Peter Schorsch
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel McAuliffe, Jim Rosica, and Drew Wilson.
Donald Trump making landfall in Pensacola Nov. 3 — President Trump will make his fourth appearance in Pensacola this week with a Saturday campaign rally just three days ahead of the 2018 elections.
Trump’s presidential campaign announced the “MAGA Rally” on Sunday, saying the Republican president will touchdown at Pensacola International Airport in time to start the Saturday event at 6:30 p.m. On the agenda: “Trump is expected to discuss the booming economy, his tough stance on immigration, free market solutions for healthcare, and more.”
The Pensacola event makes for two Trump rallies in the Sunshine State ahead of the Nov. 6 election — on Wednesday, Trump will be in Fort Myers alongside Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for U.S. Senate, and former Congressman Ron DeSantis, the GOP nominee to succeed Scott in the governor’s mansion. The Fort Myers rally will be held at the Hertz Arena starting at 7 p.m.
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Former President Barack Obama will campaign alongside Florida’s leading Democratic candidates on Nov. 2 in Miami at Ice Palace Films Studios, the Florida Democratic Party announced Monday morning.
Further details, including the details of media logistics, will be announced in the coming days.
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All good things must end, eventually.
In this case, the end is near for fundraising in Florida for the 2018 election cycle.
As we enter the final days of the race, Christina Johnson and her team at On 3 Public Relations have released their latest comprehensive campaign finance report.
For the Governor and Cabinet races, totals are through Oct. 26, as now candidates are required to file daily reports until Nov. 1.
In legislative contests, totals are through Oct. 19, with a final report due Friday, Nov. 2. After midnight Thursday, Nov. 1, candidates are prohibited from raising funds for this cycle.
Top fundraisers in the Senate are Republicans Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg ($978K), and Dana Young of Tampa ($927K).
Leading the money races in the House are Republican HD 93 candidate Chip LaMarca, who comes in at $516K, and Sarasota Democratic state Rep. Margaret Good at $479K.
Thanks again to Christina and her crew, who have been furnishing clients with these invaluable stats for nearly 10 cycles.
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
—@SenBillNelson: Every time this happens, we’re shocked — and say it mustn’t happen again. When will opponents of common-sense gun safety work with us? We need to get assault weapons off the streets and out of the hands of those who would do us harm.
—@JaredEMoskowitz: Those who have targeted us for thousands of years have all failed. So shall those who come after
—@SLRoss528: Reading about the victims of yesterday’s tragedy. Rose Mallinger was a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor who fought for her life during one of the worlds great horrors only to come to our country and 70 years later get murdered by the same awful hatred.
—@JorgeRamosNews: This week demonstrates that the real enemies of the United States are not coming in a caravan with children. No. They were born here, are heavily armed, they are full of hatred, and are killing us in synagogues, churches, schools, movie theaters …
—@MarcACaputo: Florida’s first African-American nominee for governor speaks to a crowd in Florida’s oldest city in the shadow of a Confederate monument
—@Fineout: Chris Kise to Gillum camp: “Facts are not partisan. since there is no way to refute the plain and obvious facts printed on the page, or to explain why you would thank someone for something he did not do, they now attack the messenger. But the facts remain the facts.”
—@KevinCate: #RagingRon now has his crowd chanting “lock him up.” They are just as angry as him because he’s been lying from day one of this general election – stoking fear, anger, and division. It’s a truely pathetic way to close his failing campaign. 9 days.
—@ElectionSmith: In Florida, we’re up to 13.6k of VBM ballots cast that currently have a missing signature or some other problem. 44% cast by Ds, 22% by NPAs, and 33% by Rs. Of total with problems, 26% (3.6k) in DAD; 8% (1k) in BRO; 7% in ORA; 6% in VOL; 5% in HIL; 4% in MAN & LEE
—@NateSilver538: Maybe I’m wrong, but between there not having been that much polling over the past few days and the polling we’ve seen having pretty much gone to form, it seems unlikely that polling in the final week is going to radically change the outlook.
— LATEST TURNOUT FIGURES —
As of Sunday afternoon, county supervisors of election offices have received more than 2.5 million mail ballots and early votes.
Of the 2,580,347 ballots reported, 1,659,250 were delivered by post and 921,097 have been cast at the polls — and Republican voters are leading the way in both methods, accounting for 43 percent of the VBM tally and 42 percent of early votes.
Overall, 1,097,151 registered Republicans have already ticked a box, giving them a 42.5 percent share of the total vote so far. Registered Democrats broke the million-vote mark over the weekend but are 70,000 votes behind the GOP with a total of 1,026,736 ballots cast. That accounts 39.8 percent of the total vote.
The remainder of the vote has come in from third-party and unaffiliated voters, who have combined to cast 456,460 votes, two-thirds of them by mail.
Of the more than 1.75 million mail ballots still in the wild, 729,442 are in the hands of registered Democrats, 610,840 went to registered Republicans, and 415,503 went to independent voters. Of the 3.4 million VBM ballots requested, about 48.5 percent have completed the return trip.
“Quarter million Floridians registered since primary election” via The Associated Press — The Division of Elections reported this week that almost 265,000 Floridians registered to vote from the last deadline at the end of July through the Oct. 9 deadline for the general election. More than 13.2 million Floridians are registered to vote for the Nov. 6 election featuring high-profile races for governor and the U.S. Senate. More than 4.9 million Floridians are registered as Democrats, 4.6 million are registered as Republicans, and 3.5 million have no party affiliation. Democrats gained more than 105,000 new voters, compared to the Republicans’ 87,000 new voters, in the two months between the deadlines for the primary and general election registrations.
“Puerto Rico voter outreach groups claim thousands registered, but how many will vote?” via Steven Lemongello and Adelaide Chen of the Orlando Sentinel — “I can tell you we are seeing significant enthusiasm among Puerto Ricans and Latinos in Central Florida,” said Jose Calderón, president of the Hispanic Federation. “We’re not leaving anything to chance. We’re tripling down on efforts to get them to come out and vote.” Conservatives, though, are skeptical of the many outside groups that have come into Florida. A Pew Research study shows that of the 14 of the 18 Florida counties with the largest Puerto Rican populations, including Polk, Osceola, Lake, Volusia and Seminole, Hispanic voter registration grew faster than the statewide Hispanic average of 6.2 percent. But in Orange, which has one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in Florida, Hispanic voter growth was equal to or slower than the state average.
