Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: It’s Fall, But The Politics Are Only Getting Hotter
September 28, 2014
Summer officially ended Monday, and the temperature seemed to drop in Tallahassee. It wasn’t cool, per se, but at least going outside wasn’t walking into a skin-melting blast furnace.
But even as the weather cooled, two long-running dramas heated up. At Florida State University, a controversial and at times bumbling presidential search finally settled on the man many assumed would get the job all along: Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine.
And in the governor’s race, supporters of incumbent Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic candidate Charlie Crist traded charges of dirty tricks in one of the nation’s most closely-watched contests. Crist’s campaign and its Democratic allies slammed the Republican Party of Florida for allegedly spying on a fundraiser, while Scott and the state GOP accused Democratic National Committee Chairwoman and Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of crossing the line with comments that seemed to compare Republican policies to domestic abuse.
Neither story is likely to die down anytime soon. Thrasher is still technically running for re-election — his appointment doesn’t become official until it’s approved by the state university system’s Board of Governors — and the election that will end the governor’s race remains more than a month away.
PRESIDENT THRASHER (FINALLY)
In 2012, Thrasher, a former House speaker, took part in what amounted to a palace coup that would have moved up his potential presidency of the Senate. The effort failed, though, and Thrasher faced the prospect of serving out the last four years of his tenure with little to no chance of leading the chamber.
But the influential senator will still get the title of president, this time as the head of his alma mater. The Florida State University Board of Trustees voted 11-2 on Tuesday to give the job to Thrasher, who had long been seen as the front-runner for the position. In addition to the perks of the job — like free admission to football games played by his beloved Seminoles — Thrasher now faces the challenge of moving the institution forward while winning the support of large portions of the faculty and student body who opposed him.
“This is the scary choice, not the safe choice,” Faculty Senate President Gary Tyson, who sits on the board, told his fellow trustees Tuesday.
Others also expressed concerns that Thrasher wouldn’t live up to the expectations that he could increase the Legislature’s support for the school or that his political fundraising skills wouldn’t translate to the need to raise money for academia. One opponent called the search process “sketchy,” one labeled Thrasher an “overlord,” another said the trustees were announcing support for athletics over academics, and one even threatened, “We will make John Thrasher’s life here at Florida State a living hell.”
Thrasher stayed away from any premature celebrations, given that the Board of Governors has to approve his candidacy — though that is largely expected to be a formality. He was also beginning to reach out to those who opposed him or ran against him for the presidency, from Tyson to FSU Provost Garnett Stokes, who has served as interim president.
EXIT FROM POLITICS
Following the suggestion of trustees, Thrasher resigned Wednesday from his role as chairman of Scott’s re-election effort. But he declined to give up his own bid for another term in the Senate, pointing to the fact that he wasn’t officially the president of FSU yet.
The decision also avoids a process that would allow local Republican leaders to choose a replacement candidate for Thrasher, as would have been the case if Thrasher stepped down immediately. Instead, a special election will be held next year to fill the seat, assuming Thrasher wins in November.
“I think I probably ought to prevail in the (November) campaign, and then if I’m successful the day after with the Board of Governors, then I can submit my resignation and allow the governor to call a special election,” Thrasher said. “That way the person, whoever it is, can be vetted by the voters. This is for a four-year term in the Florida Senate. It’s a big deal in my opinion.”
In the opinion of a few House members as well, who will be able to run in the special election but wouldn’t have been eligible under state law to run for the Senate seat in November if Thrasher had left right away.
Some legislators are already saying they would be interested in running in a special election.
“If that happens, I would certainly be considering it strongly,” said Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart, a three-term Republican from Ponte Vedra Beach.
Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, said he would also take a look at running.
“I would like to get with my community and make sure it’s the right thing,” said Hutson, a House freshman unopposed in his bid for re-election.
And Derek Hankerson, who drew a little less than 30 percent of the vote against Thrasher in this year’s Republican primary, said he would jump into the race as well. Hankerson filed paperwork this week to set up a campaign for the 2018 elections, which could be converted to an account for the special election once it’s announced.
‘NIXONIAN’ VS. ‘WILDLY INSULTING’
There have been times that it seemed unlikely that the race between Scott and Crist could get any nastier — but both campaigns seem to view that kind of thinking as a challenge.
This week, things took another step down and into some bizarre territory. Democrats accused GOP staffers of filming people who arrived at a fundraiser for Crist held at Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant’s home. The allegations, reported by the Associated Press, also included charges that Republicans had taken pictures of the license plates of those in attendance.
