Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The Florida Elections Commission will consider a “recommended final order” that Brian Pitts’ Justice-2-Jesus organization be stripped of its political committee status.
The matter is on the agenda for the panel’s Tuesday meeting in Tallahassee. Pitts is a longtime legislative critic, well known in The Process for his appearances at committee meetings over the years.
Records show Pitts asked for a hearing after the Division of Elections’ decision “to cancel Justice-2-Jesus’s registration as a political committee for failing to pay a civil penalty.” That was for not filing campaign finance reports.
An administrative law judge in January 2016 found “willful violations of the Florida Election Code,” imposing a $7,000 fine that still has not been paid.
Because of that, “the Commission concludes that the Division may proceed with final cancellation … of Justice-2-Jesus,” a draft order reads.
Meantime, Pitts recently returned to Twitter after a seven-month hiatus. He told Florida Politics back in March that multiple cases of legislative misconduct had taken a toll on him, and “it was time for a sabbatical.”
Pitts, who chairs the St. Petersburg-based committee, has told commissioners in a filing he can’t pay the penalty and disagreed with the commission’s recommendation in his usual all-caps style.
“OF COURSE WE DO NOT AGREE … IN LIGHT OF THE FACTS, EVIDENCE AND LAW ON THE MATTER,” he said.
The committee hasn’t raised a cent since 2008, when it took in $1,150. That money is the group’s only funds, which it’s still sitting on. It reported no other contributions since 2007, and no expenditures.
Evening Reads
1. “Rick Scott issues emergency order on Red Tide algae bloom” via Craig Pittman of the Tampa Bay Times
2. “Report of election site hacking rankle Florida officials” via the Associated Press
3. “An 11-year-old changed election results on a replica Florida state website in under 10 minutes” via Michael Regan of PBS
4. “‘Where’s the blue wave?’ Voter data show Florida Democrats aren’t surging” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
5. “Democrats make big gains in Seminole, Osceola and Orange; Republicans flip Volusia and Polk” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising
6. “Ron DeSantis: I’ll kick Adam Putnam’s keister in South Florida” via Anthony Man of the Sun-Sentinel
7. “Adam Putnam’s cash dries up as gubernatorial star fades” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
8. “Bob Buckhorn or Shevrin Jones for Gwen Graham’s Lieutenant Governor” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times
9. “Matt Caldwell’s gun rights ad draws NRA rebuke” via Dara Kam and Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida
10. “‘Dammit Dana’: Janet Cruz slams Dana Young over lead in schools” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times
11. “House candidate Terry Power lives in $500K home but applied for food stamps” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
12. “Melissa Howard apologizes for lying about degree, will stay in race” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
13. “Toyota dealership inspired by #MeToo likely discriminated against men, state says” via Martin Vassolo of the Miami Herald
Quote of the Day
“Like her dad, Gwen will put the interests of everyday Floridians first. She has a heart for people and a passion for the Sunshine State.” —Jimmy Buffett, in a Monday endorsement of Democratic candidate for Governor Gwen Graham.
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Wake Up Early?
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will take up a series of issues at a regular meeting. That’s at 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.
The Florida Elections Commission will take up numerous issues, including a proposed legislative budget request and a legislative recommendation. That’s at 9 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.
Enterprise Florida will hold one in a series of trade seminars. That’s at 9 a.m. Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables.
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch will visit the Pride Center in Wilton Manors, attend a district office opening in Coral Springs and take part in a Moms Demand Action town hall on gun violence. That’s at 10 a.m., Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors. Also, office opening at 4 p.m., Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 West Sample Road, Coral Springs. Also, town hall at 6:30 p.m., Marriott-Heron Bay, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd., Coral Springs.
The Florida Development Finance Corp. Board of Directors is slated to meet and receive presentations from Classical Preparatory Charter School, Inc. and Waste Pro USA, Inc. That’s at 2 p.m., 156 Tuskawilla Road-Suite 2340, Winter Springs. Call-in number: 1-646-741-5292. Code: 1114882779.
Democratic candidate for Governor Philip Levine will be visiting political “hob nobs.” A Tampa event is 4:30 p.m., Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St. A Lakeland event is 6:30 p.m., Rocking H Ranch, 2200 Ewell Road.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis and Congressional District 27 candidate Bruno Barreiro are slated to speak during a meeting of the Miami Young Republicans. That’s at 6:30 p.m., Cubaocho Museum, 1465 S.W. Eighth St., Miami.
