
“New Rick Scott ad compares Bill Nelson to Ford Pinto” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Rick Scott talks pot, Donald Trump” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics
“Jeff Greene says he’ll play kingmaker if he wins Democratic nomination for governor” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald
“Ron DeSantis setting up $12M TV buy through primary day” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“Adam Putnam declares opposition to fracking in Florida” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Adam Putnam sidesteps timing question about background check investigation” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
“Ethics investigation touches on elected officials’ connections to lobbyist Adam Corey” via the Tallahassee Democrat
“Citizens rolls out new lobbying disclosure requirements” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics
“Florida medical marijuana judge has history of being in spotlight” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
Quote of the Day
“It was the dumbest thing in the world. It was a thing that happens to anybody with a computer: She emailed I.T. and said, ‘my password isn’t working.’ They emailed her back with instructions on how to fix the problem. By her own admission, she dropped the ball.” — Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, answering a reporter’s question on why an ex-employee failed to perform background checks on hundreds of concealed carry permits.
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Cris Dosev, a Republican candidate in Northwest Florida’s Congressional District 1, will gather with veterans to mark Flag Day. That’s at 8 a.m., Crackings, 979 Highway 98 East, Destin.
The state Department of Environmental Protection will host a forum in Northwest Florida about the redevelopment of brownfields. That’s at 9 a.m. Central time, Jackson County Agriculture Conference Center, 2741 Pennsylvania Ave., Marianna.
CareerSource Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, homebuilders and Uber will combine to hold job fairs throughout the state for careers in the manufacturing and construction industries:
—9 a.m., CareerSource Pasco Hernando, 4440 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey.
—9 a.m., CareerSource Southwest Florida, Fort Myers Center, 4150 Ford St. Extension, Fort Myers.
—9 a.m., CareerSource Research Coast Career Center, 2102 Avenue Q, Fort Pierce.
—9 a.m., CareerSource Research Coast Career Center, 710 S.E. Central Parkway, Stuart.
—10 a.m., St. Petersburg College, EpiCenter Campus, 13805 58th St. North, Clearwater.
—10 a.m., Florida State College at Jacksonville, Deerwood Center, 9911 Old Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville.
—4:30 p.m., College of Central Florida, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.
The Consumer Services Committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors will hold a conference call. That’s at 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-361-7525. Code: 6487811621.
The Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association will meet in Escambia County. That’s at 10 a.m. Central time, Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport, 161 Airport Lane, Pensacola.
The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to release its weekly opinions at 11 a.m.
Republican candidates in Congressional District 6 are expected to take part in a Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County event. The seat became open when U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis decided to run for governor. That’s at noon, LPGA Clubhouse, 1000 Champions Dr., Daytona Beach.
Conservative columnist and author Jonah Goldberg will speak to the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club. That’s at noon, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.
The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host a regional meeting in Northwest Florida that is part of an effort to better coordinate behavioral-health services. The meeting is an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. That’s at 1 p.m., Brent Center Conference Room, 33 Brent Lane, Pensacola.
Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is slated to speak during a meeting of the Republican Party of Sarasota County Executive Committee. That’s at 7 p.m., Carlisle Inn, 3727 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota.