It’s not entirely clear what Republicans were hoping to accomplish, given that a list of everyone who contributes to Crist’s campaign is a regularly updated public record.
In a media availability Friday, Tant ripped into the GOP over the incident, calling it “Nixonian” and “Orwellian” and using other, only slightly less colorful adjectives.
“In America, we get to take a stand — with our voices, with our presence and with our dollars — for whom we choose to support without any kind of dictatorial backlash for doing that,” Tant said.
Coincidentally or not (read: probably not), footage soon emerged on the political blog of the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald showing Wasserman Schultz saying that Scott “has given us the back of his hand.” The remarks, made about a month ago, bore a striking resemblance to Wasserman Schultz’s complaint about Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, though in that case she said Walker “has given women the back of his hand.”
Wasserman Schultz apologized for the earlier incident. Asked during her Friday availability about the remarks regarding Scott, Tant said she agreed with Wasserman Schultz’s earlier comments during the Walker brouhaha that the national chairwoman wouldn’t use those words again.
Tant addressed the comments a few minutes after her counterpart, Republican Party of Florida Chairwoman Leslie Dougher, called for Tant and Crist to condemn Wasserman Schultz’s “wildly insulting” statement.
“Her comments are especially heartless because Rick Scott’s mother was going through a divorce from an abusive husband when the governor was born. … To suggest that Rick Scott gives women the ‘back of his hand’ not only grossly mischaracterizes the governor, it treats actual domestic violence victims as pawns in a political game,” Dougher said in a statement issued Friday.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, was selected by the Florida State University Board of Trustees to become the school’s next president, all but assuring that he will get the job.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Mr. Scott and Mr. Crist are both looked at, meehhhh, by voters in a less than complimentary way.”– Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, on a survey showing low personal marks for both major-party candidates for governor.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Friends Of The Library Fall Book Sale Continues Sunday
September 27, 2014
The Friends of West Florida Public Library Big Fall Book Sale and Silent Auction continues today at the downtown Main Library at 239 North Spring Street. Thousands of hardcover, paperback, and collectible books are available for purchase, plus a variety of DVDs, CDs, puzzles, and other items. Proceeds are used to fund programs and enhancements at WFPL branches.
Sunday is the final day of the Book Sale, with free admission and the popular $5 Bag Sale from noon to 3pm.
Book Sale items include thousands of generous donations from the public and some library books retired from circulation, many of them now out-of-print. Novels and mysteries are sorted by author or into genres like Science Fiction and Westerns. Other book categories include arts and entertainment, children’s, cookbooks, history, holidays, home and hobbies, literature, foreign language, military, modern living, nature and gardening, religion, science, sports, technical, and travel.
The Collector’s Corner will feature an assortment of signed books, pre-1950s books, books by local and Florida authors, and other special books that are great for gifts. These items are priced as marked and must be checked out separately, so shoppers paying by check should bring two of them.
Payment by cash or check is preferred. Credit cards are accepted for sales of $20 or more. All profits are used to support the West Florida Public Library branches and programs.
Four Injured In Highway 29 Crash In Molino
September 27, 2014
Four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Highway 29 in Molino.
The wreck happened about 3:40 p.m. on Highway 29 just north of Molino Road when two northbound vehicles collided. None of the injuries were considered serious. Three people were transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital, and one was transported to West Florida Hospital.
The resulting crash closed northbound Highway 29 for about an hour as traffic was diverted onto Molino Road and Highway 95A.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including names, have not yet been released.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Suspicious Vehicle Fire Under Investigation
September 27, 2014
A suspicious vehicle fire early Saturday morning in Molino is under investigation.
A nearby resident noticed smoke about 2 a.m. from the burned out vehicle on Fairground Road. Arriving firefighters reported the vehicle was on the roadway and had previously been fully involved.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded. Further details were not available.
FEMA Set To Pay Escambia County About $10 Million For Flood Damage
September 27, 2014
The numbers are in from the federal government on the April floods and how much they are willing to pay local governments for repairs to public infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
FEMA and the State Division of Emergency Management have been conducting evaluations to determine just how much damage was caused the floodwaters. The Division of Emergency Management issued a report with a preliminary estimate of how much money counties across the panhandle might receive.
Local governments are required to provide a 25 percent match.
