Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 8.20.18

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

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

Before we dive into the rundown of all that is happening in Florida politics just one week before Election Day, let’s begin the morning with two apolitical items of note, one sweet, one so bittersweet.

First, congratulations to Alison Hengesbach, an attorney with Sundberg, P.A., and Herbie Thiele, a partner at Sachs Media Group, on their beautiful wedding.

The couple met on a blind date in 2016 and have not been able to leave each other’s side since.

On Saturday, before more than 200 friends and members of their families at St. Thomas More Church in Tallahassee, the happy couple said: “I do.” From there, they welcomed all to a reception was at Goodwood Museum’s Carriage House. There were too many from The Process to list all of the “spotteds.”

The couple will honeymoon in Europe for the next two weeks. Plans include a cruise of the Italian coast.

Just as photos from the wedding were popping up on social media, so too did a story we wish we didn’t have to read.

POLITICO Florida’s Alexandra Glorioso, whose fierce reporting on sexual harassment in the Florida Legislature, made her a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists’ James Batten Award for Public Service and the Gene Miller Award for Investigative Reporting, writes a harrowing account of how she has gone from being a reporter who covers health care issues to being patient battling breast cancer at the too-young age of 31.

“And now I’ve been given the thing I’ve always wanted as a journalist: access,” explains Glorioso. “I’ve got direct access to the cumbersome and complicated and hopefully lifesaving American health care system. I am in reporter heaven even if I am in cancer-patient hell.”

As I sat in church Sunday morning, my thoughts kept drifting back to Glorioso’s difficult situation AND Alison and Herbie’s beautiful wedding (a friend had even sent a short video clip from the nuptials). Two completely disconnected events. Yet I couldn’t stop thinking about how they both were serving as a reminder that there is so much more to our lives than who wins and who loses House District Who Gives A F*ck.

So, as we barrel toward the primary election and then after that the general election, do your absolute best to not lose touch with those close to you who do not live and die by politics. I read and see so many those in The Process writing and posting and tweeting that they have their heads down until Election Day or they are not coming up for air until the day after the elections (November 7), or their family thinks they’ve gone missing.

Don’t do that.

Hold your loved ones. Eat dinner with your family. Take care of yourself.

There are more important things in this life than election results.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

—@RealDonaldTrump: The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel [sic] Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel [sic], he must be a John Dean type ‘RAT.’ But I allowed him and all others to testify — I didn’t have to. I have nothing to hide

—@BrowardPolitics: .@AlceeHastingsFL warms up Democratic rally in Sunrise with a joke about the difference between a crisis and a catastrophe. Crisis: if @realDonaldTrump falls into the Potomac River & can’t swim. Catastrophe: If “anybody saves his ass.”

—@KevinCate: The earned TV media value of @BernieSanders in Tampa & Orlando for @AndrewGillum: $661,957. This doesn’t include hundreds of thousands of social views and the front page of the @TB_Times and Orlandosentinel. The Gillum surge is real.

—@Fineout: .@JeffGreeneFL @Adamputnam @GwenGraham air TV ads during Bucs-Titans preseason game. With a dearth of live events in August, candidates trying to get exposure when they can

—@BWeiss22: Today marks the 98th anniversary of women getting the right to vote. I honored those who fought for that right by rallying early voters for Florida’s future first female governor, @GwenGraham. Doesn’t get better than that!

—@GBennettPost: Copiously filling out the sign-in sheet at the Kings Point Democratic Club is one of the most Bob Graham things ever.

—@DeFede: Remember when @JeffGreeneFL said he would release the video with audio of his confrontation with @realDonaldTrump? Well it’s been two weeks, and he still hasn’t released it. What gives?

—@Matt_Caldwell: Our campaign experienced just what @RealDonaldTrump describes. Our conservative #2A message was suspended by Facebook, and it took press like @FoxNews to help change their decision. Outrageous!

—@ShevrinJones: So excited to start my first day as a PhD student at @FloridaAtlantic. With a starting cohort of 9 scholars, we are looking forward to this journey with our mentors, and our professors, @Drcriss_salinas and @Faudrdeb

—@JoseFleixDiaz: As we get ready for the start of the school year, let us take this opportunity to enjoy the simple things: no mind-numbing traffic, and Instagram and Facebook posts that don’t include the hashtag #MyBabyIsAllGrownUp

— LATEST TURNOUT FIGURES —

— DAYS UNTIL —

Start of the U.S. Open — 7; Primary Election Day — 8; College Football opening weekend — 10; Labor Day — 14; Gubernatorial candidates must choose a running mate — 17; NFL regular season starts — 17; First general election mail ballots go out — 33; First day of fall — 33; Future of Florida Forum — 37; FSU vs. UM football game — 47; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida U.S. Senate debate — 64; MLB World Series begins — 64; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida Governor debate — 65; Halloween — 72; General Election Day — 78; 2019 Legislature Organization Session meetings — 92; Thanksgiving — 94; Black Friday — 95; Florida Chamber Insurance Summit — 99; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 176; 2019 Legislative Session starts — 197; 2020 General Election — 806.

— GIVETH OR TAKETH —

President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot in 2018, but he’s bound to be on the mind of voters who go to the polls.

Candidates on either ticket can’t avoid him. The golden question in November will be which side prevails. Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times observes that the jury’s still out.

While Democrats have secured a handful of special election upsets since 2016, Smith notes, “For all the anecdotal evidence of a Democratic wave building as Trump’s shadow looms, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical(.)”

Red state: “Trump is more popular in Florida, polls show, than much of the rest of the country and not nearly as politically toxic as Democrats often argue.” As well, “A few thousand more Democrats than Republicans have registered to vote in Florida so far this year, but since the 2014 midterms, the Democrats’ overall voter registration advantage has shrunk by half.”

Blue state: Four bellwether victories for Democrats have largely been attributed to an electorate upset with 45. “Trump was the factor that got these people in the race, Trump is the factor getting people to talk to their neighbors about issues that really matter to them, and Trump is a factor in getting them to knock on their neighbors’ door,” Juan Penalosa, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, tells Smith.

Something to think about: It’s not all Trump, despite his media spotlight. “Democratic candidates and canvassers say they have been struck by how many voters seem more motivated by state issues and antipathy toward Gov. Scott and Republican leadership in Tallahassee.”