— TOP STORY —
“Florida bomb suspect frequently tweeted about Andrew Gillum, Ron DeSantis” via Ana Ceballos of the Naples Daily News — Recent activity in what appear to be two social media accounts of suspect Cesar Sayoc Jr., paints a picture of a staunch supporter of Donald Trump and DeSantis, the GOP nominee for governor who the president has endorsed, as well as Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Other posts vilify Gillum … A Wednesday post included an anti-Gillum meme with the caption “$500,000 SOROS PUPPET” and a photo of the liberal philanthropist George Soros, who has contributed to Gillum’s campaign and had a bomb delivered to his home this week, holding a puppet meant to resemble Gillum.
“’He felt that somebody was finally talking to him’: How the package-bomb suspect found inspiration in Trump” via Danielle Paquette, Lori Rozsa and Matt Zapotosky of The Washington Post — Sayoc, who friends and other associates say had never shown any interest in politics, suddenly began sharing images of himself on Facebook at Trump campaign events. He signed up for Twitter, where he trafficked in conspiracy theories and conservative memes. He registered as a Republican to vote in Florida in 2016. He traded out his Native American decals for ones that supported Trump. “Had no interest in politics, was always at the nightclubs, the gyms, wherever he thought he could meet people, impress people. And along came the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, who welcomed all extremists, all outsiders, all outliers, and he felt that somebody was finally talking to him,” said lawyer Ronald Lowy, who once represented him in a fraud case. “This is someone who didn’t fit into society,” Lowy said. “This is someone that needed to be reached out to. He got lost, and sadly, he got found by the wrong group.”
“Estranged Family of Cesar Sayoc wants him to get help” via Alan Blinder and Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times — The estranged family of Cesar Sayoc … tried to plead with him on Sunday to accept mental health care and hire a proficient lawyer to represent him in the case, which could lead to his imprisonment for decades. … “I thank God he hasn’t hurt anybody,” Tina Villasana, Mr. Sayoc’s youngest sister … The family’s attempted intervention came the day before Mr. Sayoc was scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Miami … The family made an appeal to Mr. Sayoc in a handwritten card that Ronald S. Lowy, a longtime lawyer for the family, tried to deliver to Mr. Sayoc at a detention center on Sunday. Mr. Lowy said the card asked Mr. Sayoc “to trust professionals and not listen to just anyone, because there are a lot of people who will try to take advantage of him at this time.” … Ms. Villasana and Mr. Lowy both suggested that the state’s safety net had failed Mr. Sayoc, and that formal efforts to help him could have prevented at least some of his troubles of recent years.
“Debbie Wasserman Schultz: ‘Bastard’ who sent mail bombs doesn’t represent character of South Florida” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Wasserman Schultz wouldn’t speculate about the motive of the person who mailed the packages. “It’s very difficult to know [why] someone who is clearly insane and who was that much of a madman … could do this, it’s impossible to ascribe motives. It’s sinister and evil,” she said. She said the “bastard” who sent the packages would be brought to justice. Wasserman Schultz’s office was listed as the return address for the pipe bombs shipped around the country. The one that arrived in Sunrise was sent there because it could not be delivered.
Meanwhile … “Rick Scott orders more patrols after synagogue deaths” via The Associated Press — In a statement, Gov. Scott said the shooting that killed 11 people at The Tree of Life Synagogue was “an act of pure evil and hatred.” Scott said the Florida Highway Patrol would work with local law enforcement agencies to bolster community safety. He said everyone deserved to express their religious beliefs safely and peacefully. In a separate statement, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said his deputies would conduct extra patrols at Jewish centers and synagogues until further notice.
— DESANTIS VS. GILLUM —
–“NY Times poll shows Andrew Gillum lead, narrow path for Ron DeSantis” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“DeSantis fires back: Gillum ‘called me a dog’ at debate” via Mark Skoneki of the Orlando Sentinel — Republican DeSantis had a fiery response to the flap over him calling his Democratic opponent by his first name at two statewide debates. “He called me a dog at the debate,” DeSantis said after Fox News 13 Tampa reporter Jennifer Holton asked him about the issue. “Did you watch that?” “So what, he has his own standard, and I have a different standard? … OK, fine. Crooked Mayor Gillum, how about that? He took bribes,’’ DeSantis continued. “How about failed Mayor Gillum? He has the highest crime in Tallahassee, the highest number of murders in history.”
I asked @RepDeSantis about the criticism he’s been taking about calling @AndrewGillum “Andrew.” Here’s what he said: pic.twitter.com/QBlcYFSJ45
— Jennifer Holton FOX 13 (@jennholtonFOX) October 27, 2018
“DeSantis goes after Charlie Crist in Pinellas County” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times — “If we win Pinellas County, the rest of everything will take care of itself, and we’ll be victorious,” the Republican gubernatorial nominee told roughly 150 people who gathered to see him at Saint Nicholas Community Center & Conference Hall in Tarpon Springs. “I promise this as well: I will be a better governor than the last governor we had from Pinellas County, Charlie Crist. So I think give Pinellas County a chance to have a mulligan,” DeSantis, 40, said of former Gov. Crist of St. Petersburg, who in the last governor’s race won Pinellas County by more than 11 percentage points. Rather than cheering, audience members warmly applauded periodically as DeSantis spent most of his 20-minute remarks criticizing Gillum.
—“Andrew Gillum capitalizes on ‘Manatee Momentum’ in Bradenton campaign stop” via Ryan Callihan of the Bradenton Herald
This is excellent work:
The @RonDeSantisFL and @RepJNunez campaign got to @CollegeGameDay early! #UFvsUGA pic.twitter.com/71RjGBHQyH
— Brian Delburn (@BrianDelburn) October 27, 2018
“Rich donors give DeSantis slight lead in fundraising for Governor’s race” via Melanie Payne of the Naples Daily News — DeSantis tops Gillum with about a $1 million head start in cash remaining from the primary and greater in-kind contributions for things like campaign staff and polling services. DeSantis reported about $2 million so far in in-kind support, compared to Gillum’s $748,000, according to campaign finance records. DeSantis leads Gillum in big-money donors, too. Gillum has had only about 40 donors who have written checks of $50,000 or more for the general election campaign, totaling about $13.8 million. DeSantis has received $23.4 million from about 100 donors who have given $50,000 or more at one time. For DeSantis, those donors are wealthy conservatives who have interests in Florida. For Gillum, it’s mostly out-of-state liberals, national unions and progressive organizations who are betting on a Florida flip.
