Democrats’ Chief Financial Officer Candidate Out After Bankruptcies Emerge
August 20, 2013
Allie Braswell, who last week was rolled out as the Democrats’ first high-profile challenger for a state Cabinet post, ended his campaign Monday following revelations that he had filed for bankruptcy three times, most recently in 2008.
Braswell, 51, the head of the Central Florida Urban League, apologized to supporters while taking full responsibility for his actions in a release that announced his departure from the 2014 campaign for Florida’s chief financial officer.
“The bright spotlight of a statewide campaign has cast the ups and downs of my life into harsh relief, and I now know that this campaign is not the way I was meant to serve my community,” Braswell said in the release. “Running statewide is a daunting challenge for any candidate; as a political outsider, I have now learned that I underestimated how my campaign would affect those I care about most.”
On Friday, a day after Braswell opened his campaign, The Florida Times-Union reported that Braswell had filed for bankruptcy in Orlando in 2008, after having done so twice in South Carolina in the 1990s.
Joshua Karp, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, said Monday that while Braswell is a self-made man, he was “not ready for the rigors of a statewide campaign, and that was plain.”
Steve Schale, a Democratic political consultant, wrote on Twitter that Braswell made the right decision.
“Braswell had an immense mountain to climb if he ran perfect campaign,” Schale tweeted. “After that first day, he was done. Smart to get out now.”
Braswell’s sudden departure leaves the Democrats once again without a highly recognizable name for a Cabinet post in 2014.
Karp expects that will change, but he wouldn’t say if the party had anyone lined up for the CFO slot.
“In the course of a long campaign cycle, with a lot of statewide offices, I think you’ll see any number of people consider it,” Karp said.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi make up an all-GOP Cabinet and plan to run for re-election. Each won by at least 13 percentage points in 2010.
Atwater has already raised $195,125 in cash for his re-election bid and received $366,651 in in-kind contributions, state elections records show.
Last Thursday, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant praised Braswell as “exactly the kind of leader we need in Tallahassee.”
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry used Braswell’s departure as a chance to take a shot at his Democratic counterpart.
“Allie Braswell had better sense to drop out than Allison Tant did to endorse him,” Curry said in a statement. “To back a candidate in charge of Florida’s finances without vetting that candidate’s handling of his personal finances shows either a high level of incompetence or a new level of desperation for Allison Tant.”
Karp declined to discuss party candidate vetting.
Democrat Thaddeus “Thad” Hamilton also has filed to run for agriculture commissioner. Hamilton drew 2 percent of the vote for that office as a non-partisan candidate four years ago.
According to the Times-Union, Braswell said the first bankruptcy filing in South Carolina was dismissed because of a mistake, leading to the second. Braswell said he “used bankruptcy as way to responsibly pay my debt” and that his financial problems would allow him to empathize with voters.
“Honestly, my story is of a regular guy,” Braswell told the Times-Union. “I’ve felt the pain that a lot of people feel.”
Braswell, who spent 13 years in the Marine Corps and whose career after the military included time as a technology executive with Disney, said when he entered the race that he would focus on foreclosures and property-insurance rates. He touted his ability to cut a $14 million budget he oversaw at Disney to $11 million without cutting jobs.
In his withdrawal statement, Braswell pointed to his experiences, including his personal financial struggles, for what made him want to run for the statewide office in 2014.
“At the Urban League, I work every day with people who are struggling to make it,” Braswell said. “As I have experienced struggles in my life, so many people are struggling, and that is what inspired me to run for Florida’s chief financial officer — to be a champion, standing up for the poor and middle class.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Donald Elburn Morris
August 20, 2013
Mr. Donald Elburn Morris, age 59 of Brewton, died Sunday, August 11, 2013, in Biloxi, MS.
Mr. Morris was born in Mobile and had been a long time resident of Brewton. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, having served with the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Morris worked as a truck driver. He was of the Christian faith and was a member of the American Legion. Mr. Morris was preceded in death by his father, Mr. Marvin Raymond Morris and a brother, Mr. Marvin Stanley Morris.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Hazel P. Morris of Brewton; nephews, Daniel Morris of Gatlinburg, TN, and Raymond (Rachel) Morris of Fife Lake, MI; nieces, Gina Welch of Cantonment, and Angela Nicole Grantham of Axis, AL; four great-nephews; and special friends, Jane Middleton of Kinmundy, IL and Robin Delph of Maple, NC.
Funeral services were held on Friday, August 16, 2013 from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Phillip Pettis and Rev. Barbara Pugh officiating.
Interment, with military honors, was at Green Acres Memorial Gardens.
Wesley Nelson
August 20, 2013
Wesley Nelson, 91, of Pensacola, died Tuesday, August 13, 2013. Wesley was born September 13, 1921, in Brewton, and was a retired truck driver and former produce worker.