— NELSON VS. SCOTT —

“Florida election officials seek info as support builds for Bill Nelson’s Russian-hack claim” via Alex Daugherty and Greg Gordon of McClatchy D.C. — Florida officials faced with the prospect of ongoing hacking attempts say they’ve seen no evidence of voter information being altered as early primary voting continues in counties around the state. Paul Lux, the supervisor of elections for Okaloosa County and the president of the state Association of Supervisors of Elections, said county-level election officials had not been informed of concrete steps they should take to inoculate themselves from the specific threat of ongoing Russian hacking attempts that Nelson has alluded to. Florida officials who do have access to classified information regarding the state’s voting systems typically receive briefings from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. DHS spokesperson Sarah Sendek said the agency is aware of Nelson’s recent statements, but the agency has “not seen any new compromises by Russian actors of election infrastructure.”

“Nelson, Rick Scott point fingers at each other about Florida’s environmental woes” via John McCarthy of FLORIDA TODAY — Scott has run a TV ad accusing Nelson of having done nothing during his time in Congress to improve the situation with Lake Okeechobee. Seasonal discharges from the lake have fueled toxic algae blooms along the Treasure Coast and in Southwest Florida. Nelson responded with his own ad that ended with “the water is murky, but the fact is clear: Rick Scott caused this problem.” While water quality is a problem throughout the state, the images of green, slimy waters and dead marine life along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of South Florida has made Lake Okeechobee discharges the center of the environmental debate. Since the federal government controls those discharges, Scott blames Nelson for not doing more to stop it. States are generally responsible for setting and policing the environmental quality standards for their citizens and businesses. But Congress plays an important role as well, creating policy for the use of federal lands within states and funding federal programs such as national park upkeep and cleanup of Superfund toxic waste sites.

“Did Scott’s wallet affect his epiphany on rail line?” via the Tampa Bay Times editorial board — Here’s what’s missing that Floridians didn’t know: Scott and wife last year invested at least $3 million in a credit fund for All Aboard Florida’s parent company, and it could be much more. The federal financial disclosures Scott was required to file as a U.S. Senate candidate show two of Ann Scott’s three holdings in a credit fund for Fortress Investment Group — All Aboard Florida’s parent company — are worth “over $1 million.’’ Scott’s disclosure shows the governor’s blind trust holds between $500,000 and $1 million in the credit fund, Fortress Secured Lending Fund. And last year, the Scotts’ investment in that fund produced at least $150,000 in income. That’s information Floridians should know as they evaluate whether Scott’s public policy decisions have been affected by his family’s personal investments. Yet they would have remained in the dark without the federal financial disclosure forms. Most of the governor’s investments are held by a blind trust, and the state does not require the finances of spouses of state officeholders to be publicly disclosed. As the old Florida slogan goes, the rules are different here.

“Scott puts another $6.5M in personal cash into his Senate bid” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida — Scott raised $8.6 million and spent nearly $10 million between July 1 and Aug. 8, according to a summary page of a campaign finance report for the period. Outside of the personal money, Scott’s roughly $2 million in donor cash slightly beat out the $1.8 million raised by his Democratic opponent, Sen. Nelson. However, the numbers are much closer than the last reporting period, when Scott brought in a record $22 million compared to Nelson’s $4.4 million, the three-term senator’s biggest ever single quarter. During that period, Scott put in $14 million of his own money.

“Scott turns to those he appointed for campaign cash” via John Kennedy of the Palm Beach Post — Scott has collected close to $1.4 million from 127 appointees, their spouses and children, who have given either to his Senate campaign or the New Republican PAC supporting his bid, an analysis shows. The amount is a fraction of the more than $22.5 million Scott has collected — including $14 million of his own money. But it shows how the broad reach of the governor’s power can be used to advance his political future. Those contributors deny that there’s any link between their appointments and the checks they cut for Scott’s Senate bid. But the campaign data shows a remarkable correlation. “The governor or people in his campaign have never asked me to give,” said developer Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners of Palm Beach Gardens, appointed by Scott in 2016 to the State University System Board of Governors.

— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, PART 1 —

“Poll: Panhandle GOP split over governor; Dems prefer Gwen Graham” via CrestviewBulletin.com — A new poll from the Haas Center at the University of West Florida shows that Republicans in the Panhandle are split over their gubernatorial candidates, while Democrats are widely supporting Graham for governor. The report was conducted from July 30 through Aug. 13 and surveyed 610 respondents across 18 Panhandle counties. According to the Haas Center, gubernatorial candidates Ron DeSantis and Adam Putnam are in a “statistical tie” among registered Republicans, with DeSantis slightly edging out Putnam 30 percent to 28 percent. Eighteen percent of Northwest Florida Republicans said they were “unsure” who they would vote for, and 10 percent said they did not know any of the candidates. The remaining 14 percent spread their votes among the rest of the candidates, including Don Baldauf, Tim Devine, John Joseph Mercadante, Bruce Natham and Bob White.

“Ron DeSantis, Matt Gaetz campaign with Jim Jordan in Pensacola while on Freedom Tour” via Jim Little of the Pensacola News-Journal — The event Saturday morning was in a talk-show format with Gaetz directing questions to DeSantis and Jordan, while still getting the key points of his own stump speech in as part of his questions. “I’m sure a lot of folks would love to see me lose my primary, not because they care about Northwest Florida, but they want to take out one of Trump’s guys — one of Trump’s fighters,” Gaetz said. Jordan, founder of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans in the House that includes Gaetz and DeSantis, is one of the candidates seeking to be the next Speaker of the House when Rep. Paul Ryan leaves Congress after the election.

“Mayfield ‘flattered’ to be on short list for lieutenant governor as Ron DeSantis running mate” via Dave Berman of TCPalm — Mayfield said DeSantis had not contacted her about the prospect but said she would consider the possibility if offered. POLITICO said its source for the list is “two top Republicans connected to the campaign.” Mayfield was elected to the Florida Senate in 2016 after serving four two-year terms in the Florida House. She represents Senate District 17, which includes central and south Brevard County and all Indian River County.

