Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 7.30.24

Good Tuesday morning.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds a 7-percentage-point lead in Florida over likely Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. And in a heated Senate race, Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott boasts a 4-point lead over likely Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, according to a poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research lab.

Neither Republican holds majority support. Trump leads Harris in the Sunshine State 49% to 42%. Scott leads Mucarsel-Powell 47% to 43%. A full 10% of respondents said they remain undecided on who to support in the Senate contest. Trump’s lead is larger now than it was in 2020, when he carried the state by 3 percentage points over now-President Joe Biden. 

“It’s not a huge surprise to see Trump ahead in his home state of Florida, which he won by three points in 2020,” said PORL faculty director Michael Binder. “With Harris just entering the race, enthusiasm amongst her supporters has livened up what was once thought to be an easy win for Trump in Florida.”

“What’s really interesting is that Trump has a couple point bigger lead than Rick Scott, who’s only up by four — just inside the margin of error of this poll,” Binder added. “Scott has a history of winning razor thin statewide races in Florida, and in a state that has become significantly more red in the past six years, this could be another close race for Scott.”

The margin of error was 4.6 percentage points.

The UNF poll also queried voters on Amendment 3, which would legalize cannabis for adult recreational use. There, voters support the amendment 64% to 31%, a level of support that, if it holds, would mean passage for the measure. 

On Amendment 4, which would enshrine abortion protections into the state constitution, an overwhelming 69% of voters said they were in favor, while only 23% said they were opposed. 

Pollsters noted that on both amendments campaigns have yet to fully ramp up, with Binder arguing “it’s not too clear yet how much money will be injected” into the Amendment 3 opposition campaign. Similarly on Amendment 4, Binder said he expects opposition to become more vocal, particularly over the measure’s financial impact to the state, which could lead to a drop in support before the Nov. 5 General Election.

—

Scott Burgess has been elected Chair of the Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) for the 2024-2025 leadership term.

“I consider it a great honor to have been selected by my distinguished colleagues to serve as chair of the Florida Behavioral Health Association,” Burgess said. “I am committed to advancing our mission and ensuring that behavioral health care continues to be available for everyone. Together, we will work to foster healthier communities, support stronger families and empower resilient Floridians.”

Burgess is CEO of David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health in Naples and serves on FBHA’s executive committee and the FBHA Board of Directors.

The organization also announced Melissa Larkin-Skinner’s election as Chair of the association’s advocacy arm, the Florida Council for Behavioral Healthcare, while Jean D. Pierre was elected Chair of FADAA, the association’s services arm.

“All thanks to the dedication and leadership of FBHA’s chairs, board of directors, and members, we have seen a monumental investment in Florida’s behavioral health system, allowing incredible strides toward healing those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders,” said FBHA President and CEO Melanie Brown-Woofter.

“I look forward to continuing these great efforts alongside Scott, Melissa, and Jean. These individuals are forward-thinking innovators who work each day to better everyone around them. I could not be more excited for the future.”

—

Two veteran media figures in Jacksonville are breaking away from their respective institutions to form their own public relations and crisis management firm.

John Bachman, main anchor and reporter for Action News Jax, WJAX, CBS 47TV and WFOX FOX 30TV, is joining Matt Galnor, who was the spokesman for JAX Chamber for about the past decade. The two have launched their own firm, Bachman Galnor Communications, which officially kicked off on Monday.

“Jacksonville has become home for my family and I always knew whatever I chose to do after television, it’d be right here,” said Bachman, who has been in broadcast news for 27 years and worked in Atlanta prior to arriving in Jacksonville. “I’ve been telling stories of the people of Northeast Florida for 10 years and I’m excited to continue to do so, just in a different role.”

Galnor is no stranger to journalism and was a reporter in both Michigan and at the Jacksonville-based Florida Times-Union newspaper from 2001 for about a decade before transitioning into public relations for University of Florida Health medical facilities in Jacksonville. Then he pivoted to spokesman for JAX Chamber where he’s been the voice and words behind the business advocacy organization.

“Working with companies of all sizes at the Chamber for the last 10 years has led me to wanting to build something from the ground up,” Galnor said. “We think we bring a unique combination of skills to the market and look forward to working with organizations to tell their stories and grow.”

The new company will focus on content creation, crisis management strategic plans and audience growth for businesses.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

— @HillaryClinton: If Republican leaders don’t enjoy being called weird, creepy, and controlling, they could try not being weird, creepy, and controlling.