Assignment editors — Casey DeSantis will be speaking at the Pasco County Republican Federated Women Breakfast, 9 a.m., Hyatt Place Tampa/Wesley Chapel, Sierra Conference Room, 26000 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz.
Assignment editors — DeSantis holds a rally with supporters, 2 p.m., The Center at Deltona, Ballroom C, 1640 Doctor MLK. Blvd., Deltona.
— SCOTT VS. NELSON —
FiveThirtyEight bullish on Bill Nelson — Though Democrats’ hopes of flipping the U.S. Senate have flatlined in the run-up to Election Day, elections forecaster FiveThirtyEight is confident Nelson will pull out the W in his re-election battle. … “The Democratic outlook has brightened in Florida, for example, where incumbent Bill Nelson now has a lead in most polls and is roughly a 3-1 favorite to defeat Republican Gov. Rick Scott,” Nate Silver wrote in a Friday election update … As of Sunday afternoon, Silver’s model was just as bullish on the third-term Senator’s re-election odds, maintain the Sunshine State Senate showdown was a “Lean D” and giving Nelson a 5-in-7 chance of victory. The projected vote is still expected to be close, however, with the current prediction estimating Nelson will pull 51.8 percent of the vote to Scott’s 48.2 percent.
“New CBS poll shows Senate race tighter than ever” via Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer De Pinto, Kabir Khanna, Fred Backus and Jennie Kamin of CBS News — Nelson and Scott are tied among likely voters, 46 percent to 46 percent including those who have cast ballots already. Scott, the sitting governor, gets positive marks from voters on his handling of the recent hurricane and benefits from Republicans reporting that they’re more likely to vote than the Democrats who haven’t already. Nelson’s support, meanwhile, is underpinned by voters who place health care atop their issues list. The Republicans have a favorable map in their effort to hold their Senate majority and winning two or three of these states would probably put them in strong position to hold it. Democrats would probably need wins in all three to have a good shot at taking the Senate.
Whoa – Newest Scott ad blasts Nelson real-estate deal as ‘Corruption: Washington Style’ — Scott’s latest statewide TV and digital ad questions a 1989 real estate deal with Nelson, accusing the Democrat of using the profits as a potentially illegal campaign contribution. “Senator Nelson built a Washington mansion for $1.2 million bucks, then sold it to a corrupt Middle East tycoon for $3.4 million … $2 million more than its assessed value,” the ad says. “Nelson pockets $2 million. The corrupt tycoon later offloads it for just $1.9 million … a huge loss. That’s corruption: Washington style.” The ad then questions if it was an “illegal campaign contribution disguised as a real estate deal?”
To view the ad, click on the image below:
“Chuck Schumer-affiliated super PAC continues hammering Scott” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida — Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, released a new ad as part of its $4 million Florida campaign hitting Gov. Scott for what the group calls using the governor’s mansion to “enrich himself.” The ad ties together two popular hits used against Scott during the 2014 midterms. It starts by noting Scott raked in millions after being forced out of Columbia/HCA, a hospital company he ran, that later inked the largest Medicare fraud settlement in U.S. history. The new spot then quickly transitions to waves of media reports about the Scott administration taking official actions that affected investments held by either him or his wife. “Rick Scott built his fortune from a company that defrauded Floridians, and as Governor, he increased that fortune by over $230 million while profiting from sweetheart deals that helped his bottom line but hurt Floridians,” Hannah Hurley, a Senate Majority PAC spokeswoman, said in an email.
To view the ad, click on the image below:
“Scott could profit from helping Chinese firm move to Florida” via John Kennedy of the GateHouse Capital Bureau — Courting a Chinese company to open its first solar panel manufacturing plant on Jacksonville’s west side, Gov. Scott praised the promise of 200 good-paying Florida jobs. But JinkoSolar’s soon-to-debut facility also could pad Scott’s vast, personal bottom line. He’s an investor in a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, the parent of utility giant Florida Power & Light. And NextEra has said it plans to buy 7 million solar panels from JinkoSolar over the next four years. In the case of JinkoSolar, the governor played a very public role in bringing the company to Jacksonville. According to the Senate disclosure of his investments, Scott owns as much as $250,000 in NextEra Partners stock, and his wife has holdings up to $500,000. The couple’s net worth, based on financial ranges reported to the Senate, is $254.3 million to $510 million.
“New Scott ad says ‘it’s time to retire’ Nelson” via Florida Politics — The ad, titled “46 years,” beats the drum on several of the Scott campaign’s criticisms of Nelson, from his status as a “career politician” to Team Scott’s opinion that Nelson hasn’t accomplished much during his tenure in the U.S. House and Senate. “46 years as a politician. Of political speeches. Of broken promises to clean up the environment. Of living off the taxpayers. 46 years of Bill Nelson. And nothing got done. No bills. No action. Just talk,” the ad narrator says. “And now Nelson rarely shows up for work. In the past 18 years, Nelson skipped 45 percent of the hearings on national security.”
To view the ad, click on the image below:
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
“Soaring confidence — and few liberal protesters — inside Trump’s midterm campaign rallies” via Ben Schreckinger of POLITICO — The campaign events that once incubated anger and disenfranchisement have taken on an air of joyous celebration. Trump’s supporters see his presidency as an undisputed, historic success. And writing off polls that favor Democrats as the handiwork of the fake news media, they betray little concern for the risk of a potential electoral disaster and are taking an early victory lap. In Houston, as well as Missoula and Mesa, Arizona, there were other new themes since 2016, and, of course, new internet memes. Young men have become a more visible presence at the rallies, while liberal protesters have faded into the background — a sign, some Trump fans insisted, that the anti-Trump “resistance” is growing weaker, not stronger. But a prevailing feeling was not so much that Trump is surrounded by enemies and needs help. Instead, it was that president has already won.
Meanwhile … “Steve Bannon speaks to Hillsborough GOP, but big names stay away” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times — No elected officeholders and only two candidates attended the event — Ray Young, candidate for the soil and water board, and Anthony Sabatini, a state House candidate from Lake County. Hillsborough’s GOP chairman, however, did say that state Sen. Tom Lee donated money for the event. Bannon spoke to a crowd of 250 or more in an event arranged by Hillsborough County Republican Party Chairman Jim Waurishuk and local Tea Party-style GOP activist Tom Gaitens. Bannon said the Brett Kavanaugh hearings had unified the establishment and Trump wings of the GOP. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and establishment Republicans “did not cut and run,” he said. “They hung tough. … That was a proxy on Trump’s presidency.” Bannon said he would “leave aside” the issue of the accusation of attempted rape against Kavanaugh by Christine Ford, but that the important thing was the GOP win.