Wesley is survived by his children, Raymond J. Nelson, Sr. (Nell), Wesley Henry Nelson (Cindy), Joseph F. Nelson, Sr. (Marie), Carl Eugene Nelson (Pat), Shirley Ann Phillips (Gene) and Mary Delores Adkisson (Robert); numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Joseph Nelson, Jr., James R. Nelson, Charles Nelson, John Godwin, Luther E. Godwin and Henry Joseph Godwin.
Funeral services were held Friday, August 16, 2013, at Faith Chapel North with Rev. Donald Leavins officiating.
Interment was at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Pensacola State College Theatre Technician Missing
August 19, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s investigators are attempting to locate a missing Pensacola State College theatre technician last seen leaving work a week ago.
Tiffany Heaven Daniels, 25, of Pensacola, has not been seen since August 12 at 5 p.m. when she left PSC. She is 5-foot, 7-inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was driving a gray 1999 Toyota 4-Runner.
Friends and family said her vehicle, bike and cell phone were found on Pensacola Beach Tuesday in the Park West parking lot. Volunteers spent the day scouring the beach and passing out flyers while looking for information about Daniels’ whereabouts.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Rainy Back To School Forecast
August 19, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Thomas: New School Year Brings Focus On Improvement
August 19, 2013
As about 40,000 students head back to school today in Escambia County, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says the district is ready for a successful school year.
“We are looking for new ways to engage students,” he said, “and teachers are working every hard toward that goal.”
Following last year, when a majority of Escambia schools dropped one letter on their school grade, Thomas said the focus will be academic improvement.
One simple target will be tardiness. If a student misses the first 30 minutes every day, the superintendent said, that amounts a significant amount of class time over the course of a week or a month. Part of that focus will be geared toward parental responsibility.
“We are also going to bring back a better focus on attendance,” Thomas said, “especially at the elementary level.” Awards will return for monthly perfect attendance to encourage other students to attend school everyday.”
Thomas said statistics show the majority of students in Escambia County with low standardized test scores miss more than 15 days per year.
“We are going to have a clear focus on incentives to improve,” Thomas said. “And we are going to have a great school year.”
Printable: 2013-14 School Year Calendars
August 19, 2013
Monday was the first day of the 2013-2014 school year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, and Escambia County, Alabama.
For a printable school calendar for the entire year, select a public school district below.
The next holiday and day out of school for students in all three districts is Labor Day on Monday, September 2.
Pauline Street Crossing Closing For Repairs
August 19, 2013
Pauline Street in Cantonment will be closed from Old Chemstrand Road to East Kingsfield Road fromt 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 20, to Friday, August 23, at 4:30 p.m.
Crews will work to repair the railroad crossing during this time and construction work could be delayed or rescheduled due to inclement weather. Drivers are urged to obey posted signs and use caution when traveling through the area.
Northview Mini, Junior Dance Team Clinics Planned
August 19, 2013
The Northview High School Dance Team will hold dance team clinics for elementary and middle school girls.
The Mini Dance Team clinic is for elementary school students, grades K-5. And the Junior Dance Team Clinic is for middle schoolers in grades 6-8.
The clinics will be held Saturday, August 24 from 9 a.m. until noon in the school gym. A practice may also be held on Wednesday, August 28 from 4-5 p.m. on the track in the Northview stadium. The performance will be at the Northview Chiefs home football game on Friday, August 30.
Registration forms will be sent home from area schools and select private dance classes. Or, click here to download and print a registration form.
The clinic price is $30, including a t-shirt and snack.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Don’t Want A $456 Ticket? Slow Down In School Zones
August 19, 2013
Zoom through the Ernest Ward Middle or Molino Park Elementary school zone at 45 mph and it will cost you … $456 to be exact. Make it 50 miles an hour, and you’ll be talking to a judge.
It’s back to school week in Escambia County, and that means slowing down in school zones. And whether it is Ernest Ward, Molino Park or one of dozens of other schools, law enforcement will be out in force enforcing school zone speed limits. Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS will also be in several school zones in an attempt to slow drivers down.
If you are caught speeding in a school zone, be prepared for a big hit on your wallet, not mention your vehicle insurance rates.
Here is a list of fines if motorists are caught speeding in school zones in Escambia County:
- 1 – 9 mph over the speed limit: $156.
- 10 – 14 mph over the speed limit: $306.
- 15 to 19 mph over the speed limit: $406.
- 20 – 29 mph over the speed limit: $456.
- 30 plus mph over the speed limit: Mandatory court appearance.
And if you fail to stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading students, that a $271 fine.
Pictured: An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy makes a traffic stop near Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill after the driver was clocked speeding in the school zone. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.