Florida’s not picking an ‘Apprentice,’ Adam Putnam says in new ad — “I support President Trump’s agenda. Tax cuts to create jobs and cracking down on illegal immigration. But Florida’s not picking an apprentice. We’re electing a Governor,” Putnam says in, “Honored,” a new 30-second campaign spot. “For me, it’s always been Florida First, and I’d be honored to have your vote.”

To view the ad, click on the image below:

Assignment editors — Putnam will continue his Florida First Bus Tour: 2 p.m., Moreno Bakery, 737 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon; Pasco for Putnam Grassroots BBQ, 6 p.m., Covington farm, 36222 Covington Road, Dade City.

“Can Andrew Gillum convince Florida voters to elect a black governor?” via Bob Moser of Rolling Stone — Gillum has only begun to air his first TV commercial — in a far-flung state where advertising matters more than most — in recent weeks. But with African-Americans making up more than a quarter of Florida’s Democratic voters (and Hispanics another 17 percent), and with no other candidate pulling out far in front (white centrist Rep. Graham has mostly led in the polls but with support in the 20s), Gillum’s late surge has given him a shot at replicating Georgia’s Stacey Abrams’ success in firing up long-overlooked voters with an uncompromising message they haven’t heard in decades, if ever: “When our base doesn’t get excited about our nominee, they don’t show up. Many of them feel they’ve been failed by the politicians, by the government. They’re out there working two jobs to try and make ends meet, and even if they lean toward the Democrats, just that is not going to get them to take the time to vote and to participate.”

“Hot on campaign trail, Jeff Greene cools on West Palm real estate” via Jeff Ostrowski of the Palm Beach Post — Four years ago, he was the deep-pocketed investor poised to single-handedly transform the skyline of West Palm Beach, a city where he had spent $125 million to amass vacant land and unsold condos. Today, he’s an underdog gubernatorial candidate whose track record of developing his vast real estate holdings has left some in West Palm Beach underwhelmed. His gubernatorial campaign comes as some in West Palm Beach have soured on Greene, the real estate mogul who once seemed ready to lead West Palm Beach out of the Great Recession. In 2011, he embarked on a shopping spree that saw him spend more than $200 million on Palm Beach County real estate, mostly in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach. While he has won city permission to build two splashy towers on Quadrille Boulevard and so-called micro-apartments downtown, he has yet to break ground on those projects. “There’s major disappointment — even hostility — toward Jeff Greene,” said City Commissioner Paula Ryan.

“Greene pours another $7 million and the governor’s race” via the News Service of Florida — It brings the total since early June to nearly $30 million … Greene loaned and contributed a total of $7 million to his campaign account from Aug. 6 to Aug. 9. In all, Greene had put $29.45 million into the campaign, which had spent $29.066 million, as of Aug. 10.

“Philip Levine launches new ad that looks beyond primary” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — The new 30-second spot “The Challenge,” appears more focused on Aug. 29 and beyond, pairing DeSantis and Trump as status quo for problems ranging from the environmental threats of offshore drilling to the rise of hate groups. “If Trump and DeSantis win, nothing will change,” Levine says in the ad. “If we do, we take back our state.” The ad does go through the roll of many of the basic Democratic issues in this primary season: “We cannot have drilling,” Levine insists. “Our schools need help. And so do our teachers,” he follows up. “If we don’t expand Medicaid, women and children will suffer,” he continues. “Florida needs stronger gun laws, and we have to stop the hatred that’s tearing us apart.”

To view the ad, click on the image below:

Assignment editors — Levine will make campaign stops in West Central Florida for his early vote tour: 10:30 a.m., 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 1:30 p.m., 8731, Citizens Dr., New Port Richey; 2:30 p.m., 9220 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill; 4:30 p.m., 930 E. Parker St., Lakeland.

Assignment editors – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King will continue his Fearless for Florida bus tour in Central Florida with a “welcome back” rally, 5:30 p.m., Winter Park Farmers Market, 200 W. New England Ave., Winter Park.

“Ryan Torrens calls for truce in Democratic race for Attorney General” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – I’ll drop mine if you drop yours, Torrens told Sean Shaw on Sunday night. Lawsuit, that is. Torrens, a Democratic candidate for Florida Attorney General, sprang a Sunday night surprise on Shaw, his primary opponent and a Tampa state representative. “Let’s both agree to drop our lawsuits – right now – and instead of meeting in a courtroom on Wednesday to tear each other down, let’s meet for a joint press conference, declaring loud and clear that no matter who prevails in this primary, we will stand united to make sure we elect a Democratic attorney general in November,” Torrens – a  consumer-rights attorney in Tampa – said in a press release.

“For Ag. Comm. hopeful Roy David Walker, questions abound on bio, finances” via Florida Politics — A resident Broward County, Walker’s main claim to fame is that he resigned after Republican Gov. Scott banned the use of the words “climate change” in official state communications. Through his website boasts several scientific and environmental bona fides, the reality behind Walker’s background — and his campaign — is far from impressive. While he holds two degrees in environmental policy/management, Walker’s education was, in fact, through the American Public University, a West Virginia-based online-only, for-profit college. And though Walker claims to have held “research positions” at various state and federal conservation agencies, he was not employed by any of them. For example, his role at the state Fish and Wildlife Commission was checking-in duck hunters at a stormwater treatment plant. But it is Walker’s campaign finances in his bid for Agriculture Commissioner that raise the most concern. Several news outlets, including the Tampa Bay Times, noted many inconsistencies in Walker’s personal finances. In a disclosure document filed with the Florida Division of Elections, he claims a net worth of more than $138,000 and over $73K in student loans. Though campaign reports show him as “self-employed,” Walker managed to loan his campaign nearly $160,000. Also, he filed every campaign finance report late, and was fined thousands of dollars. This ability to loan (and pay fees) simply does not jive with Walker’s financial past.

— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, PART 2 —

“Load up: Committee raises bank to fight gambling measure” via the News Service of Florida — The committee, Citizens for the Truth About Amendment 3, Inc., filed paperwork with the state July 18 and raised the money from Aug. 1 through Aug. 7. Contributions included $500,000 from Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, Inc., a Northeast Florida gambling operator, and $250,000 from Fontainebleau Florida Hotel, LLC of Miami Beach, according to campaign-finance reports. The Fontainebleau is owned by real estate billionaire Jeffrey Soffer, who also owns South Florida’s former Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track, now called “The Big Easy Casino.” Chairing the committee is Dan Adkins, the longtime head of the Hallandale Beach casino and racetrack. If approved by at least 60 percent of voters, the ballot proposal would change the Florida Constitution and give voters the “exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling” in the state.