“Women’s issues fall off campaign radar in ‘Year of the Woman’” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel — It’s a consequence, Democrats say, of other high-profile issues coming to the forefront as the urgency of the #MeToo movement has faded from the headlines. “The issue that’s going to win these elections for Democrats are the issues that are close to home right now,” said Rep. Janet Cruz. “This algae in our water is scaring people to death.” The #MeToo movement in response to a series of reports of powerful men in entertainment, media and politics sexually harassing women over the course of decades generated a surge of female candidates for office this year. The issue affected the Legislature, too. National media outlets wrote articles detailing how the issue, along with a reaction among liberal women to President Trump, helped lead the surge in female candidates. The surge held true in Florida, too, but at the top of the ticket, Gillum pulled off a surprising upset of Gwen Graham, leaving a slate of men leading the Democratic and Republican parties for the governor and U.S. Senate races.’’
Assignment editors — Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will host a roundtable discussion focused on protecting voting rights, and the importance of winning the Florida Senate to end gerrymandering in the state, 1 p.m., Firefighters Memorial Building, 8000 NW. 21st St., Doral.
“Prison company bets big on Ashley Moody” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times — On the same day that Sean Shaw blasted her in a debate for taking contributions from for-profit prison company GEO Group, Republican candidate for Attorney General Moody reported receiving another $20,000 from the company, bringing her total from GEO and its employees to nearly $50,000. The company has given $3,000 to Moody’s campaign and $45,000 to her independent political committee, Friends of Ashley Moody, which doesn’t have contribution limits. Employees of the company have contributed another $1,500. Democrats say private for-profit prison companies create an incentive for potentially excessive incarceration. Some news reports have said GEO argued for laws allowing their detention centers to be licensed as child care facilities for young detainees. GEO has contributed more than $1.2 million to Florida political candidates and causes, nearly all Republican, during the 2018 campaign.
“Jimmy Patronis outraises, outspends Jeremy Ring in CFO race” via Florida Politics — Incumbent CFO Patronis has reached the part of the campaign where his spending outpaces his fundraising. Between Oct. 13-19 (the most recent week of reported receipts), Patronis raised $128,800 between his campaign account and that of his Treasure Florida political committee. All told, Patronis has raised $6,655,235 and had $1,988,095 on hand as of Oct. 19. Democrat Ring, a former state senator and retired Yahoo executive from Margate, lags: Though $1.6 million has been raised, Ring has just $132,781 to work with down the stretch.
Exclusive — “Latest poll shows gambling amendment still poised to pass” via Florida Politics — An Associated Industries of Florida poll showed 69 percent of voters plan to vote in favor of Amendment 3, also known as the “Voter Control of Gambling in Florida” amendment, while only 17 percent say they’re a hard no. One in seven polled said they were unsure how they’d vote. AIF’s prior poll of the proposed amendment put 70 percent of voters in the “yes” column while “no” and “unsure” voters accounted for 15 percent apiece.
“Amendment 3 foes poor money into ballot fight” via the News Service of Florida — A political committee raised $7.75 million during a weeklong period … The contributions were made between Oct. 13 and Oct. 19 to a committee known as Citizens for the Truth About Amendment 3. The money came from a variety of gambling interests, such as $2 million from MGM Resorts International, $1 million from Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, Inc. and $250,000 from Tampa Bay Downs, Inc., according to the report posted on the state Division of Elections website. The committee, which had raised an overall total of $14.69 million as of Oct. 19, also spent nearly $8.89 million during the weeklong period.
“Christian Coalition of America presents conservative argument for Amendment 4” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — “Redemption and second chances are really at the heart of the Christian faith,” says Keith den Hollander, national field director. So now the famously conservative organization stands with liberal organizations, like the ACLU, in championing Amendment 4, which would automatically restore the voting rights of most felons upon completing their restitution to the state. A new ad cut by Christian Coalition of America features Brett Ramsden, Florida Justice Initiatives director, discussing his own experience being stripped of the right to vote. Ramsden, a recovering opioid abuser, said during 12 years of serious addiction, it never occurred to him he might be putting his right to vote on the line.
— “Bernie Sanders backs Amendment 4” via Florida Politics
“Florida Sheriffs Association packs mailboxes with pro-amendment 10 fliers” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — The Florida Sheriff’s Association flier features Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri on the front. Gualtieri is a board member on the statewide group backing Amendment 10. “The importance of our Sheriffs in protecting Florida’s families is widely acknowledged. But believe it or not, there are some who would take away people’s right to elect your Sheriff. One county has already done that,” Gualtieri says in the mailer. The flyer highlights benefits that would come from the amendment, including:
“Amendment 11 enjoys bipartisan support but faces ‘voter fatigue’ challenge” via John Haughey of Watchdog.org — “This proposal is way down a very long ballot,” James Madison Institute (JMI) Vice President for Policy Sal Nuzzo told Watchdog News. “Voter fatigue makes it less likely” the proposal will pass. Too bad, Nuzzo said, because it contains three good measures that merit adoption — particularly one that would repeal the state’s ’Savings Clause,’ which prohibits retroactively adjusting criminal sentences after new laws are passed reducing them. Amendment 11’s ballot language reads: “Removes discriminatory language related to real property rights. Removes obsolete language repealed by voters.” While it is not spelled out on the ballot, that “obsolete language” is a 2004 authorization of a high-speed rail, a repeal of the 1926 Alien Land Law that prohibits immigrants ineligible for American citizenship from owning, inheriting or possessing property — which was declared unconstitutional in 1948 by the U.S. Supreme Court and has never been enforced in Florida — and the repeal of the 1885 “Savings Clause.”
“Dog racing ban: ‘Yes on 13’ adviser confident of November win” via Florida Politics — “With 11 days remaining, Amendment 13 is poised to pass,” said a top counselor to the Protect Dogs-Yes on 13 campaign on Friday, “and the race is trending our way.” The proposed constitutional amendment aims at ending live dog racing in the state. It needs no less than 60 percent approval from voters to be added to the state’s governing document. Specifically, it would ban betting on greyhound racing by the beginning of 2021. Carey M. Theil, a senior adviser to the campaign, released a statement with several bullet points, including that their “fundraising advantage is now nearly 10 to 1.”
