Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
As Hurricane Michael bears down on the Florida Gulf Coast, Amy Zubaly — the executive director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association — on Monday said her group was “in contact with public power communities across Florida and the Southeast.”
They were “lining up mutual aid crews prepared to assist affected areas of the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region.”
The association was “bringing hundreds of mutual aid personnel into the City of Tallahassee,” she added, with the “goal (of having) at least 150 crew members pre-staged in Tallahassee tomorrow in advance of the storm’s landfall with the remainder prepared to arrive Thursday.
Mutual aid partners provide power restoration crew members, supplies and equipment, she explained. Florida’s public power communities also have forged mutual aid arrangements with Florida’s investor-owned utilities.
“Crews from Lafayette, Louisiana, will travel to Tallahassee tomorrow and will mobilize alongside crews from many of Florida’s public power utilities.
“Additional crews from several other states and parts of Florida are also standing by. We are also closely monitoring potential needs in Havana, Chattahoochee, Blountstown and Quincy.”
Evening Reads
“In Pasco County, Rick Scott warns residents: ‘Hurricane Michael poses a deadly threat’” via Josh Solomon of the Tampa Bay Times
“If Dems lose again, Obama’s legacy is gone forever” via Jonathan Alter of the Daily Beast
“Survey of battleground House districts shows Democrats with narrow edge” via Scott Clement and Dan Balz of The Washington Post
“Andrew Gillum and Scott hold slight leads in new poll” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
“Ron DeSantis campaign refocusing as Florida voting starts” via Brendan Farrington of The Associated Press
“A unique environmental plan for Florida: Gillum promises to actually crack down on polluters” via Julie Hauserman of The Florida Phoenix
“How Gillum’s Miami childhood shaped the views of Florida’s would-be governor” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald
“DeSantis-Gillum education priorities vary significantly” via John Haughty of Watchdog.org
“Confused by your ballot? The man who chaired the panel who crafted those “bundled” amendments with so many topics was against bundling them — until he switched” via Mitch Perry of The Florida Phoenix
“Race to replace DeSantis in Congress a sprint to the center” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Sean Shaw follows father’s path in Attorney General race” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times
“Will Chris Hunter be the Democrat to break the Bilirakis dynasty” via Tracey McManus of the Tampa Bay Times
“Despite being new to HD 15, Tracye Polson says she knows what drives voters” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Are wireless voting machines vulnerable? Florida, other states say they’re safe enough” via Tim Johnson of McClatchy
Quote of the Day
Shot: Florida “families need to get ready for this storm RIGHT NOW.” — Gov. Rick Scott, tweeting Monday.
Chaser: “Departing Washington, D.C. for the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida. Look forward to seeing everyone soon.” — President Donald Trump, also tweeting Monday.
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Gov. Scott announced on Twitter that state offices will be closed Tuesday through Thursday in the 35 counties where a state of emergency has been declared. That declaration stretched from Escambia County in the western end of the Panhandle to Columbia County in North Central Florida and Levy County along the Gulf Coast. An expansion added Bradford, Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Alachua, Union and Baker counties. Also, Scott asked Trump to declare what is known as a “pre-landfall emergency” for the state.
Floridians face a Tuesday deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 general election. Slightly more than 13 million voters were registered for the August primaries.
The 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will interview candidates for a vacancy created by the resignation of Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan. The 11th Judicial Circuit handles cases in Miami-Dade County. That’s at 8:30 a.m., K&L Gates, LLP, 200 South Biscayne Blvd., 39th floor, Miami.
The 13th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will interview candidates for a vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Claudia Rickert Isom. The 13th Judicial Circuit hears cases from Hillsborough County. That’s at 9 a.m., law offices of Bush Ross, P.A., 1801 North Highland Ave., Tampa.
A panel of Florida International University faculty members will discuss red tide, which has plagued the state’s Gulf Coast and recently been found in Atlantic coastal areas. That’s at 10 a.m., Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Parkview Hall, 11200 S.W. Eighth St., Miami.
State Rep. Margaret Good, a Sarasota Democrat, and other Democratic candidates are expected to appear at an Indivisible Northeast Sarasota event. Others include David Shapiro, running in Congressional District 16; Oliva Babis, running in state Senate District 23; and Liv Coleman, running in state House District 73. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota.
Numerous state and congressional candidate are expected to take part in a meet-and-greet event held by the LGBTQ advocacy group SAVE. That’s at 6 p.m., SAVE headquarters, 1951 N.W. Seventh Ave., Miami.
The Bob Graham Center at the University of Florida will host a discussion about 12 proposed constitutional amendments slated for the Nov. 6 ballot. Among the speakers will be Jon Mills, a former dean of the university’s law school and a former speaker of the Florida House. That’s at 6 p.m., University of Florida, Pugh Hall Ocora, Gainesville.
Democrat Lauren Baer, seeking to unseat GOP U.S. Rep. Brian Mast in Florida’s 18th Congressional District, is slated to speak during a meeting of the Western Communities of West Palm Beach Democratic Club. That’s at 7 p.m., Vista Center, 2300 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach.