“New committee raises money to fight gambling measure” via the News Service of Florida — The committee, Citizens for the Truth About Amendment 3, Inc., filed paperwork with the state July 18 and raised the money from Aug. 1 through Aug. 7. Contributions included $500,000 from Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, Inc., a Northeast Florida gambling operator, and $250,000 from Fontainebleau Florida Hotel, LLC of Miami Beach, according to campaign-finance reports. The committee opposes a proposed constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 3, that will appear on the November general election ballot. If approved by 60 percent of voters, the ballot proposal would change the Florida Constitution and give voters the “exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling” in the state.

“Judge promises quick ruling in dispute over education amendment” via Michael Moline of Florida Politics – A Leon County judge indicated that he hopes to rule by Monday on whether to strip from the November ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that could deprive county school boards of oversight of charter schools. “I hesitate to overpromise and under deliver, but my goal is to have this decided by Monday morning,” Circuit Judge John Cooper said … Veteran Tallahassee education policy litigator Ron Meyer argued for the league (backed by co-counsel from the Southern Poverty Law Center) that the ballot summary attempts to misrepresent what it would do, misleading voters. The amendment also contains provisions for establishing term limits for school board members, and requiring a “civics literacy” curriculum.

Nancy Soderberg takes solid lead in CD 6 Democratic primary — A new poll in Florida’s 6th Congressional District gives a significant lead to Soderberg, with nearly half the 407 likely Florida Democratic primary voters surveyed say they support the former ambassador. In the survey by St. Pete Polls, conducted August 17, Soderberg took just under 50 percent of total support, nearly 56 percent of those who already voted, as well as almost 48 percent of those planning to vote in the primary August 28. Democrat Stephen Sevigny came in second with nearly 19 percent; nearly 20 percent remain undecided. About three-quarters (72 percent) of respondents say they plan to vote in the primary, with 28 percent already voted.

“David Shapiro gets support from Jan Schneider in denouncing ‘nasty, lying ads’” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Shapiro, a Siesta Key attorney, is facing Sarasota attorney Schneider in the District 16 Democratic primary. But Schneider isn’t the one running the attack ads, and she even went so far as to defend her fellow Democrat against the ad financed by Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. Schneider said Buchanan is running “nasty, lying ads.” “We run a civil campaign,” she said.

Assignment editors – Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican running for an open seat in Congressional District 17, is expected to speak to the East County Republican Club. That’s at 6:30 p.m., Superior Word Fellowship, 6512 Superior Ave., Sarasota.

“’Working mom’ in pro-Brian Mast ad is a GOP candidate for state House … in Pennsylvania” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — A third-party ad in support of Mast‘s re-election in Florida’s 18th Congressional District features testimony from a “working mom” on the benefits of the GOP tax cuts passed late last year. Left unsaid in the ad? That working mom who’s supporting a U.S. House candidate from Florida is a candidate herself for the state House of Representatives … in Pennsylvania. The ad is not from Mast’s own campaign. Instead, it was posted in March by American Action Network, a conservative 501(c)(4) organization. In it, a woman identified as Natalie Mihalek speaks out about the tax bill’s benefits to middle-class families. That’s the same Natalie Mihalek who is registered to run for the Pennsylvania State House in District 40.

To view the ad, click on the image below:

“Mast doubling up Lauren Baer’s cash on hand in CD 18” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Mast held just under $1.8 million after data from the most recent period of July 1 to Aug. 8 was added. Mast pulled in just under $300,000 during that period. That was nearly equaled by Democrat Baer, who earned over $270,000 during the period. But she had under $900,000 on hand, compared to Mast’s roughly $1.8 million.

“Nicolas Kimaz calls on Javier Manjarres to release Air Force records or drop out” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Manjarres released a mailer tying him to the Air Force, despite the Air Force’s own records showing Manjarres never completed basic training. Kimaz says Manjarres can clear this up by simply releasing his discharge records. The DD-214, or “Report of Separation,” can display an individual’s “[d]ate and place of release from active duty” as well as their “[l]ast duty assignment and rank,” according to the National Archives. “If it corroborates his story, then fine,” Kimaz said. Still, he argues Manjarres should produce his DD-214 “or drop out of the race immediately.”

— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, PART 3 —

“Elections complaint filed against nonprofit backing Olysha Magruder in SD 8” via Florida Politics — A Florida nonprofit known as Liberation Ocala African American Council Inc. has been making a late push for Magruder, but its methods may be running afoul of state campaign finance laws. The company, run by former Marion County NAACP President Whitfield Jenkins, has footed the bill for some direct mail campaigns supporting Magruder and opposing her primary opponent, Kayser Enneking. The mailers also hit Enneking, a physician, for being “privileged” and unaware of the struggles “average citizens face,” with another attempting to paint their primary battle as “rigged” and portraying Enneking as a “puppet” of the Florida Democratic Party. But despite the numerous factual errors in the mailers, there are many questions about whether they are legal and how they are being paid for. Ft. Lauderdale attorney Jason B. Blank, who is not affiliated with Enneking’s campaign, filed a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission seeking clarification on whether nonprofit corporations can advocate for or against individual candidates without following the reporting guidelines of a political committee. According to the Florida Division of Elections, that’s a resounding “no.”

“Janet Cruz questions Hispanic group backing Dana Young in state Senate race” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times — The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorsed state Sen. Young who’s being challenged for re-election by Rep. Cruz. But the Cruz campaign shot back that the chamber is actually “a front group” for special interests including offshore oil drilling, corporate charter schools and others. Young and Cruz, who’s Hispanic, are running in a district that includes heavily Hispanic areas of West Tampa and Town ‘n’ Country. The Wellington-based Hispanic chamber’s president, Julio Fuentes, has written op-ed pieces arguing for offshore drilling and more charter schools, and the organization is a member of a new group formed to advocate offshore energy exploration. Fuentes said his group chose Young because, “She has been a true champion for small businesses (and) for education, specifically the Florida tax credit scholarship program,” which diverts corporate tax revenue to a voucher program for low-income families.