— @50FirstTates: someone called jd vance vladimir futon i’m losing my mind

— @CoryMillsFL: It’s very unfortunate but not surprising for anyone familiar with how DC works. I’m not a politician, leadership, or a “yes man”. I wish the members of @SpeakerJohnson Task Force well, and think it’s time for a parallel independent investigation with subject matter experts (SME) and the whistleblowers who’ve already come forward that myself and @EliCrane_CEO and @bennyjohnson have spoken with. I will be speaking with other members, and although I won’t have subpoena powers, I will personally fund whatever is required for additional staff to further investigation and expose the truth.

— @NateMonroeTU: it’s interesting because desantis himself benefitted from a mirror-image effort by the conservative media ahead of the primaries — creating and then attaching a mythos to him that never matched reality; in his case, it certainly wasn’t possible!

Tweet, tweet:

— @Paul_Renner: Last week, I joined @FlaglerSheriff Rick Staly to discuss the serious nature of recent threats to our local schools. Our first priority will always be the safety of our children, and it’s past time to intervene. Social media and harmful online content are ruining our children’s lives, but with HB 3, we are fighting back.

— @SportsWithJohn: I’ve taken a lot of drugs in my life but I’ve never taken a drug like Peacock’s Olympic Gold Zone. What a rush. I’m deeply invested, simultaneously, in judo, fencing, gymnastics, and kayaking

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

— DAYS UNTIL —

‘Alien: Romulus’ premieres — 17; Democratic National Convention begins — 20; ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ begins streaming on Peacock — 20; Florida Primary — 21; FBHA’s annual conference, BHCon, begins — 22; second Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins — 25; Georgia Tech to face Florida State in 2024 opener in Dublin — 26; UCF opens the season by hosting New Hampshire at FBC Mortgage Stadium — 30; Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday begins — 34; 2024 NFL season kicks off — 39; Packers will face Eagles in Brazil — 39; ‘The Old Man’ season two debuts — 44; ‘The Penguin’ premieres — 51; Vice-Presidential Debate — 58; Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stops in Miami — 82; 2024 Florida Chamber Annual Meeting & Future of Florida Forum — 89; Florida TaxWatch’s 45th Annual Meeting — 97; 2024 Presidential Election — 98; second half of Yellowstone season five premieres — 102; Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Landman’ premieres — 110; Legislature’s 2025 Organizational Session — 112; Las Vegas Grand Prix — 112; 2024 Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit begins — 125; ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ premieres — 129; MLS Cup 2024 — 131; College Football Playoff begins — 144; Fiesta, Peach, Rose & Sugar Bowls — 155; Orange Bowl — 163; Sugar Bowl — 165; ‘Severance’ season two debuts — 171; ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ premieres — 199; the 2025 Oscars — 220; Florida’s 2025 Legislative Session begins — 222; 2025 Session ends — 282; ‘Moana’ premieres — 329; ‘Thunderbolts’ premieres — 363; ‘Fantastic Four — First Steps’ premieres — 363; ‘Blade’ reboot premieres — 470; ‘Avatar 3’ premieres — 508; ‘Avengers 5’ premieres — 644; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 661; FIFA World Cup 26™ final — 681; FIFA World Cup 26™ final match — 719; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres — 794; Another untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 872; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 1,012; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,971; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 2,692.

— TOP STORY —

The Florida Sheriffs Association is coming out against the aforementioned proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.

In a resolution issued Monday, the organization asserted states that have passed adult-use cannabis amendments have seen “increased crime and traffic crashes” as well as upticks marijuana-related emergency room visits and cases of adolescent marijuana use disorder.

“The well-being and health of the citizens of Florida are threatened through the legalization and normalization of recreational marijuana,” said FSA President and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell.

“Our priority is the safety and security of our communities, and the data clearly shows that legalization leads to increased public health issues, road safety concerns, and a rise in youth marijuana use. We must take a stand to protect our citizens, especially our youth, from the negative impacts of marijuana.”

Past FSA President and Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper added, “By opposing the legalization and commercialization of recreational marijuana, we are committed to safeguarding our citizens from various potential harms.”

FSA said in the leadup to Election Day it will work to inform Floridians about potential consequences to health and safety should Amendment 3 pass in November.

—2024 — PRESIDENTIAL —

“Victim of undocumented immigrant’s 2008 attack, now cited by Trump allies, swipes at Harris” via Lucien Bruggeman and Mike Levine of ABC News — Less than two hours after Biden last week announced his decision to drop out of the race, the RNC released a two-minute campaign ad blasting Harris as “dangerously liberal” and claiming she “was liberal on illegal immigration before she ever reached the White House.” The ad highlighted the 2008 story of a San Francisco woman who was attacked by a man who was in the country illegally and had been arrested months earlier on drug charges — but was released as part of a new program that had been launched by Harris, then the city’s District Attorney.

