Last Call for 7.30.18 — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics

Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

A Tallahassee entrepreneur mired in federal litigation stemming from the alleged theft of his company’s hydrogen fuel cell technology has ended his legal battle.

Dean Minardi, CEO of Tallahassee-based Bing Energy, had accused sister Chinese company Nantong Bing Energy of intellectual property, or IP, theft.

Minardi was even a panelist last August at a Congressional field hearing, held by Republican Congressmen Matt Gaetz and Neal Dunn of North Florida, on China’s IP theft.

“For all the hostile vitriol directed toward my clients, Mr. Minardi and Bing Energy have dismissed their case against all defendants,” attorney Ethan Andrew Way told Florida Politics on Monday.

China engages in an “outright pattern of stolen ideas,” the “immoral equivalent of an act of war,” Minardi said at the hearing. Some of his company’s ideas had been developed by researchers at Florida State University.

The American company, led by Minardi, had moved from California to develop high-tech fuel cells. In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott held a news conference at its Tallahassee site to welcome its relocation.

But one-time collaborators Nantong Bing Energy, Bing Energy International, Bing Holdings and others became adversaries after Minardi said the Florida company had been ripped off.

Yung Chen, Nantong Bing Energy’s CEO who attended last year’s hearing, disputed Minardi’s side of the story at the time.

“We never stole any ideas, anything,” Chen said. “This was always a joint venture. We never stole anything from that venture.”

Evening Reads

“‘Pitbull Trump defender’ takes on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida

“Ron DeSantis teaches kids about Trump in new ad” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel

“Lois Frankel defends Gwen Graham, hits Andrew Gillum on super PAC ads” via George Bennett of the Palm Beach Post

“History is not on the side of Andrew Gillum, Chris King or Adam Putnam” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times

“RPOF gives $100k to back proposed controversial charter school amendment” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida

“Lindsay Cross to tag in for Carrie Pilon in SD 24” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics

“The ‘Voice of Florida Business’ speaks up for Shawn Harrison in HD 63” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics

“Did Florida’s prepaid college plan stiff thousands of students A judge says no, but the question lives on” via Jeffrey Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times

“$4 billion American Dream mall rolls along road to OK” via Katherine Lewin of Miami Today

“333 passengers taken off plane at Orlando airport after bomb comment, fight, official says” Martin Comas of the Orlando Sentinel

Quote of the Day

“Everyone knows my husband is endorsed by President Trump. But he’s also an amazing dad. Ron loves playing with the kids.” — Casey DeSantis, wife of GOP candidate for Governor Ron DeSantis, in a new ad.

Bill Day’s Latest

Breakthrough Insights

Wake Up Early?

The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze ad valorem, or property, taxes at 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.

Members of groups, including Progress Florida, will deliver petitions to Gov. Scott’s office and the Florida Department of Health calling for regulation of controversial centers that counsel woman against having abortions and receive state money. That’s at 10 a.m. at the governor’s office, the Capitol; and 11 a.m., Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee.

Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll will hold a hearing in a public-records lawsuit filed by the Miami Herald after the deadly collapse in March of a pedestrian bridge at Florida International University. That’s at 11 a.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston is slated to speak to the Economic Club of Florida. That’s at noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.

Republican candidate for Governor Adam Putnam will join the Band of Brothers veterans group at a campaign event. That’s at 2:30 p.m., City Fire-Lake Sumter Landing, 1018 Canal St., The Villages.

Democrat Tracy Pratt, who is running in House District 71, will campaign during a potluck event in Bradenton. Pratt is seeking to replace term-limited Rep. Jim Boyd, a Bradenton Republican, in the district in Manatee and Sarasota counties. That’s at 5 p.m., Bayshore Gardens Park and Recreation District, 6919 26th St. West, Bradenton.

Candidates in Florida’s 7th, 9th and 10th Congressional Districts are expected to take part in a forum in Orange County. The districts are currently represented by Democrats Stephanie Murphy, Darren Soto and Val Demings. That’s at 6:30 p.m., Orlando Science Center, 777 East Princeton St., Orlando.

President Donald Trump will appear at a rally in Hillsborough County and is expected to tout his support for gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis. Trump also is expected to use the rally to back Gov. Scott, now running for U.S. Senate, and Gaetz, running for re-election to Congress from his Northwest Florida district. That’s at 7 p.m., Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 4800 U.S. 301, Tampa.

NextGen America will hold an event in which young voters will be able to ask questions of candidates in South Florida’s 27th Congressional District. The congressional seat is open because of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s decision to retire. Candidates expected to take part in the event are Democrats Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, David Richardson, Matt Haggman and Michael Hepburn. That’s at 7 p.m., ELV Miami, 1723 Washington Ave., Miami Beach.