“Manny Diaz retains money lead despite strong fundraising period for David Perez” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Diaz, who is attempting to move to Senate District 36 after representing House District 103, is the only Republican filed to run in the race. He brought in more than $4,600 in outside contributions from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10. Nearly all of that came from assorted PACs related to entities such as the Duke Energy Corporation and Holland & Knight law firm. Diaz spent even more than that during the same period. He dropped more than $2,600 on various supplies and just over $1,500 on campaign door-hangers. Another $500 went to canvassing, and $444 went toward meals among other, smaller expenditures. Still, Diaz holds plenty of money as he readies for the general. He’s brought in more than $450,000 overall, spending just over $250,000 of that.

“Jason Pizzo primed to unseat Daphne Campbell, poll says” via Florida Politics — According to a new survey from St. Pete Polls, conducted Aug. 16, Pizzo leads Campbell by 14 points among Senate District 38’s likely primary election voters, about a third of whom said they were undecided less than two weeks out from the Aug. 28 nominating contest. Of the 42 percent of voters who said they’d already ticked a box and sent in their ballot, Pizzo led 42-32 percent with 26 percent saying they were “undecided.” Pizzo’s support crosses party lines. He leads 40-26 percent among Democrats, 43-23 percent among Republicans and 39-32 percent among unaffiliated and third-party voters.

“Pizzo approaches primary with large cash lead over Campbell” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Pizzo maintains more than $50,000 cash on hand himself, with another few thousand available in a pair of committees associated with his campaign. Campbell, meanwhile, has just over $3,000 available in her campaign. An associated committee, Millennials for Change PC, has spent more money than it received. Looking at the most recently reported fundraising period, from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10, Pizzo’s campaign took in $2,115 in outside contributions, with Pizzo chipping in another $20,000 in self-funding. Much of that $2,115 was made up of contributions from individuals. Another $1,000 came from a group called the Florida Laborers Political Committee. In all, Pizzo has raised more than $123,000 in outside contributions while adding a total of $320,000 of loans to his campaign.

“Campbell, Pizzo trade barbs in CBS Miami debate” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Jim DeFede, host of the CBS Miami program, moderated the discussion between the two. And it was apparent throughout that Campbell struggled to answer DeFede’s questions. This was most evident during a discussion on LGBTQ rights. DeFede appeared to trip up Campbell on the issue of same-sex marriage and gay adoptions, eliciting a confusing set of answers on the topic. DeFede pressed Campbell on her 2015 vote to maintain a ban on gay adoptions. “The gay people have their rights, I have my rights,” Campbell responded as justification for her vote, which again, would have denied those rights to gay couples. “I took an oath to serve everyone. I don’t discriminate. I have gay people working in my office. I have gay friends. But they have their rights; I have my rights.” “But again, in 2015, you voted on House Bill 7013, which would’ve kept the ban [on gay adoptions] in place,” DeFede responded. “So that’s you voting to say your beliefs are more important than their rights.” “No, that’s not true,” replied Campbell.

“Matt Spritz faces questions after ‘Never Trump’ quote resurfaces” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — The since-deleted Facebook comment from Spritz read, “Never said I was for [Donald] Trump. I’m not. Nor will I defend him.” Accountant Mike Caruso, who’s facing off against Spritz for the GOP nomination, released a statement on Facebook hammering Spritz for his comments. Caruso declared he “has been behind President Donald Trump since the beginning. No questions asked.” But it’s not just his primary opponent criticizing Spritz on the Trump issue. Sue Snowden, who served as chair of the Trump campaign in Palm Beach County, said Spritz was a non-figure when it came to the 2016 campaign. “I never saw or heard of Matt Spritz during the entire 15 months of my being the chair,” Snowden said.

“Michael Gottlieb tops Democratic competitors in HD 98 fundraising” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Aug. 4 to Aug. 10, Gottlieb earned just over $6,000 in contributions. The vast majority of that money came from various PACs, law firms and attorneys. Grieco spent nearly 10 times as much as he brought in, with expenditures approaching $60,000. More than $56,000 of that went toward campaign materials ahead of the Aug. 28 primary. Gottlieb is one of five Democrats running for the seat vacated by state Rep. Katie Edwards-Walpole, who decided not to pursue another term. Over the course of the campaign, Gottlieb has spent more than he’s taken in from outside sources. But a $50,000 self-loan from March is keeping his campaign in the black, with more than $40,000 still on hand. That number leads the Democratic field.

“Michael Grieco wins fundraising period in HD 113 on back of $20k loan” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Grieco is competing with another former Miami Beach Commissioner, Deede Weithorn, along with attorney Kubs Lalchandani for the Democratic nomination. Grieco added just a single $250 outside donation from Aug. 4 through Aug. 10 … That’s in addition to the $20,000 loan. Overall, Grieco has brought in nearly $140,000 during his campaign. $45,000 of that comes in the form of self-loans. The Grieco campaign has spent just over $87,000, leaving it with just over $52,000 on hand. Grieco’s political committee, Strong Leadership for South Florida, earned no contributions during the recent reporting period. That group maintains less than $1,000 cash on hand.

What Kevin Sweeny is reading — “Blue wave? Not here: Democrats will have few choices in local elections” via Jared Keever of the St. Augustine Record — In three of six partisan races for seats representing St. Johns County, Democrats have failed to field even a single candidate, let alone a choice of candidates for primary voters. That means, depending on where one lives, they may not even see a local partisan race on their primary ballot. Voters in southern St. Johns County will because three Volusia County Democrats are running in the primary for the District 6 congressional race. That is the seat left open by DeSantis. The district includes a portion of St. Johns County and Flagler and Volusia counties. For those Democrats further north, in District 4, they won’t see a candidate on their primary ballot, though a Ponte Vedra Beach Democrat, George “Ges” Selmont, is mounting a challenge to Republican incumbent Rep. John Rutherford in the general election.