“Harris sees opening in JD Vance as she considers her own pick for Vice President” via Edward-Isaac Dovere of CNN — Harris’ plan as a running mate was to brush past Vance as nothing but a rubber stamp for Trump. Her campaign is seizing on the Ohio Senator as a major liability, looking to her own vice presidential selection process and the contenders’ public auditions to drive home the point. Vance’s elevation is giving Harris a new opportunity to go after Trump. The message is not just that Vance is “weird” or that he has objectionable views, advisers said; it’s that the Ohio Senator shouldn’t be a heartbeat away from the presidency, and that Trump picking him raises more questions about the top of the ticket. The strategy is also a way to put Trump’s age in focus by highlighting how close Vance could be to occupying the Oval Office if something were to happen to a 78-year-old President. And poking holes in Vance’s résumé is a way for them to argue that Republicans are holding the presumptive Democratic nominee to a different standard when they attack her as a “DEI hire.”

— 2024 — FLORIDA —

“Scott sounds a warning on foreign interference in elections” via Steve Newborn of WUSF — Federal government investigators have found that foreign interference in elections has been rife since Russia tried to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Scott said that interference has only gotten worse. Scott warned against the influence of foreign agents on American elections during an appearance with veteran’s groups. He took the Biden administration to task for what he said was not putting enough pressure on foreign governments to put the brakes on interference. “Iran’s doing it. China’s doing it. Russia’s doing it,” Scott said. “They’re paying for unrest in our country. Americans need to wake up, right. We have enemies. It’s disgusting, and we’ve got to understand this is going to go on as long as we don’t call these countries out.”

“Pot prohibition costs Florida at least $200 million per year” via David Downs of Leafly — Floridians get to free the weed at the ballot box Nov. 5. What’s at stake? Scores of weed arrests, and at least $200 million per year in tax revenue for a massive, newly-legal economy. That $200 million figure comes from a 2023 State of Florida economic analysis. A Leafly News analysis adds in the estimated cost of 66,000 annual arrests in Florida for weed, plus tax projections based on legalization in other states. The net fiscal impact could be many millions of dollars more. “Florida is arguably among the leading states in marijuana-related arrests — if not the leader,” said Paul Armentano at NORML.

“State has only days to respond in court fight over abortion amendment financial statement” via Ana Goñi-Lessan of the Tallahassee Democrat — The Florida Supreme Court has told the state to respond by the end of this week to a filing by advocates to throw out the latest financial statement for a November ballot measure on abortion. Lawyers for Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, House Speaker Paul Renner, the Florida Impact Estimating Conference (FIEC) and members Amy Baker, Azhar Khan, Executive Director of the State Board of Administration Chris Spencer and Rachel Greszler, a senior research fellow with Heritage’s Roe Institute, have until 5 p.m. Friday to respond. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group that filed what’s known as a “petition for quo warranto,” then will have until 9 a.m. on Aug. 7, the following Wednesday, to reply.

— 2024 — DOWN-BALLOT —

“Light on cash, Sabrina Bousbar touts ground game in CD 13 Democratic battle” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — With less than one month until the Primary Election, Bousbar trails the crowded field for Florida’s 13th Congressional District in cash on hand, but the young candidate says she’s building an unmatched field program. Bousbar, who would be the first woman from Generation Z elected to Congress if successful in her bid, said in a press release that she has made more than 90,000 voter contacts through door-knocking, phone calls and texts, with more than 200 active campaign volunteers and 20 campaign fellows. “Our team is building a robust, unparalleled field program to reach voters in every corner of the district and communicate Sabrina’s future-focused message for our communities,” said Bousbar campaign advisor Adrienne Bogen.

Carmen Torres picks up Maxwell Frost endorsement in SD 25 — Democratic U.S. Rep. Frost has endorsed Torres in the race for Senate District 25. “Carmen Torres has dedicated her life to championing the rights of women, migrants, minorities, and working families,” Frost said in a news release. “Her representation is crucial and truly mirrors the diverse community we have. … Carmen’s deep commitment and lived experience will make her a strong advocate for this district in Tallahassee. I urge all Democrats to support her in the upcoming August 20 primary election.” Torres, a community leader and wife to exiting Sen. Victor Torres, is one of three Democrats running in the Central Florida district.

