Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Law enforcement endorsements continue to pour in for Attorney General Ashley Moody.
After receiving the nod from 64 elected county Sheriffs last week, the incumbent Republican announced endorsements from the Florida Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Police Benevolent Association and Florida Police Chiefs Association.
“Florida is home to so many incredibly brave and selfless law enforcement officials. We must continue to support them as they put their lives on the line, every single day, to ensure our families, friends, and neighbors are protected from predatory scams and senseless crimes,” Moody said in a news release.
“I am committed to leading these efforts and collaborating with the Florida Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Police Benevolent Association, and the Florida Police Chiefs Association to ensure their members have the resources they need and know, without a doubt, that they are valued. It is truly an honor to have these well-respected organizations’ endorsements, and I look forward to the important work we will accomplish together in the years ahead.”
The endorsements come one week after the General Election matchup was locked in. Moody will face former State Attorney Aramis Ayala, a Democrat, on Nov. 8.
Moody did not face a challenger in the Primary Election and heads into the General with a substantial cash advantage — she has a combined $6.42 million on hand between her campaign account and political committee, Friends of Ashley Moody. Ayala had just $23,149 between her two accounts as of Aug. 18.
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The Florida Transportation Builders’ Association awarded its 2022 Soapbox Award to Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls.
The FTBA Soapbox Award is given annually to select individuals who have demonstrated a strong interest in pushing transportation issues forward.
“On behalf of FTBA, I am honored to highlight those who have demonstrated their vision for and dedication to the state of Florida’s infrastructure — and Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls have done just that,” said FTBA President Ananth Prasad. “It is through their dedicated leadership and forward-thinking vision that Florida has supported critical infrastructure and transportation projects.”
Simpson and Sprowls’ vision resulted in the biggest one-time investment ever made into infrastructure projects, and their delivery of that investment resulted in transformative resources being provided to the Florida Department of Transportation to realize the vision.
Previous winners of FTBA’s Soapbox Award include former Senate President Bill Galvano, former House Speaker Allan Bense, former House Speaker and U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, and former Sens. Malcolm Beard and Jim Sebesta.
Evening Reads
—“Ron DeSantis slams Karla Hernández for ‘protecting’ sex offender, which campaign calls ‘lies’” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics
—“DeSantis controls $130M+ to Charlie Crist’s $1.6M as General Election season kicks off” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
—“DeSantis denies he’s ‘considering a run for the presidency’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—”Feds, state, Seminoles defend FL’s sports-betting deal in court; No Casinos group pushes back” via Michael Moline of the Florida Phoenix
—“Maxwell Frost poised to go from Uber driver to 1st Gen Z member of Congress” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel
—“Medicaid care for transgender children is rare in Florida, data shows” via Christopher O’Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times
—“A pugnacious former police officer, Miami-Dade’s Joe Martinez now fighting the law” via Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald
—”Four new Broward School Board members are sworn in after Gov. DeSantis appointed them” via Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
—“NASA’s hold music lives rent-free in my head” via Marina Koren of The Atlantic
—“A’ja Wilson has always done it all for the aces. this year, she did even more.” via James L. Jackson of FiveThirtyEight
Quote of the Day
“It’s a lie. And to top it off, it’s coming from a Governor whose own campaign was led by accused child sexual predator Matt Gaetz, and whose disgusting actions DeSantis still refuses to condemn.”
— Charlie Crist campaign Communications Director Samantha Ramirez, on DeSantis’ allegations against Hernandez.
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