Assignment editors — A coalition of local pastors, faith leaders, and community leaders, along with the Tallahassee chapter of the National Action Network will hold a news conference “to announce their support for Amendment 4 (on voting rights restoration for felons) and offer prayers for Andrew Gillum.” That’s at 2 p.m., Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 224 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tallahassee.
— MORE NOTES FROM THE TRAIL —
“Stephanie Murphy front-and-center in Time magazine ‘Guns in America’ project” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — The magazine’s latest issue features Democratic U.S. Rep. Murphy of Winter Park almost front-and-center in a huge crowd of gun law debaters, in a digitally-created photo collage depicting America’s gun debate. The photo with Murphy in the center graces the cover of the paper magazine and is used as an interactive video on the magazine’s webpage. She also is quoted in the magazine. Coincidentally her campaign says, Murphy’s campaign also is releasing a new television commercial in which she briefly talks about her views on gun laws.
To view the ad, click on the image below:
“Gus Bilirakis attack ad makes false claims against challenger Chris Hunter” via Tracy McManus of the Tampa Bay Times — The ad states Hunter, a former FBI agent who quit his job as a federal prosecutor in December to run for Congress, has a “plan” to increase power bills by $1,200 a year. Hunter has never proposed such a plan. Bilirakis backs the claim with a 2010 study by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, which estimated a cap and trade bill that passed the House in 2009 but never made it to a vote in the Senate would have increased energy bills for a family of four by $1,200. Hunter said he supports concepts like cap and trade, which provide economic incentives for reducing pollution with a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and a market for companies to buy and sell emission allowances. But to tie him to a failed piece of legislation from 2009, when he wasn’t in office, is “partisan political gamesmanship,” Hunter said.
To view the ad, click on the image below:
“Kristen Carlson collects $400K in final push against Ross Spano” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Carlson raised more than $400,000 from Oct. 1-17, bringing her overall fundraising total to $1.2 million. That’s nearly triple what her Republican opponent Spano raised in the same period, and only $83,000 less than Spano has raised throughout his entire campaign. The latest campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission come as Carlson continues to show gains in the polls. An internal poll showed Carlson tied with Spano. It was the third poll this week showing a close race, according to her campaign. FiveThirtyEight and Cook Political Report both list the race as a toss-up.”
“Bare-knuckle tactics in Vern Buchanan-David Shapiro race” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — The bare-knuckle tactics in the District 16 congressional race reflect the intensity and polarization of this political moment, even as they contrast with the congenial dispositions of both candidates and their pledges to work with the other party to find bipartisan solutions. But the paeans to bipartisanship belie the reality of Congress, where the tax cut passed without any Democratic votes, just as Democrats pushed through their most significant legislative achievement of the last decade — the Affordable Care Act — without any GOP votes. And just like the ACA, the tax bill has been unpopular early on, giving Shapiro plenty of ammo as he tries to unseat Buchanan.
Assignment editors — Democratic CD 16 candidate Shapiro and Olivia Babis, a state Senate candidate running to be the first disabled member of the Florida Legislature, join health care advocates and residents at the first of five Florida stops, as part of Protect Our Care’s nationwide bus tour, 10 a.m., Five Points Park, N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota.
“Environmental group adds support for Lauren Baer bid in CD 18” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Environment America Action Fund (EAAF), an environmental group which has supported Democrats in previous election cycles, is now announcing it’s throwing resources behind Baer‘s bid in Florida’s 18th Congressional District. The group has pledged to spend more than $1 million across 10 congressional races; hers is one. EAAF says it is targeting races “where voters have a clear choice as to which candidate will best protect our environment.” EAAF argues one of those races is CD 18: “Protecting the environment is the challenge of our time,” said Jennifer Rubiello, state director for the group’s Florida arm. “We need to act now, as climate change brings increasingly dangerous hurricanes, sea surge and heat waves to Florida and the administration rolls back clean air and water laws that were passed with broad bipartisan support.”
“New ad hits Maria Elvira Salazar over ‘shameless’ comments” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — The Donna Shalala campaign has released a new Spanish-language ad criticizing Salazar for her previous remarks made to both Fidel Castro and a relative of Che Guevara. The new ad from Shalala, titled “Shameless,” runs back a clip from Salazar’s broadcasting career when she interviewed Castro, then the Cuban president. In that interview, she called Castro “El Comandante.” The ad then closes with a clip of Salazar interviewing Che Guevara’s nephew. She closes the interview by calling it a “privilege” and “honor” to interview someone with Che’s DNA. “Enough!” shouts the narrator to close the ad.
To watch the video, click on the image below:
— DOWN-BALLOT —
“Mel Martin seeks to upset GOP, Tom Wright, in Senate District 14” via Mark Harper of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — Can that upstart Democrat, Melissa “Mel” Martin, win in a red district? Republicans hold a 6-percentage-point advantage over Democrats in registered voters in District 14, which covers much of Volusia from Port Orange south, including Deltona and DeLand, plus northern Brevard County. But Martin’s long odds would appear to have gotten shorter. Matthew Isbell, a Tallahassee-based data analyst who consults for political campaigns and organizations, recently changed the race from “safe GOP” to “leans Republican.” Further, Isbell cited Republicans’ choice of Wright, made in part because the businessman pledged he could self-fund his campaign, which “shows the GOP did not feel comfortable staying off the air. Airwaves right now are filled with anti-Martin ads — the GOP is clearly nervous.”
“Cruz lying about Dana Young, new complaint alleges” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Young has personally filed a complaint against Cruz, alleging she spread false information in a television ad that claims Young was under investigation for supporting legislation that directly benefited her family business. “This statement is blatantly false. There is NO current ethics investigation against (me),” the complaint reads. Young is asking for an expedited hearing into the matter. The violation carries a maximum $5,000 penalty. Also at issue is a previous ethics complaint filed by Cruz supporter Milton Marquez that claims a series of craft beer industry-related bills were directly benefiting Young’s husband’s business, manufacturing bottling and canning equipment.
Spotted — Democrat Anna Eskamani, running for HD 47, on MTV News — Eskamani is featured in an MTV News series about “young candidates and their perspectives of controversial issues. In the latest episode, guns are the subject of discussion … Anna share(s) her perspectives on gun safety legislation, which includes not arming teachers and providing meaningful mental health resources. She even speaks to her support of having armed security at our public schools, a policy that her opponent has accused her of not supporting….”