Great read — “Is the ever-weird Florida man becoming Florida politician?” via Gary Fineout of The Associated Press — Over the past week, a legislative candidate staged an elaborate scam to try to convince people she was a college graduate. Another candidate had to deny putting out a Facebook ad accusing an opponent of distributing tainted breast milk. And then there’s the thing about, well, sphincter bleaching … Even for longtime followers of the Florida experience (guns, gators, greed), this is a bit confounding. “Florida politics has always been as weird as Florida in general, but this year has seen a Twilight Zone level of campaign screw-ups, oddball candidates, post Republican Trumpers in all their lunatic glory, edge cases, easily debunked fraudsters and a cavalcade of stupid,” said Rick Wilson, a GOP consultant whose hostility toward the president he recently channeled into a best-selling book. “The political subspecies of ‘Florida Man’ is in full glory.” Ah yes, Florida man. The now revered meme and trope about bizarre incidents in the Sunshine State often spread across the internet faster than a startled palmetto bug in the middle of the night. It does not on most days refer to those men and women who have sought public office.

— AMENDMENT 8 GETS BOOST —

Amendment 8, known as the education amendment, received a major boost today from Howard Rich, chairman and founder of U.S. Term Limits, another supporter going all-in on the amendment, which among its policies would create eight-year term limits for Florida school board members, bringing fresh faces and ideas to education. Rich announced his $100k donation to 8isGreat.org, a non-profit organization created to promote the proposed amendment’s passage.

“To truly have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, we need to put an end to career politicians who are in it for themselves more than for their constituents,” said Rich. “I am proud to support the work taking place in Florida to make sure education in our rapidly changing world is served by fresh ideas from citizen legislators.”

In addition to term limits, the amendment would remove red tape, making way for student-centered public education possibilities, and it would prioritize and protect civic education to help students become informed, engaged citizens.

— DUTY CALLS —

The new political vogue: Women with military experience running for office.

“[There’s a] crop of female veterans running for Congress in this year’s midterm elections,” write Laurie Kellman and Bill Barrow for The Associated Press. “ … They’re part of a record number of women running for seats in Congress, but in certain ways, they are a class apart.”

They’re “mission-driven” and frame their ballot presence as a continuation of service, “to work toward a common goal.”

Remember her?: MJ Hegar, the Texas congressional candidate whose awesome ad went viral, gave the movement a face and story.

To watch the video, click on the image below:

 

Putting criticism to rest: As one source tells AP, “One of the traditional knocks against female candidates is ‘they aren’t tough enough, they aren’t strong enough, and they might not have the leadership skills.’” That’s no longer a question, particularly because female combat vets are filling up the ballot.

#MeToo: All have highlighted their uniqueness in the military, working side-by-side at times with mostly men. All have also recounted sexism and the abuses of power accompanied by it.

— STATEWIDE —

“Mike Carroll takes new job with Lutheran Services of Florida” via WFLA NewsChannel 8 (Tampa) – Florida DCF Secretary Carroll is taking a job with Lutheran Services of Florida (LSF) as Executive Vice President of Programs a month after he resigns his state post Sept. 6 … At LSF, he will oversee a number of programs involving juvenile justice as well as state-funded foster care contracts in Pinellas and Fort Myers. Carroll recently ordered major reforms in Hillsborough County’s state-funded foster care program after an 8 ‘On Your Side’ investigation revealed foster kids living day and night in a gas station parking lot.  

“Florida’s prisons are more expensive than ever. What will the next Governor do about it?” via Andrew Pantazi of the Florida Times-Union — How he or she would do so falls on a single but complex question: Does Florida’s harsh penal system need reform? Putnam sees no need for change, vowing to veto any effort to reduce sentences that he says have made the state safer. DeSantis has been virtually silent on the issue. The Democratic candidates say the criminal justice system is broken and in need of fixing. All of them agree that judges need more discretion, that mandatory minimum laws need reform, and eliminate private prisons. But they differ in how to prioritize policies.

“You do it ‘to survive.’ Ex-inmate at Florida women’s prison tells how staff extorted sex” via Julie Brown of the Miami Herald — For Luana Santos, every day at Lowell Correctional Institution was horrific, but her darkest days came when she was put into confinement — unable to speak to another human being for two months, except the orderlies who served her food. For months, officials at the Central Florida women’s prison knew that the assistant warden, Marty Martinez, had been sexually involved with Santos — but it was Santos who often paid the price when the rumor mill became too loud to ignore. It wasn’t Martinez who got into trouble; it was Santos who was put into “lock,” or confinement. Inmates and officers were all too familiar with the 55-year-old assistant warden’s obsession with young, pretty, petite female prisoners. He had squired so many young women at the prison that he had earned the nickname “Daddy,’’ the Florida Department of Corrections found in a 2015 internal investigation.

“NRA: Legislators who voted against stand your ground special session will get a higher grade” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times — Democrats did Republicans a “great service” by calling for a special legislative session on stand your ground. That’s according to National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer, who sent out a news release saying that lawmakers who voted against the session will see their grades boosted by the national gun rights group. “As voters are heading to the polls in the Primary, they can be confident in the knowledge that they know exactly where their elected officials stand on the important constitutional right of self-defense,” Hammer wrote. Although no special session was called, Hammer said the vote gave legislators a chance to improve their standing with the NRA. In particular, Hammer wrote, legislators who saw their grades drop after voting for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act — which included modest gun restrictions — could achieve a marginally better score if they voted against the stand your ground special session.

“Julie Brown, Gary Clark to stay on PSC” via Florida Politics – Incumbents Brown and Clark are staying on the Florida Public Service Commission. Gov. Scott on Friday said he had reappointed the two to serve another four-year term each. His picks are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. The five-member panel regulates the state’s investor-owned utilities. Clark, 50, of Chipley, had been Deputy Secretary of land and recreation at the Department of Environmental Protection. Brown, 43, of Tampa, previously was Associate Legal Counsel for First American Title Insurance Co., and an assistant city attorney for the City of Tampa.

“4 trustees resign from B-CU, more likely to follow” via T. S. Jarmusz of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — Four members of the Bethune-Cookman University’s board of trustees resigned this week — and more could follow — amid an ongoing financial crisis that’s prompted calls for their ouster from alumni and a protest involving students and employees at a board meeting. The resignations came from former board chair Joe Petrock, Rafael A. Ramirez Jr., Michael D. Walsh, and Nancy Lohman, according to current board chair Michelle Carter-Scott. The resignations follow a letter from B-CU National Alumni Association President Robert Delancy citing the board’s failures to protect the school’s finances and calling for the resignations of several members, including Carter-Scott and Petrock. “I’m fed up with it. I’m out of there,” Petrock said. “But it’s not because I did something wrong.”