—2024 — DOWN-BALLOT 2 —

FMA PAC endorses Keith Truenow for SD 13 — The Florida Medical Association PAC is backing Republican Rep. Truenow’s bid for Senate District 13. “The FMA PAC is honored to endorse State Rep. Keith Truenow for Senate District 13. He has served central Florida citizens well during his time in the House. We look forward to continuing our work with him in the Senate to improve health care for all Floridians,” said FMA PAC President Charles Chase. Truenow first won election to the House in 2020. He’s running to succeed Sen. Dennis Baxley, a Lake County Republican who cannot run again because of term limits. SD 13 includes Lake County and part of Orange County.

Spotted at a fundraiser for Sen. Nick DiCeglie at the Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets game at Citi Field: Paul Handerhan, Jeff Johnston, Natalie Kato, Ron LaFace, Joseph Salzburg, Stephanie Smith, Monte Stephens, Amanda Stewart, and Alan Suskey.

— STATEWIDE —

“Ron DeSantis awards $25,000 to $50,000 grants to Florida churches” via CBS Miami — DeSantis awarded grants to several churches across the Sunshine State through the “Hope Florida” initiative. The awards were given to churches that demonstrated extensive work in their communities especially when helping families from falling into crisis. “We’re enabling churches to compete to meet the needs of Floridians through CarePortal,” DeSantis said. “The government should incentivize charity and philanthropy, not supplant it. Hope Florida brings together private, nonprofit, and faith actors to serve others, and enables government to get out of the way for the good of our citizens.” Thirteen churches were awarded contributions from $25,000 to $50,000, including churches here in South Florida.

“DeSantis supports term limits — but for members of Congress, not Supreme Court justices” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix — DeSantis says that while he doesn’t think much about the Biden-Harris administration’s proposal to reform the U.S. Supreme Court by imposing term limits of 18 years, he’d gladly accept that if Congress would also mandate term limits for itself. “If they’re willing to support term limits for members of Congress, that would be a trade that I would make,” he told reporters during a news conference in Tampa on Monday. The Phoenix followed up by asking the Governor whether he could support Congress imposing a mandatory age requirement for Supreme Court Justices, as is the law in Florida. “If you’re going to do it, do it for everybody in office,” he said. “If you want to do it to 75, just don’t apply it to justices, apply it to Congress. Apply it to the executive. If you’re going to do it, that would be one thing.”

“State moves quickly to settle Medicaid managed care legal challenges” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics — Florida Medicaid officials are moving quickly to try to resolve legal challenges to the state’s round of Medicaid managed care contracts that are worth billions. The Agency for Health Care Administration referred legal complaints filed by ImagineCare, AmeriHealth Caritas and Sentara to the state Division of Administrative Hearings on July 26, days before a statutory deadline to do so. A state administrative Judge has not been assigned to any of the cases. Florida administrative law requires that a hearing be held within 30 days, meaning that a trial must start by Aug. 26.

Dues deduction challenge gutted in court — U.S. District Judge Mark Walker has rejected major portions of a lawsuit challenging the 2023 law preventing government agencies from deducting union dues from paychecks. In an 80-page ruling, Walker said the plaintiff, the Public Employees Relations Commission, did not have legal standing to challenge two of the seven counts in the lawsuit while four others were granted summary judgment. Walker ruled that a trial should proceed on the seventh count, which asserts the dues deduction ban violates the Contracts Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

—D. C. MATTERS —

“Biden endorses Supreme Court reforms, amendment to limit immunity” via Tyler Pager and Ann E. Marimow of The Washington Post — Biden endorsed sweeping changes to the Supreme Court, calling for 18-year term limits for the justices and a binding, enforceable ethics code for the high court. He is also pushing for a constitutional amendment that would prohibit blanket immunity for Presidents, a rebuke of the Supreme Court after it ruled this month that Trump is broadly immune from prosecution for official acts. Biden has long resisted calls to reform the Supreme Court, and the announcement Monday marked a major shift in his posture toward one of America’s three branches of government. After the addition of three justices nominated by Trump, the court has veered sharply to the right — overturning Roe v. Wade, ending affirmative action in college admissions and weakening federal agencies’ power by overturning a 40-year decision. The conservative majority also invalidated Biden’s student-loan forgiveness program.

“Biden left Congress in dark on Supreme Court reforms” via Stephen Neukam and Andrew Solender of Axios — The White House didn’t consult Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin and other key congressional Democrats on Biden’s proposals to dramatically overhaul the Supreme Court. The lack of coordination with Capitol Hill signals that Biden’s SCOTUS proposals amount to more of a pre-election messaging push than a legislative imperative. The White House didn’t reach out to coordinate with Durbin or his committee about Biden’s proposals prior to Monday’s announcement. The omission is especially notable because the judiciary panel has spearheaded congressional efforts to overhaul how the court operates following recent ethics scandals.