—“Hot seat: race to succeed Jay Fant exceeds $1 million in fundraising” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics
—“Randy Fine pulls in $10K for final push in HD 53, leading all Brevard House candidates” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
—“Jim Bonfiglio laps Mike Caruso in fundraising — thanks to self-loan” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
—“Frank Mingo winning the money race in HD 103” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
—“Javier Fernandez continues strong fundraising spree in HD 114” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Chip LaMarca supporters say ‘Chip has always been there for us’” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — The 30-second spot from LaMarca, titled “For Us,” shows several of LaMarca’s family members and other supporters selling HD 93 voters on LaMarca’s purported strengths. The ad begins by cutting to several of those supporters stating, “I know Chip LaMarca.” “Chip puts people over politics,” argues Suzanne Citere, a teacher and dance studio owner. LaMarca has served on the Broward County Commission before his run for state House. “He’s stood up to the special interests,” adds Bill Gallo, an architect and chairman of the Broward Historic Preservation Board. “Chip cares about our community,” says Henri Crockett, a former NFL Player who also won a national championship at Florida State University. “Chip has always been there for us.”
To view the video, click on the image below:
What Ken Detzner is reading — “How cryptocurrency is sneaking into state elections” via Center for Public Integrity — In an era of Russian hackers, super PACs and shell corporations being used by foreign entities to influence voting, officials tasked with maintaining the integrity of state and local elections have one more thing to worry about: crypto-candidates. The Center for Public Integrity found 20 crypto-candidates of various political stripes, seeking all levels of office, who have been requesting or have received cryptocurrency to fund their efforts. At least three were candidates in a state that has since banned such donations. Another was accepting cryptocurrencies marketed as untraceable. The confusion over campaign cryptocurrency is widespread, and the implications are far from isolated. But the effort to establish uniform rules is lagging behind … (Florida has no policy on cryptocurrency contributions, the story says, and the only candidate accepting crypto-contributions this year was Libertarian Alison Foxall, the candidate in House District 72’s special election. Democrat Margaret Good won the seat.)
“Jeff Vinik ponies up $600K for Hillsborough transportation referendum” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Tampa Bay Lightning owner Vinik brought his total contributions from his personal account and business interests to $600,000 for Hillsborough County’s transportation referendum, Supervisor of Elections reports show. Vinik’s Strategic Property Partners, which is behind the $3 billion Water Street Tampa development, contributed $150,000 during the most recent campaign fundraising period of Oct. 13-19. SPP already donated $100,000 to the All For Transportation campaign committee. Vinik personally donated $250,000 and the Tampa Bay Lightning, which he owns, kicked in $100,000 previously. The group backing a 1 percent sales tax referendum to fund transit and transportation improvements for 30 years has now collected more than $3 million.
“Escambia County voters to decide future of elected vs. appointed superintendents” via Kevin Robinson of the Pensacola News-Journal — In Florida, 21 counties have made the shift to appointing. Escambia County is the second largest school district that still votes for its superintendent, having voted five times since 1967 to keep the system in place. Noting Escambia County’s less than stellar ranking among Florida’s 67 school districts, D.C. Reeves, chief of staff for the Studer Family of Companies and chairman of the Yes For Escambia Schools political committee, argues it is time for us to try something different. “We can’t pretend that ranking 53 out of 67 school districts doesn’t matter,” Reeves said. “Whether you are a parent who has a kid in our school system, or whether you don’t have kids, but you want to see our community grow, this matters. This (referendum) could be the first domino to improving our school system.”
— AFTER MICHAEL —
“Shifting sands: Here’s how Hurricane Michael’s storm surge carved up the coastline” via Karl Etters of the Tallahassee Democrat — Now you need a boat to get out to the end of St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Dunes that protected St. George Island from the sea have been shorn clean. Dog Island was completely washed over by the ocean moving an entire house. The same double-digit storm surge accompanying Hurricane Michael’s landfall has also altered the Forgotten Coast’s shoreline by moving tons and tons of sand. Just how much is still being determined, but the U.S. Geological Survey has no doubt it will be a lot. “It takes a little time to comb through the coast to see how much was affected,” said Kara Doran, USGS’s Coastal Change team leader. “We were not surprised by the coastal change with a 9 to 14-foot storm surge. We knew the coastal impacts would be severe.”
“Without power and living in tents: Panhandle struggles after Michael” via Jamiles Lartey of The Guardian — Despite the best efforts of recovery workers, life is still extremely precarious for the remaining residents of the hardest hit coastal towns, chiefly Panama City, Mexico Beach and Port St Joe. Amid piles of debris, the landscape looks little different from the shattered state immediately after the hurricane that made it look like a bomb had hit. Many who have returned since the storm are living in campers, tents or bunking with neighbors, and relying on portable toilets and boxed ready-to-eat meals provided by FEMA, the Red Cross or other volunteers. The schedule for the return of utilities such as electricity, gas and internet service are being measured in months, not days or weeks. Many roads are still blocked across the area, commercial services minimal to none.
“Courts, FSU campus to reopen after Michael” via the News Service of Florida — All courts in Northwest Florida’s 14th Judicial Circuit and the Florida State University Panama City campus are slated to be open Monday, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Michael tore through the region. The 14th Judicial Circuit is made up of Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties. While some courts have already opened, a news release from the circuit said all courts would be open by Monday. Florida State University also announced its Panama City campus would reopen, though Gulf Coast State College is expected to remain closed. Public schools in Jackson and Liberty counties are slated to resume Monday, while schools in Bay and Calhoun counties will remain closed, according to a storm update issued by Gov. Scott’s office.
“’How can I be effective?’: Teachers suffering after Michael” via Freida Frisaro and Tamara Lush of The Associated Press — Regina Ferrell, a fourth-grade teacher in Bay County, stood before the local school board this week and pleaded: Please be flexible with teachers returning to classrooms after Hurricane Michael. The hurricane severely damaged her condo, leaving her without water, sewer service or electricity. Except for one night that she slept in a tent in the parking lot, she has stayed in her water-damaged unit. The inside is stacked with food and other necessities in plastic tubs, and some of her possessions are stuffed into black trash bags. “What little I do have, I’m worried somebody’s going to steal it,” she said, adding that she spends nights with a flashlight and a 9 mm gun at her side. “We have a delicate balance between the humanitarian needs and the need to open schools in order to show our community that normal will exist again,” said district spokeswoman Sharon Michalik.