“Seminole tax collector on Facebook: How do Muslims benefit society? Asking for a friend” via Marco Santana and Michael Williams of the Orlando Sentinel — Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg touched off a firestorm with a Facebook post that many have deemed Islamophobic. “Very simple question,” the post read. “Name just ONE society in the developed world that has benefited in ANY WAY from the introduction of more Muslims. Just one. Asking for a friend.” In a comment under the status, Greenberg linked to an article from “JihadWatch.org,” which claimed that a toddler was the victim of female genital mutilation in London. By 5 p.m. the post had more than 50 shares and 100 comments, with opinions ranging from anger to full-throttled support. Greenberg defended the status by saying he was copying the question that a friend, Neal Boortz, posted on Twitter. Boortz was an author who hosted a nationally syndicated radio show, which ended in 2013.

“Ex-state attorney running for judge stokes the wrath of the powerful” via John Pacenti of the Palm Beach Post — A former state attorney, Michael McAuliffe is running to be a circuit judge — a powerful position that can oversee multimillion-dollar civil disputes or the fate of convicted murderers facing the death penalty. He’s been gone from the political scene for six years after he abruptly exited the state attorney’s office in March 2012 with 8½ months left in his term. He went to work for energy magnate and Palm Beacher Bill Koch — the lesser known brother of the conservative kingpins. McAuliffe played a central role in the palace intrigue of Koch’s West Palm Beach-based Oxbow Carbon where the billionaire accused him of high corporate betrayal. The official line from Oxbow is he resigned in February 2016, but in court testimony, Koch said he fired McAuliffe. Now that he aims to come back to public service, McAuliffe is proving to be powerfully polarizing. His judicial campaign has ignited animosities from bridges burned while it is amassing key support. The sheriff provides significant law enforcement backing, but the county mayor excoriates him.

“Think you know stand your ground? The recent Clearwater case tells us you’re probably wrong” via Kathryn and Zachary Simpson of the Tampa Bay Times — Seemingly no one can agree on what stand your ground means. It says people who fear they are about to be seriously hurt or killed do not need to attempt to flee before using force and are later immune from prosecution. But when asked to apply it, lawyers, legislators and armchair commenters rattle off conflicting interpretations. An amendment to the law last year put the burden of proof in a stand your ground hearing on prosecutors instead of the defense. That means if Michael Drejka’s lawyers file a motion to dismiss the case, saying he feared for his life after Markeis McGlockton shoved him to the ground July 19 in a convenience store parking lot, the State Attorney’s Office will have to prove otherwise. If Drejka’s lawyers push for a stand your ground hearing, prosecutors will have to demonstrate “clear and convincing” evidence that McGlockton — who approached Drejka as he was arguing with McGlockton’s girlfriend over why she parked in a handicap-reserved spot without a placard — did not pose a threat of serious injury in the moments before the shooting.

“Want to win a Florida liquor license? Entry period starts Monday” via Susan Taylor Martin of the Tampa Bay Times — This year, an unusually large number of applicants is expected, due to a near-record number of new licenses (59 in 30 counties) and increased awareness of a drawing that the state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco has never done much to publicize. The potential rewards are great — licenses in many counties can be sold for at least $100,000, and they can bring as much as $500,000 in tourist-heavy ones like Monroe and Walton. Florida is one of 17 states with quotas on the number of liquor licenses they issue, and it is among even fewer that distribute them via a lottery. A county gets one license for every 7,500 increase in population: This year, Pasco and Hernando each get one and Hillsborough gets five (Pinellas, largely built out, gets none.)

— D.C. MATTERS —

“4.3 M Floridians to get new Medicare cards next month” via The Associated Press — Federal health officials are mailing the new cards in geographic waves, so Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are also getting new cards along with 4.3 million Floridians. The new cards are free and will be automatically mailed. The cards should arrive by the end of September. They won’t have your Social Security number of them anymore. The cards also have new features to help beneficiaries detect and avoid identify theft and scams. There are no changes to Medicare benefits.

— OPINIONS —

“Bill Cotterell: Were collective editorials bold or fodder for president’s tweets” via the Tallahassee Democrat — As you’ve probably heard, about 350 newspapers of the roughly 1,300 daily newspapers nationwide, collectively rebutted the president’s accusation that journalists are “the enemy of the people.” They most assuredly changed few, if any, minds. It was surprising to see some readers scolding the Democrat for not joining the show of support for our trade. This is, after all, the only line of work specifically mentioned in the Bill of Rights and the president has, after all, egregiously lied about the press. It was startling last week to see news stories about a poll indicating something like 40 percent of Republicans believes Trump should be able to close any publication he dislikes … But it’s such defenses of press freedom, happening in small ways and in big stories day by day, that give the lie to Trump’s “enemy of the people” and “fake news” bluster. A national day of editorial protest was nice but, in this case, actions really do speak louder than words.

“Joe Henderson: Graham focused on policies, not breaking ceilings” via Florida Politics — Say what you will about Trump, but in 2016, while Clinton was projecting an air that no one would be dumb enough to vote for him, he pounded the points over and over about border security, tax cuts, shredding regulations and so on. That message flipped enough key states, including Florida, to put him in the White House. So, when I asked Graham about the $1 billion backlog in facilities maintenance at Hillsborough County public schools, she had a ready answer. “This is another example of the starvation at our schools after 20 years of Republican rule. They have not received the resources they need for the maintenance and upkeep of the schools, and as a result, we have seen lead in the water of other school districts as well,” she said. I followed up with a question about the growth of charter schools in the state. That has been a key push for Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee. “My concern about charter schools is that they have morphed into something they weren’t intended to be. Charter schools initially were meant to be community-based that were supported by the families and were part of the of the school district,” she said. “They have become for-profit behemoths that are taking money away from our public schools. In many cases, we’re finding that the education they were providing is not of a quality we should expect at any school.” Yep, it’s a campaign that’s all about the policy and not so much about the personality.