The FEMA allocation for Escambia County comes in at $9,965,177.53 with a local match of $3,321,725.84 required. The federal allocation for Santa Rosa County is $2,195,342.63 with a non-federal local match of $765,342.63 required.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted file photo.
Rain Becoming Likely
September 27, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 85. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 70. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 81. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Calm wind.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Thursday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
FHP Targeting I-10 This Weekend
September 27, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting an intensified enforcement effort through Sunday on I-10 in an effort to bring awareness to the importance of seat belts and keeping the interstate safe and fatality-free.
The FHP will conduct special details on I-10 increasing awareness of seat belt and car seat laws. In 2012, seat belts saved more than 12,000 lives nationwide. In addition, troopers will be checking for distracted driving, aggressive driving, improper lane changes and commercial vehicle safety.
Florida law requires the use of seat belts by motor vehicle drivers, all passengers in the front seat, and all children under the age of 18 riding in a vehicle.
The FHP offers the following safety tips:
- Buckle Up. A seatbelt is your vehicle’s most important safety feature.
- Use a car seat for children age 3 and under for every trip, even if you are just going down the street.
- Make sure all car and booster seats you use are crash-tested and federally approved.
- Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and always follow the installation instructions from the manufacturer and in your vehicle manual.
- Keep children in the back seat, at least through age 12. When used with seat belts, air bags work well to protect teenagers and adults. However, air bags can be very dangerous to children.
- Soon-to-be parents should buy and install their infant car seat before the child is born.
- Replace a car seat if the vehicle has been in a moderate to severe crash to ensure a continued high level of protection.
- Effective January 1, 2015, a booster seat, a car seat, or an integrated child seat will be required for children who are 4 and 5 years of age.
FHP reminds motorists they can report an aggressive or impaired driver, or request roadside assistance at any time by dialing *FHP (*347) from their cell phone.
Tate Bounces Back For OT Win Over Pine Forest (With Photo Gallery)
September 27, 2014
Tate Aggie fans that left Pine Forest High early Friday night really missed out.
Down 26-12 with six minutes to go in the game, the Aggies rallied for a nail-biting 33-32 overtime win over the Pine Forest Eagles.
Running back Alondo Thompkins, a junior, scored a couple of touchdowns — six and five yards — late in the game for the tie. He also earned the OT points for the Aggies, in from 10 yards out. Chase Seibert was 3-3 on the accompanying extra point kicks.
The Aggies overtime win came as Pine Forest scored, went for two and fumbled the snap.
Earlier in the game, Tate scored in the first on a nine-yard pass from Sawyer Smith to Bradley Trambley and a good kick from Seibert for a 7-0 lead. Moments later, the Aggies added a couple on a forced safety.
The Aggies were scoreless in the second and had the only points of the third quarter on a 33-yard field goal from Seibert.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The win over Pine Forest was the second in a row for Tate, which snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Eagles last year.
Tate (4-1) will travel to Niceville next Friday night in their first district game of the season.
Fire Marshal: Lamp Sparked Apartment Fire; Multiple Units Condemned
September 27, 2014
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office says a lamp in an upstairs apartment sparked a blaze Wednesday at the Briarwood Condominiums on East Olive Road.
Now, eight units have been condemned as a result of the blaze, forcing people to find a new place to live. And there are no other available units in the complex.
There were no injuries in the blaze.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Falls To Choctaw
September 27, 2014
The 1A Northview Chiefs stepped up multiple classes Friday night to take on the Class 6A Choctaw Indians on the road. And the Chiefs lost again this year by the same 35 point margin as last year.
The Indians topped the Chiefs 42-7 in Fort Walton Beach Friday night after shutting them out 35-0 last year in Bratt.
Choctaw took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. Early in second, Northview quarterback Gavin Grant found Nick Lambert for a 54-yard touchdown to make it 13-7. The Northview defense held the Indians scoreless in the second. After an 80-yard drive from their own nine-yard line, the Chiefs’ Chasen Freeman attempted but missed a 28-yard field goal with less than two seconds in the half.
The Indians scored an unanswered 29 points in the second half for the win. Choctaw held Northview to 183 yards, 81 rushing, on the night.
Northview, ranked third in Class 1A, was 3-0 headed into Friday night’s contest. Now 3-1, the Chiefs (3-1) will be back in Bratt next Friday night for Homecoming as they host the Jay Royals (2-2) in the district opener for both teams. Jay is coming off a 54-14 win Friday night over a visiting McIntosh, AL, team.