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“Trial date set in criminal corruption case against suspended Miami Commissioner” via Joanne Haner of the Miami Herald — The criminal corruption case against suspended Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla is scheduled to go to trial in December. In a hearing, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Miguel M. de la O set the trial date for Dec. 2. Díaz de la Portilla was arrested September 14 on corruption charges, including money laundering and bribery. Lawyer and lobbyist William “Bill” Riley Jr. was also arrested and charged. They are suspected of laundering $245,000 in political contributions in exchange for the commissioner’s support of a plan to build a sports complex on city land. Both Díaz de la Portilla and Riley have pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.

“Fitting or chilling? Miami-Dade ethics panel issues first-ever fine for ‘frivolous’ complaint” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Some say it represents the first step toward stopping people from using the panel to generate negative headlines about political opponents. Others believe it will cast a chilling effect on people who would otherwise file valid complaints in the future. On July 10, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust ordered ethics and elections lawyer Juan-Carlos “J.C.” Planas, a Democratic candidate for Supervisor of Elections, to pay $5,675 to cover the legal fees of former Miami Beach City Commissioner Michael Góngora. Loressa Felix, General Counsel for the CEO, told Florida Politics the order marked “the first time that the Commission has awarded fees” since its founding in 1996.

“Bryan Paz-Hernandez in striking distance of Miami-Dade Commission incumbent” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — New internal polling by high school teacher Paz-Hernandez’s campaign for the Miami-Dade County Commission shows him neck-and-neck with the incumbent he hopes to unseat in three weeks. A phone survey conducted July 15-21 of 522 registered voters in District 11 found 29.5% plan to vote for Paz-Hernandez. Meanwhile, 31% sided with defending Commissioner Rob Gonzalez. That’s well within the poll’s 5.5-percentage-point margin of error. Notably, close to 38% of respondents said they were still undecided. Just over 1% said they’ll vote for Claudia Rainville.

“LGBTQ advocates activate GOTV effort to help Dems take back Broward Co. School Board” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Florida’s largest LGBTQ advocacy groups have launched a get-out-the-vote effort to help Democrats win back the Broward County School Board. Equality Florida Action PAC announced it will make three Broward County’s School Board races top priorities. The organization is endorsing District 3 incumbent Sarah Leonardi, as well as District 1 candidate Maura McCarthy Bulman and District 2 candidate Rebecca Thompson. The organization announced a Get-Out-The-Vote effort with SAVE (Safeguarding American Values for Everyone) and the Dolphin Democrats, South Florida’s largest LGBTQ advocacy groups. The joint endeavor will include phone banks, canvasses, text banks and online programming to mobilize nearly 155,000 Broward County voters.

“‘At a loss for words’: Families must move out as nearly 200 more condos are deemed unsafe” via Lisa J. Huriash and Juan Ortega of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Marliz Nevarez is racing against the clock to find a home she can afford for her and her two children, now frantically searching listings and calling real estate agents. She recently got the tough news: She’s among the scores of residents who must move out of their Heron Pond community in Pembroke Pines. The city deemed the entire complex unsafe and uninhabitable, saying it would close Aug. 29. “Everyone woke up to a notice on their door,” she said. “Everyone is in a frenzy.” Entire buildings, and isolated apartments within some buildings, have been steadily shut down since last Fall.

“Potential poop processing plant in Indiantown has some residents concerned about odor” via Keith Burbank of Treasure Coast Newspapers — Human waste from a large swath of South Florida is expected to come to Indiantown for processing, which has some residents wondering how the village will soon smell. Sedron Technologies is planning to build a plant on 6 acres at Southwest 169th and Southwest Railroad avenues in the Booker Park neighborhood. It may begin processing in the summer of 2026. The plant would be the first of its kind in the state. “This will help broaden our tax base,” said Councilwoman Janet Hernandez. Currently, Florida Power & Light Co. is the primary source of tax revenue for Indiantown. But residents have concerns about the potential smell from the plant, Hernandez said.

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Candidates for Orange County District 5 vary in support for rural protections” via Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel — The race for Orange County Commission District 5 is wide open, the only one of three Commission contests without an incumbent in the race. It offers voters four candidates of varying ideologies and sharply different backgrounds on the Aug. 20 Primary ballot to replace term-limited Emily Bonilla, the county board’s most combative advocates for controlling growth. Bonilla swept into office in an upset in 2016, besting an opponent who had supported two Lake Pickett mega-developments east of the Econ River. Development in rural east Orange remains a key issue in the district, which also includes Winter Park and Maitland. Commission races by charter rule are nonpartisan, meaning candidates won’t be identified on the ballot by party affiliation.