“Nancy Smith: Party split or not, Republicans using George Soros to smear of the Republicans? Offensive” via Sunshine State News — The GOP primary pits tea-party-backed Scott Sturgill against conservative Mike Miller, a state representative since 2014 for the 47th District … The Sturgill camp is stoked by the fire of Jacob Engels‘ online Central Florida Post, which writes, “Miller and his allies have been relentlessly touting the backing of a RINO deep state group calling themselves the ‘Republican Main Street Partnership.'” Engels quotes a Michelle Malkin column from 2014: “‘What do George Soros, labor unions and money-grubbing former GOP representative Steven LaTourette all have in common? They’re united against tea-party conservatives. And they have all operated under the umbrella of D.C. groups masquerading as ‘Main Street’ Republicans.'” Sorry, Jacob, but I’ve always had a lot of respect for Republican Main Street Partnership. It’s transparent, fiercely proud of the candidates it endorses and committed to advancing positive policies and solutions that have tangible effects on American families. Main Street is dedicated to electing and defending legislators who will govern effectively in the Republican tradition. It is comprised of more than 70 members of Congress, in the U.S. House and Senate — all solutions-oriented, fiscal realists and defenders of national security. This is a bad thing?

— MOVEMENTS —

Appointed — James Baxley to the 5th Circuit Court; Nickolas Hunter Davis and Peter Holden to the 17th Circuit Court; Hope Pattey to the Polk County Court.

“Capital City Consulting reports $2.5M in second-quarter earnings” via Florida Politics — The lucrative quarter should come as no surprise — Capital City Consulting has consistently placed among the state’s top firms when it comes to revenue. The Q2 team of Jim Boxold, Justin Day, Megan Fay, Ken Granger, Nick Iarossi, Dean Izzo, Ashley Kalifeh, Andrew Ketchel, Ron LaFace, Daniel Newman, Scott Ross, Chris Schoonover, and Gerald Wester juggled the needs of 135 clients during the quarter, and each report was rife with recognizable names. On the legislative side, health insurer Aetna topped the client sheet with an estimated $45,000 in Q2 payments. Five contracts followed at the $35,000 level: The Everglades Foundation, Florida Association of Health Plans, Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office and RAI Services Company.

“Diverse clients boost Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney bottom line” via Florida Politics — Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney brought in an estimated $720,000 in fees during between April and June … The haul represents only a minor backslide from the firm’s prior report, which saw the team — Keith Arnold, Brett Bacot, Marnie George, Michael Harrell, Paul Hawkes, Jim Magill, Kimberly McGlynn, Ivette O’Doski, Timothy Stanfield and Mac Stipanovich — bring in $785,000 during the three months that included the 2018 Legislative Session. Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s legislative compensation report lists State Farm and U.S. Sugar as its top paying clients this go around, with each paying between $30,000 and $40,000 over the three-month stretch.

“PinPoint Results notches $405K in Q2 lobbying fees” via Florida Politics — The new filing indicates Robert Beck, Bryan Cherry, Tanya Jackson and the firm’s new addition, former state Rep. Marti Coley Eubanks, brought in $225,000 in pay from their legislative branch clients and tacked on another $180,000 for executive branch lobbying work — those figures best the firm’s estimated Q1 earnings, which clocked in at $375,000. The team showed a total of 31 legislative clients in its new filing, a small boost over the 29 principals that recorded during the first quarter. The new additions were St. Petersburg-based Companions & Homemakers, Inc. and the Nemours Foundation, where Eubanks had worked as governmental relations director before joining the firm in May. Topping the legislative report were seven principals that paid an estimated $15,000 apiece: nonprofit behavioral health care organization Aspire Health Partners, the Broward County government, the Florida Council on Aging, health services company Independent Living Systems, business software company Infor, medical software company Mediware Information Systems and labor union SEIU 1199 United Health Care Workers.

“Personnel note: Rachel Nordby joins Shutts & Bowen” via Florida Politics – Nordby, who’s been a deputy solicitor general for Attorney General Pam Bondi, is heading to the Shutts & Bowen law firm as a partner in the Tallahassee office, the firm announced Friday. Nordby, who starts Sept. 10, will be vice chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group … Nordby, a 2008 graduate of the Florida State University College of Law, is married to Daniel Nordby, currently general counsel to Scott — and a former Shutts partner. As general counsel, he’s Scott’s top legal advisor holds great sway over who Scott taps for judicial appointments … Jason Gonzalez, managing partner of the firm’s Tallahassee office, is a former general counsel to the Republican Party of Florida and to Gov. Charlie Crist.

“Personnel note: Matthew Surrency named president of Florida League of Mayors” via Florida Politics – Surrency, mayor of Hawthorne in Alachua County, was named president of the Florida League of Mayors at the organization’s annual business meeting Thursday. Surrency will serve a one-year term as the League’s president. “I’m honored,” Surrency said. “Mayors across Florida have long benefited from working together to solve common issues. I’m really looking forward to working with our Board of Directors and the members this year to continue doing exactly that.” Surrency is serving his fifth term on the League’s Board of Directors.

— ALOE —

“For a major Disney collector, it’s the magic hour” via Frank DeCaro of The New York Times — Colorful curiosities and hundreds more are part of a temporary exhibit called “That’s From Disneyland!” All of them (even the Country Bear Jamboree postcard machine and the triangular Tinker Bell parking-lot sign) belong to one man, Richard Kraft, who has been amassing big-ticket Disneyland-related objects for 25 years. On Aug. 25, however, he is abdicating. Starting then, he is putting his happy holdings on the auction block, with estimated prices ranging from $50 for a set of Haunted Mansion “hitchhiking ghost” souvenir beanbags to $150,000 for a Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride vehicle. “I’m getting rid of everything,” Kraft said, “because I’m of the philosophy that if I kept one thing, I’d keep two and then we’d be selling just one Mickey Mouse piece of plastic, and we don’t want that.” A portion of the proceeds from the two-day auction and related events will go to help children with special needs. Kraft’s 4-year-old daughter was born with the genetic disorder Coffin-Siris syndrome, which can cause learning disabilities.

Happy birthday from the weekend to Rheb Harbison of GrayRobinson, the Tallahassee Democrat’s William Hatfield, our friend Merritt Lindstrom, and Brian Seel. Celebrating today are Mark Bubriski, Matt Florell of St. Pete Polls, former state Rep. Alex Miller and Janell Hendren.