— STATEWIDE —
“Flags at half-staff for Skip Campbell” via Florida Politics — Gov. Scott on Friday ordered flags at half-staff for Former Democratic state Sen. Walter “Skip” Campbell of Broward County. Campbell, a 69-year-old lawyer, died Tuesday. Scott directed flying the U.S. and state flags half-staff at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale; City Hall in Coral Springs; and at the Capitol in Tallahassee from sunrise to sunset on Saturday. Campbell represented Senate District 32, which covered the northwest part of Broward County, 1996-2006. He later was elected mayor of Coral Springs in 2014 and served until his death.
Assignment editors — ReThink Energy Florida, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and First Street Foundation will host an environmental forum “focused on sea level rise and flood risk, red tide, and other major environmental concerns for Sarasota County residents.” The “Tidal Town Hall,” featuring an array of local, state and federal candidates, is tonight at 6 p.m., 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. A livestream will be available here.
Happening today — Representatives of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and CFO Jimmy Patronis’ office are expected to take part in a town-hall meeting in Holmes County to assess insurance-related needs after Hurricane Michael, 6:30 p.m. Central time, Ponce de Leon High School, 1477 Ammons Road, Ponce de Leon.
“In picking new leader, JEA will have to reckon with turbulent year” via Nate Monroe of the Florida Times-Union — Aaron Zahn — the 38-year-old interim CEO of Jacksonville’s electric, water and sewer utility — is a remarkably audacious man for someone who started the job roughly seven months ago with limited experience in the industry and no guarantee he’d be there in the long run. Zahn has put JEA’s reputation within the industry on the line by spearheading combative public-relations tactics and legal challenges in hopes of canceling a contract that has financially entangled JEA ratepayers in an expensive project to build two nuclear reactors in Georgia. The hits to JEA’s image and credit rating would be worth it if those strategies work, he has said. Zahn appears to believe in his ability to win people over, and his short history at JEA — where he went from a newcomer on the board of directors to the interim leader in just a few months time — has borne that out.
— FORGING AHEAD? —
The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) on Friday afternoon announced it was moving forward with interviewing 59 applicants to be the next three justices.
Then the League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause filed suit Friday evening, essentially saying ‘oh, hell no’ and seeking to stop that process.
The court itself, in an unsigned order earlier this month, quashed the hopes of term-limited GOP Gov. Scott of taking part in picking the next justices on his last day in office, which coincides with the three justices’ last day.
Liberal-leaning jurists Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, and Peggy Quince face mandatory retirement in January.
Scott had hoped to flip the ideological balance of the seven-member court, naming another three conservatives to add to the three now serving: Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justices Ricky Polston and Alan Lawson.
But progressives fear that the JNC, which includes Scott loyalists, will force the next governor to pick from a list of right-leaning legal eagles; Friday’s filing warns that the list of applicants is a “who’s who of conservative judges.”
As of now, the JNC will meet Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 in Miami, and Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 in Tampa. The interviews are planned to be broadcast on WFSU-TV/The FLORIDA Channel.
After the panel “certifies” its recommendations, there’s a 60-day period in which the governor is required to make his appointments, but it will “run only when the governor with the authority to appoint has taken office,” the high court said in its previous order.
Still to come is a hearing before the court of exactly “when the JNC can certify its nominations.”
Oral argument on that question is set for 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 8 — two days after Election Day.
—OPINIONS —
“Gov. Scott’s blindness to conflict” via the Tampa Bay Times editorial board — During his eight years in office, Scott’s personal wealth has intersected multiple times with companies that do business with the state. The latest tangle: Scott owns considerable holdings in the company that operates the SunPass toll system, and he waited two months to take action when the system failed. The revelations elicited the same tired response that Scott is immune from any conflict because his assets are held in a blind trust, which has never been an adequate explanation because the trust isn’t exactly blind. Yet instead of being forthright and transparent, Scott, both as governor and U.S. Senate candidate, sticks by his blind trust claim. It’s up to the voters to see through the charade, and Florida should adopt new financial disclosure requirements for state offices that are at least as comprehensive as the federal requirements.
“DeSantis is better choice for Florida’s future” via Mark Wilson for the Palm Beach Post — The Florida Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan, pro-jobs organization, and we’ve analyzed the economic and education plans of Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum. We encourage Floridians to set political divisions aside, focus on the policies of the two candidates, and cast your vote based on policies to continue moving Florida forward. The right policies and team leaders for Florida’s future are DeSantis and Jeanette Nunez. DeSantis is concerned about jobs and families, and is willing to fight for policies supporting high-wage jobs, improving Florida’s education system and protecting Florida’s environment. His detailed economic and education policies will keep Florida’s economy moving forward. On balance, DeSantis’ policies are clearly better for our children, small and local businesses, and our collective future. If you want to keep Florida’s momentum moving forward, DeSantis is the best choice for Florida’s future.
“Vote for marijuana reforms, not for red or blue” via John Morgan for the Tampa Bay Times — I am thankful every day for being able to have helped so many people — with so many more to benefit in the future — by bringing medical marijuana to Florida, and being part of this important conversation on marijuana reform more broadly, at this critical time in our country. In Florida, like many states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana, we had to do it with the voices, and votes, of the people, because our elected leaders lacked the courage to do it themselves. Make no mistake. Marijuana is on the ballot in this election, and not just in Florida. North Dakota and Michigan could legalize it this year, and Utah and Missouri could pass medical marijuana laws. And marijuana has become a campaign issue in competitive Senate races in Missouri, Nevada and elsewhere. I left the Democratic Party last year. Partisan politics disgust me. This year, forget red or blue. I am only voting green.
“No, a vote to ban greyhound racing is not a vote to end fishing, hunting and life as we know it in Florida, no matter what they tell you” via Sue Carlton of the Tampa Bay Times — Florida voters get to decide whether to ban gambling on commercial dog racing, effectively ending it by 2020. They’ll decide if old-school betting on racing greyhounds — and the way the dogs have sometimes been treated — is a pastime past its time. So here’s where the politics of politics got interesting. You know that part about all of us all agreeing that animals should be treated humanely? Apparently, something dark and insidious lay within those words. Who knew? By the way, a similar sentence — “inhumane treatment of animals is a concern of Florida citizens” — is already in our Constitution. Thus far, no one has craftily used those words to legally prevent you from wetting a line at your favorite fishing pier or lunching on a burger made from Florida beef.
