Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Recently proposed rule changes from the state’s Department of Transportation revealed an existing regulation we didn’t know about:
You can’t campaign for office on Florida’s Turnpike. Nor can you stump for anyone else.
“No person shall at any time or in any manner electioneer on any part of the Turnpike System for or against any party ticket or any candidate for nomination, or officer on any party ticket,” the rule says.
That even includes, for this year, proposed constitutional amendments.
No one can advocate “for or against any proposition of any kind or nature to be voted upon at any election.”
Of course, other rules are more commonplace: “The consumption of alcoholic beverages (and) brandishing of weapons by any person is prohibited on the Turnpike.”
Also, leave the greenery alone.
“No person shall disturb, tamper with or attempt to destroy, injure or deface, damage, mutilate or remove any … trees, flowers (or) shrubs.”
Evening Reads
“More than 200 Florida Insiders overwhelmingly think hurricane helped Rick Scott campaign” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times
“Scott hammers Bill Nelson for hitting the trail again” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“Nelson shifts focus to campaign: I’ve ‘done everything I can do’ to help Floridians affected by hurricane” via Jeffrey Cimminio of Washington Free Beacon
“Florida handed $200 million to Scott donor amid massive contribution to Scott’s Super PAC” via Matthew Cook of The Intercept
“The sexual harassment case Scott won’t talk about” via Alexandra Glorioso of POLITICO Florida
“Andrew Gillum, a Florida insider running as a progressive outsider” via Matt Flegenheimer and Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times
“Ron DeSantis’ fundraising letter comes with a crisp $1 bill” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel
“Everglades Trust board member disagrees with backing DeSantis” via Cindy Swirko of the Gainesville Sun
“Donna Shalala walks into anti-Castro buzzsaw” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“Democratic candidates for Congress have raised a record-shattering $1 billion this election” via Michelle Ye Hee Lee
“Contrast drives HD 15 race between Wyman Duggan, Tracye Polson” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“In House 36, it’s youthful incumbent vs. life-experienced activist” via C.T. Bowen of the Tampa Bay Times
“Double fault: Florida House candidate suspended from HOA & tennis club” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics
“‘A disservice to our voters’: Election supervisors discuss long ballots, bundled amendments” via Sam Turken of WLRN
“Houses intact after Hurricane Michael were often saved by low-cost reinforcements” via The Washington Post
“For the families of people in prison, hurricanes bring extra panic and uncertainty” via Daniel Gross of The New Yorker
“Hurricane Michael: Here’s how we reported from Mexico Beach” via Doug Clifford and Zach Sampson of the Tampa Bay Times
“How Florida relies on immigrants” via Mike Vogel of Florida Trend
“Orlando airport chairman Frank Kruppenbacher’s global travels span 100 days and $100,000” via Kevin Spear of the Orlando Sentinel
“Florida ticket wins $2 million as Powerball jackpot swells to $430 million” via Doug Phillips of the Sun Sentinel
Quote of the Day
“There are challenges just getting water and food there, certainly. One of the biggest problems we are encountering is communications within some of these counties. The cellphone towers are out. The internet is out. There are a lot of communications issues that we are trying to overcome.” — Mark Earley, Leon County Supervisor Elections, commenting to The News Service of Florida on the impending difficulties for precinct locations and early-voting sites in counties affected by Hurricane Michael.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
State political candidates and committees face a Friday deadline to file reports showing finance activity through Oct. 12.
Florida’s proposed constitutional amendments are the topic at Café con Tampa’s weekly meeting, co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Florida and the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce. That’s at 8 a.m., upstairs at Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.
The Florida Commission on Ethics will meet. That’s at 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.
The Department of Economic Opportunity will release the September unemployment figures. That’s at 10 a.m.
Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum will hold a town hall and conversation climate change, rising sea levels and resiliency. That’s at noon, St. Petersburg College, Gibbs Campus Music Center, St. Petersburg.
Former state Rep. Ray Pilon will join supporters for a sign waving event in his campaign for House District 72. That’s from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., corner of Bee Ridge and Beneva Road, Sarasota. Signs will be provided.
Looking Ahead
The New College of Florida Board of Trustees is set to meet Saturday. That’s at 9 a.m., with full board starting about 11:30 a.m., New College of Florida, Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist hosts a Military Academy Day event Saturday for students interested in attending one the nation’s service academies, featuring representatives from the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point. That’s at 10 a.m., USFSP Kate Tiedemann College of Business Auditorium, 700 4th Street South, St. Petersburg.
The Republican Party of Miami-Dade County holds a rally Sunday hosted by state Sen. Rene Garcia, with special guests Ron DeSantis, state Reps. Manny Diaz Jr. and Bryan Avila as well as Vice Mayor Frank Mingo. That’s at 2 p.m., Hialeah Park, 2200 E. 4th Ave., Hialeah. There will be complimentary food and beverages.
Gubernatorial candidates DeSantis and Gillum hold their first head-to-head debate, to be moderated by Jake Tapper and to be shown on CNN. That’s Sunday at 8 p.m. broadcast from the local PBS studio in Tampa.
One comment
Jodi
October 18, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Why don’t you write about whether the people we vote into office for this upcoming election. Are they really going to keep their promises and abide by what the voters want? Or are they going to do what ever they feel like it, regardless of what the voters voted for.
Also how about writing about all the judicial Florida corruption. Do a story to blow it out of the water and see how it will be fixed. Way too many innocent people going to jail or already in jail. The big topic also to expose is “Prosecutor sentencing manipulation”. Look it up. It is dispicable and unfair.
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