“4 Democrats vying to oversee Orange County elections” via Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel — For the first time in 28 years — or seven election cycles — Orange County Democrats won’t see Bill Cowles’ name on ballots. After the longtime Supervisor of Elections retired earlier this year, four Democrats have qualified to run in one of Florida’s blue bastions — with the winner likely to take office, as there’s no Republican in the field and one long shot candidate without a party affiliation awaiting the winner in November. The candidates in the Aug. 20 Primary are School Board member Karen Castor Dentel, lawyer Dan Helm, former Orange County Democratic Party Chair Wes Hodge and real estate broker Sunshine Linda-Marie Grund.

“2 lawyers face off in GOP State Attorney Primary as DeSantis’ actions make for unusual race” via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel — Two lawyers are facing off in the Republican primary for Central Florida’s top prosecutor, looking for a chance to challenge not only the Democratic candidate but also DeSantis’ hand-picked State Attorney. It’s an unusual political dynamic made possible by Andrew Bain’s decision to run as a no-party candidate for the job of Orange-Osceola State Attorney. DeSantis catapulted Bain to the post in August when he suspended Democrat Monique Worrell, who is running to regain her seat. Though DeSantis appointed Bain, two Republicans — Seth Hyman and Thomas Feiter — are also in the race. Hyman, 48, served as an Assistant State Attorney in Orange and Osceola from 2014 to 2017 and then launched his own firm. Hyman was fired from the State Attorney’s Office after his boss concluded he made “poor judgment decisions” as a prosecutor by withholding evidence that could potentially clear criminal defendants.

“Deltona City Commission District 2 up for grabs in August” via Colleen Michele Jones of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — It’s a big election year for the largest city in Volusia County, with four of seven Deltona City Commission spots up for grabs in August. In District 2, Troy Shimkus is the incumbent, having been appointed to the board in February to fill the seat of Anita Bradford who resigned for health reasons. Challengers are Emma Santiago, a former city employee, and Elizabeth Chavez, a newcomer to local politics. The News-Journal posed the following questions to each candidate with a request to limit responses to 100 words. Answers that exceeded the word limit were edited for space; otherwise, answers are presented as they were submitted, save for minor corrections to punctuation.

“Kissimmee’s growth a primary focus of race for City Commission Seat 1” via Natalia Jaramillo of the Orlando Sentinel — Three political newcomers are competing to end up as the new occupant of Kissimmee City Commission Seat 1, which is being vacated by Commissioner Olga Castano who wants to be the next Mayor. Mortgage broker and real estate agent Noel Ortiz is battling entrepreneur Jaime Reyes and restaurant owner Lisandra Roman in a race that centers on the city’s growth. Commissioners represent the city at large and can hold office for two consecutive four-year terms. Over the last decade, Kissimmee’s population has exploded and with it has come challenges candidates want to address as a Commissioner. In 2010, the city boasted a population of just over 59,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Judge strikes down Daytona Beach panhandling ordinance” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — A federal Judge knocked down a Daytona Beach panhandling ordinance, calling it unconstitutional. What happens next is a Sept. 16 trial to determine how much the city must pay in damages. When reached for comment, Daytona Beach spokeswoman Susan Cerbone said the City Commission plans to meet with its attorney on Aug. 7 to discuss its strategy for the city’s response to the Judge’s order. “In an effort to sidestep the First Amendment, Daytona Beach created an offensive legislative record that perpetuated harmful narratives about unhoused community members. Fortunately, its expensive and misguided efforts to unconstitutionally criminalize those in need who simply ask for help have failed,” said lead attorney Chelsea Dunn, Director of Southern Legal Counsel’s (SLC) Decriminalizing Poverty Project.

“Judge fights Ponce Inlet Town Hall and wins, says it should refund $500 fee to landlords” via Frank Fernandez of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — Circuit Judge Dennis Craig is undefeated against city regulators seeking to impose fines against him, this time notching his latest victory against the Ponce Inlet Code Enforcement Board. Craig, who defeated red-light camera citations in Palm Coast several years back, appeared before the Ponce Inlet Code Enforcement Board last week as a private citizen and landlord. He argued that a law passed last year took away municipalities’ power to charge landlords fees, like the $500 fee Ponce Inlet charges for a rental permit and inspection. “At this point, I think the town, to the extent that it’s null and void, ought to refund everybody the $500,” Craig said.

