Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Pardon us for quoting Mike Fasano, but here’s a win for “the little guy.”
The Miami-Dade School Board has agreed with an administrative law judge who recommended reinstating a school bus driver and with back pay. That was after an unpaid suspension for restraining “a violent student.”
The board’s decision was published online Wednesday. Last Call first reported on the story Aug. 8.
Livingston Wint, a 15-year employee with no prior disciplinary record, “had to reasonably control and restrain a very unruly and disruptive (middle school) student.”
That student had caused “an emergency situation (by) triggering the exit window alarm” while the bus was moving. (The incident happened in October 2017.)
As captured on cellphone video taken by other students, Wint went back to close the window when “the male student … punched (him) in the stomach several times.”
But in then defending himself and others on the bus, the school board initially ruled Wint violated school board policies and ethical standards.
Nope, said Administrative Law Judge Robert L. Kilbride.
The “physical action (Wint) took … was not only authorized but required by (state law).” In fact, “had (Wint) done nothing and allowed the situation to escalate, he would have been accused of ignoring his obligations” under law, the judge wrote.
Evening Reads
“In the closing stretch of the 2018 campaign, the question is no longer the size of the Democratic wave. It’s whether there will be a wave at all” via Steve Peoples, Thomas Beaumont and Lisa Mascaro of The Associated Press
“Is the Sun Belt really becoming progressive” via Benjamin Wallace-Wells of The New Yorker
“Predatory politics: Using Mako sharks to predict Governor and U.S. Senate races” via Johnny Diaz of the Sun Sentinel
“Poll: Bill Nelson holds 4-point lead over Rick Scott in Senate race” via Lisa Hagen of The Hill
“Donald Trump expected to headline rally for Ron DeSantis in SW Florida next week” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald
“DeSantis suggests migrant caravans headed to U.S. border are fronts for drug cartels” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“A few random thoughts on Andrew Gillum’s FBI scandal” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times
“These early voters don’t appear swayed by news about Gillum’s FBI scandal” via Paul Guzzo of the Tampa Bay Times
“George Soros responds to Matt Gaetz” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times
“Nancy Soderberg (is) solid choice” via the Florida Times-Union editorial board
“Suspicious package sent to Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s district office” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“In a Florida swing district, an ‘inconvenient’ Republican holds on” via Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times
“Matt Isbell is, dangerously, selling fool’s gold about Florida Senate races” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
“In final ad, Tracye Polson confronts Jacksonville political machine” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Koch networks endorse Amendment 11 for ‘fairer’ property rights” via the staff of Florida Politics
“Rocker Joan Jett cuts star-powered check to Jennifer Webb” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“We are fine thanks to the men and women of the Secret Service who intercepted the package addressed to us long before it made its way to our home.” — Hillary Clinton, speaking in Florida today.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The State Board of Education will meet in Citrus County. Among the topics will be the status of “turnaround option” plans for elementary schools in DeSoto and Marion counties. That’s at 9 a.m., Crystal River Middle School, 344 N.E. Crystal St., Crystal River.
Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Gillum will attend ‘Vote Early, Vote Loud’ rallies at universities across South Florida. Early voting in some counties began Monday.
— Florida International University: 9:45 a.m., Graham Center Lawn, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami.
— Florida Memorial University: 11 a.m., Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts, 15800 NW 42nd Ave., Miami Gardens. At this event, civil-rights hero and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia will join Gillum.
— Florida Atlantic University: 1 p.m., Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.
The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its regular weekly opinions at 11 a.m.
Democratic former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will join local leaders and healthcare professionals for a press conference to “highlight Ron DeSantis’ refusal to release a healthcare plan and his record of voting to take healthcare away from Floridians.” That’s at 11:30 a.m., Lions Park, 2550 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers.
Florida State University President John Thrasher, a former lawmaker, is set to deliver this year’s Joe Cresse Ethics in Government Lecture for the Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy. He will “offer insights on the conjunction of government and higher education.” That’s at 3 p.m., College of Law rotunda, 308 Martin Luther King Blvd. S., Tallahassee.
Gillum will join fellow Democrats U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for a candidate forum on issues in the Jewish community. He says he “will highlight his commitment to protecting Florida’s relationship with Israel, opposing the BDS movement and providing a safe community for Jewish Floridians.” That’s at 4:30 p.m., Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El, 8200 Peters Road, Plantation.
The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting about projects in Miami-Dade County. That’s at 6 p.m., Trinity Church, 17801 N.W. Second Ave., Miami.