“Forget money, party or platform — here’s what makes or breaks a candidate” via Gary Yordon for the Tallahassee Democrat — Negative campaigning will always have a place in politics. As long as two people want the same thing, there will be a temptation to tell someone why the other person shouldn’t have it. But no clever political trick, vicious attack or misleading pivot is more powerful than one simple political truth: A candidate must be someone voters like. With few exceptions, if a candidate is not likable, they can promise voters they’re going to poop gold on every doorstep, and it won’t matter. Political longevity demands likability. Being authentic, genuine — and toss in a little humble. My gut tells me likability will be what decides the governor’s race in Florida … Gillum has something DeSantis can’t manufacture with all the red-faced screaming he can muster: likability.
— MOVEMENTS —
“Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho gets big national award” via Colleen Wright of the Miami Herald — The Council of Great City Schools Thursday night honored Carvalho with the Green-Garner award, the highest honor for an urban educator, at its 62nd annual conference in Baltimore. He was one of nine finalists, all big-city school superintendents, from 74 of the largest urban public-school systems in the country. The honor, sponsored by the council as well as Aramark Education, Scholastic Inc., and Cenergistic, also comes with $10,000 in scholarships for Miami-Dade students. The top prize, given to a superintendent every other year, is presented each year in memory of Richard R. Green, the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system, and businessman Edward Garner, who served on the Denver school board.
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
Lisa Aaron, Mark Maxwell, SCG Governmental Affairs: Grant Thorton, PanCare of Florida, Step CG
Brian Ballard, William Turbeville, Ballard Partners: White’s Ford Timber
Matt Bryan, Lisa Hurley, Smith Bryan & Myers: CompTIA Member Services
Hayden Dempsey, Greenberg Traurig: TrueCore Behavioral Solutions
— ALOE —
“Love it or hate it, there are more varieties of candy corn than ever this Halloween” via Maura Judkis of The Washington Post — Recently, candy corn makers have been switching it up with new flavors. And other candy-makers have been trying to capitalize on nostalgia for the flavor by offering candy corn-flavored treats — whatever that means: Brach’s Naturally-Flavored Candy Corn (Gluten Free). If candy corn is just a little too orange for your liking, there’s an all-natural alternative; Brach’s Maple Candy Corn. These candy corns come in varying flavors of khaki, and they look a little like coffee-stained teeth; Brach’s Pie Favorites Candy Corn; Brach’s S’mores Candy Corn; Sour Patch Kids Candy Corn: We were expecting this to be a gummy Sour Patch Kid molded into a seasonally-appropriate Halloween shape. Instead, it was fruit-flavored candy corn covered in Sour Patch dust, a marriage of texture and flavor that was slightly unsettling.
“Pumpkin spice has infiltrated America’s zoos” via Karin Brulliard of The Washington Post — The powder is sprinkled in lion enclosures at Smithsonian’s National Zoo. It is dotted in the exhibit that’s home to Fred, an American elk at the Oklahoma City Zoo. It is dusted about the living space of bears and foxes at the Cincinnati Zoo. And these animals love it, keepers say. But few furry creatures embrace the pumpkin spice lifestyle as enthusiastically as Bei Bei, the National Zoo’s young panda, who was introduced to the autumnal additive last year and immediately doused his head with it. His caretakers sometimes use pumpkin spice to lace a rotted log, creating a combination that Bei Bei finds bewitching. Pumpkin spice is one of about 30 to 40 scents used in the National Zoo’s great cats exhibit. All are used for what’s known in zoo lingo as “scent enrichment” — the practice of exposing animals, many of which rely on their sensitive noses to gather information, to smells that encourage natural behaviors, keep them interested in their surroundings or get them moving.
“A good day to read a book instead: Florida State eviscerated by Clemson” via Tashan Reed of TheAthletic.com — Bruce Thyer sat hunched over and shirtless on the top row at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday afternoon. With Florida State trailing Clemson 52-3 with seconds remaining in the third quarter, the FSU professor was reading a book. It was a Gillian Flynn novel appropriately titled “Dark Places.” Thyer went to the game with his 18-year-old daughter, who’s a sophomore at Florida State, and four of her girlfriends. They originally were seated on the shadier, cooler west side of the stadium, but the women left at halftime after the Seminoles fell behind 28-0. Thyer decided to move to the other side. “I was cold sitting over there,” Thyer said. “I took my shirt off to get some sun. There aren’t going to be many days like this anymore this fall.”
“Next clash over ‘sharing’ business models — cars — being waged at Orlando airport” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Yet again, a 21st-century business model is clashing with how business always has been done – creat—ng a running battle at Orlando International Airport and other airports where authorities are trying to stop emerging car-sharing operations from acting, in the airports’ views, as unpermitted, unregulated rental-car companies. Specifically, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and Turo, a San Francisco-based company, are butting heads in what is now nearly a yearlong dispute. Now the skirmish, perhaps an early battle in a potential full-out turf war for a huge, multibillion-dollar rental-car business sector in Florida, is drawing the attention of state lawmakers.
What Ben Pollara is reading – “New York liquor stores want to sell marijuana” via Marijuana Moment — Instead of creating a whole new system of specialized stores to distribute marijuana when it becomes legal, New York should just allow existing liquor and wine retail outlets to sell cannabis to adults. That’s the position of a new advocacy effort launched by owners of booze shops this month. “With more than 2,000 wine and liquor stores from Buffalo to Montauk, we offer existing retail space with quick and cheap access to the market in every corner of the state,” reads the website for the group, which is called The Last Store on Main Street. “That means more tax revenue, and sooner, for the state to fulfill basic responsibilities and invest in the future of our neighborhoods.”
Happy birthday belatedly to our wonderful friend Alia Faraj-Johnson, managing director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies – Flori—a, an INFLUENCE 100 alum, and, most important, mom to future LPGA star Peyton and wife to Rob. Also celebrating over the weekend to Rep. Byron Donalds (happy 40th), the super-sharp David Childs of Hopping Green & Sams, and our old friend, Bill Pfeiffer. Celebrating today is Rep. George Moraitis, the lovely and talented Kristen Bridges of Bascom Communications & Consulting, Rivers Buford, and the Florida Democratic Party’s Caroline Rowland.