“Winter Haven contractor fined $161K by Department of Labor for exposing workers to potentially deadly falls” via McKenna Schueler of Orlando Weekly — For the second time in five years, the U.S. Department of Labor found that Carpenters Contractor of America in Winter Haven violated worker safety rules by failing to provide fall safety equipment for employees working on a roof. As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fining the contractor over $161,000 for their latest violation, which federal investigators found to be “willful” and therefore more serious than an accidental violation. The violation was identified through the federal inspection of a home construction site in Collier County. Federal investigators found a lack of fall protection equipment for three of the contractor’s workers, who were installing trusses and roof facial 32 feet off the ground on a job site in Ave Maria.

— LOCAL: TB —

“Police officers union backs pro-cop Ed Montanari in HD 60” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — The Suncoast Police Benevolent Association (PBA) is endorsing Republican Montanari in his race for House District 60 against incumbent Democrat Lindsay Cross. “I am immensely honored to have the support of the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association,” Montanari said. “Throughout my time on the St. Petersburg City Council, I have worked hand in hand with the Police Benevolent Association and all in the law enforcement community to support the brave officers who keep our city safe. They do tremendous work, and they deserve our unequivocal support. Our law enforcement officers can count on me to have their back in Tallahassee.”

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“Republicans look to shore up support among Black conservatives in Jacksonville” via Will Brown of Jax Today — A Black woman may be leading the presidential ticket of a major political party for the first time, but for Jacksonville’s Black conservatives, political values trump a candidate’s personal identity. The Coalition of Black Republican Americans held “faith, family and freedom forum” — three pillars of Black communities for decades — in Jacksonville’s San Jose area. More than 100 people gathered for the Republican Party of Duval County-affiliated event at the Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club to listen as former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, Jacksonville City Council members Terrance Freeman and Ken Amaro and former Congressman Allen West talked about political participation by Black conservatives.

“Jaguars, UF Health announce new partnership” via Cole Pepper of Florida Politics — The Jacksonville Jaguars and UF Health have announced a new four-year partnership, signaling a new hospital sponsor of the NFL team. Previously, Baptist Health was the Jaguars’ sole hospital partner. Both UF Health and Baptist will remain as Jaguars partners through the 2024 season. The new arrangement is a marketing partnership that will see Baptist shifting its Jaguars partnership to Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The deal with UF Health includes plans for brands to be “displayed prominently at Jaguars games at both domestic and international venues. UF and the Jaguars also will join forces on marketing campaigns that amplify their shared values,” according to a release.

“Escambia shells out $50K in legal expenses defending Elections Supervisor from lawsuit” via Mollye Barrows of the Pensacola News Journal — Escambia County is spending almost $50,000 for legal costs associated with defending Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender and his office against a lawsuit filed by attorney Bruce Childers who was disqualified from running against Bender for the position. Law and lobbying firm GrayRobinson submitted an invoice for $49,132.27 to the county to cover about 90 hours’ worth of work in handling the case and for representing Bender during a three-hour hearing. According to the invoice, the original bill would have been even higher, $57,759, but the firm gave the county a “discount” of $8,626.73. An invoice was also submitted by Anchor Court Reporting for $994.50 for expenses related to the case.

“St. Johns County preparing for population to double by 2050” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — One of the fastest growing counties in Florida and in the United States is going to be nearly doubling in population in the next quarter century. All Florida counties are required by the state to develop Comprehensive Plans to help guide development within the municipalities. But St. Johns has been experiencing massive growth and development this century, and county planners now project that the population in St. Johns could easily exceed 600,000 people by 2050. Workshops and public reviews of the Comprehensive Plan were organized by the St. Johns County Commission this month, allowing residents to get a grip on the possibility of a population explosion from the current number of about 361,000 to about 665,000 in 2050.

Jon McGowan snags JBA’s ‘Chairperson of the Year Award’ — The Jacksonville Bar Association recognized McGowan with its “Chairperson of the Year Award” in recognition for his work leading the association’s Government Relations Committee. The award was presented by 2023-24 JBA President Blane McCarthy. During his term as Chair, McGowan organized a “lunch & learn” series featuring elected and appointed officials discussing the interaction between the legal field and government. Speakers included Jacksonville City Council President Ron Salem; Rep. Wyman Duggan, Future House Speaker Sam Garrison, former Agriculture Commissioner and current FDP Chair Nikki Fried, former State Attorney Andrew Warren and U.S. Rep. John Rutherford. McGowan’s Jacksonville Beach-based practice focuses on transactional business law, administrative law, and government relations. He has been reappointed as Chair for the 2024-25 term and is seeking speakers for future “lunch & learn” sessions.

— LOCAL: SW FL —

“Public official Mike Moran spent $36K in taxpayers’ money on lavish travel, steak dinners, and booze” via Michael Barfield of the Florida Trident — Sarasota County Commission Chair Moran has slashed funding for early learning and child care programs, calling them “socialism.” Now running for county Tax Collector, his campaign emphasizes a focus on “making government accountable to the taxpayers.” But a ledger obtained by the Florida Trident through a public records request raises questions about Moran’s accountability. According to the records, Moran spent more than $36,000 of taxpayers’ money during a recent 18-month period on lavish trips to Las Vegas, New York City and California, indulging in expensive steakhouses, wine, and tequila shots. Moran amassed those travel expenses — which include multiple thousand-dollar-plus dinners — at his second publicly-financed job as Executive Director of the Florida PACE Funding Agency, known as FPFA.

“Candidate for Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board dies after battle with leukemia” via Earle Kimel of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Englewood resident John A. Lutz, a longtime advocate of patient care who filed in January as a Democrat seeking the at-large Seat 2 on the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, died July 24 at age 64, following a three-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The news of Lutz’s death was shared in an email by Sarasota County Democratic Party Chair Daniel Kuether. “John has become a friend to many of us over the last six months, and our hearts go out to his wife, Holly, and his family now,” Kuether wrote.

— TOP OPINION —

“My plan to reform the Supreme Court and ensure no President is above the law” via Joe Biden for The Washington Post — This nation was founded on a simple yet profound principle: No one is above the law. Not the President of the United States. Not a Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. No one.

But the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on July 1 to grant Presidents broad immunity from prosecution for crimes they commit in office means there are virtually no limits on what a President can do. The only limits will be those that are self-imposed by the person occupying the Oval Office.

If a future President incites a violent mob to storm the Capitol and stop the peaceful transfer of power — like we saw on Jan. 6, 2021 — there may be no legal consequences.

And that’s only the beginning.

What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms. We now stand in a breach.

That’s why — in the face of increasing threats to America’s democratic institutions — I am calling for three bold reforms to restore trust and accountability to the court and our democracy.

— OPINIONS —

“Kamala Harris and DEI” via Byron York of the Washington Examiner — A handful of Republicans have referred to Harris, now the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, as a “DEI hire.” They were essentially saying that Biden picked Harris to be his running mate in 2020 because she was a person of color. Democrats have, of course, pushed back, calling the phrase “extremely offensive and dehumanizing,” in the words of former U.N. Ambassador and Obama and Biden White House insider Susan Rice. Some Republicans, such as former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, pushed back, too, calling the accusation “totally stupid and dumb.” The issue goes back to the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary.

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

“Gas prices fall after big dip in oil prices” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Gas prices in Florida jumped and then fell last week before settling 3 cents higher than the week prior, following a sizable drop in oil prices over the same stretch. The state average rose 11 cents early last week, reaching $3.55 per gallon. By Sunday, the state average dropped to $3.40 per gallon, 3 cents more than the previous Sunday. On Monday morning, the per-gallon average fell two more cents to $3.38. AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said in a statement that the downturn could keep going. “Recent fuel reports show China’s crude oil imports are declining,” he said. “This (has) driven prices lower, on concerns that global fuel demand is softening.”

“Disney welcomes foursome of zebra foals this Summer” via Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel — There has been a baby zebra boom at Walt Disney World lately. Four foals were born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and Animal Kingdom lodge in June and July. This set of Hartmann’s mountain zebras will eventually be seen by the public on the theme park and resort savannah. On June 13, Penne, a female foal was born to mother Heidi. She weighed in at nearly 100 pounds at birth, Disney says. Heidi’s first offspring was Asha, born at DAK in 2020. In July, Asha gave birth to a boy, creating a three-generation family seen on the savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

— OLYMPICS —

“Paris Olympics organizers sorry for Last Supper at Opening Ceremonies” via Anika Arora Seth of The Washington Post — Organizers of the Paris Olympics apologized on Sunday for a performance during Friday’s Opening Ceremonies that featured an apparent reenactment of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” amid mixed messages about the piece’s intent. The tableau included a woman with a halo-like crown in the role of Jesus as well as drag queens and gay icons as disciples; it was crashed by a scantily clad blue man wearing a headdress of fruit — Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility, wine and revelry. Church leaders and some conservative politicians condemned the performance as a perversion of the scene, recounted in the Bible, on the eve of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.

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Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.