Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Thank Goodness For Friday
August 3, 2014
It looked like one of those lazy, hazy midsummer weeks in Tallahassee, when the news cycle joins the residents of the capital city in being stifled by the heat.
The biggest news was — what? The first of many campaign promises that former Gov. Charlie Crist will make as he tries to reclaim his old job? Incumbent Gov. Rick Scott’s inquiries into the traveling habits of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s board members?
Then came Friday.
That’s when Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis ordered the Legislature to draw new congressional districts by Aug. 15, something that will probably require lawmakers to return to the Capitol for a special session. And there are few things lawmakers would like to do less in the middle of campaign season than go to Tallahassee.
Add to that the latest fuel in the always-burning fire between Scott’s office and the Obama Administration and a hearing on how the state should regulate a limited form of medical marijuana, and Friday proved to be a bit of a boost to an otherwise lackluster week.
A CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA?
The last 15 years would seem to prove that Florida doesn’t need anything too complicated to produce a bit of election chaos. A close presidential election or unexpected surge of voters is enough to do the trick.
But Lewis looks to be on the edge of turning the state’s electoral checkers into three-dimensional chess, raising the prospect of a special election that would affect some (but not all) of Florida’s congressional districts. The special election could be announced less than week before the date of the Aug. 26 primary elections.
In addition to telling lawmakers Friday to come up with a new congressional map after he earlier declared two of the districts unconstitutional, Lewis ordered Secretary of State Ken Detzner and local elections supervisors to propose a new voting schedule for any districts that lawmakers would have to redraw.
Lewis didn’t actually order a new election for the seats, and might not until after Aug. 20, when he could hear oral arguments if they are needed.
“It is necessary to get a revised map in place and for me to consider additional evidence as to the legal and logistical obstacles to holding delayed elections for affected districts in 2014,” Lewis wrote. “Time is of the essence.”
Legislators running for office could say the same, given that they need all the time they can get to raise money, and soliciting campaign cash during a session is banned. And that doesn’t even get into the logistical gymnastics that local supervisors say would be required to pull off another election.
Still, the League of Women Voters of Florida, part of a group of organizations and voters that challenged the map, praised Lewis’ ruling.
“This is a champagne moment for Florida voters, who have waited too long for fairly drawn congressional districts,” Deirdre Macnab, the group’s president, said in a statement issued after the ruling. ” … We believe that the restoration of legitimate, representative democracy is well worth one extra trip to the polls.”
Some elections officials were more worried about what might happen to absentee ballots that have already been cast and early votes that will be submitted before and even during the arguments before Lewis.
“It would cause massive voter confusion, and that’s not fair to voters,” said Brian Corley, the supervisor of elections in Pasco County.
Lewis’ decision wasn’t the only election-related kerfuffle making headlines Friday. Scott’s office and campaign slammed as “blatantly political” a letter from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announcing that the Justice Department is monitoring changes to Florida’s election laws.
Scott’s campaign manager Melissa Sellers, in a statement, said the White House is trying to bolster the efforts of Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.
“Attorney General Eric Holder’s letter is just more politics from President Obama — as the White House desperately tries to prop up the sagging campaign of their candidate, Charlie Crist,” Sellers said in her statement. “It isn’t surprising that the same president who used the IRS to persecute his political opponents is now using his attorney general to try the same tactic.”
FLORIDA GOING GREEN?
Like a gateway drug that leads to harder stuff, it seems that the Legislature’s decision to allow limited forms of medical marijuana is merely a precursor to more widespread pharmacological uses of the green, leafy substance.
But first, the state has to set up rules for a form of marijuana that purportedly doesn’t get users high but can dramatically reduce or eliminate life-threatening seizures for children with a rare form of epilepsy. Lawmakers approved that form this spring, as a proposed constitutional amendment looms on the November ballot that could lead to legalizing more-traditional pot for medical purposes.
The Department of Health held a workshop on a draft rule Friday as it races to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement the new law. Prospective pot business owners are griping about being forced to haul their product across the state instead of being able to sell it at multiple storefronts as part of the draft regulations for the new industry.
Also at the top of the list of complaints: health officials’ plan to use a lottery system to pick who will be granted one of five highly sought-after licenses to grow, process and distribute the low-THC cannabis.
Lawyers for Costa Farms, one of the state’s biggest nurseries, implied that the rule might be challenged if the lottery provision is not dropped. Health officials have indicated they want to keep the lottery system intact, in part to avoid drawn-out legal fights.
Department of Health General Counsel Jennifer Tschetter said the draft rule includes a “heightened standard with qualitative analysis, but ultimately a lottery” would remain in the final proposal.
“Our goal is to get this product to patients as soon as possible,” she said. “We want to get a rule in place that can be in effect 20 days after it’s adopted.”
The hearing came just a few days after a new poll found that almost 90 percent of Florida voters want doctors to be able to order marijuana for patients.
Young and old Floridians overwhelmingly support letting sick patients get high for medical reasons, according to the poll, but getting voters to put medical marijuana into the state constitution is still not a guarantee.
The poll by Quinnipiac University, released Monday, found that 88 percent of Florida voters — including 83 percent of voters age 65 and older and 95 percent of those between 18 and 29 — approve of medical marijuana
But even supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment acknowledged that the poll results may overestimate Floridians’ support.
“The poll is just another demonstration that support for this is broad,” said Ben Pollara, executive director of United We Care, the group responsible for getting the proposal on the November ballot and working to get it passed.
But critics of the proposal, who’ve pumped at least $3 million into efforts to kill it and are prepared to spend more, blasted the semantics of the poll, as well as its findings. The proposal that will appear before voters in November, bankrolled by Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, would allow doctors to decide whether patients who have debilitating medical conditions could receive medical marijuana. Doctors could not “prescribe” the substance, which would be distributed by state-licensed operators.
“This poll has been, and continues to be, a complete outlier in support of medical marijuana because it asks a question that won’t be on the ballot. Amendment 2 doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription,” said Sarah Bascom, spokeswoman for the “Vote No on 2″ campaign.
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?
In one of Scott’s few activities this week not connected to his campaign — at least not on the surface — the governor’s office indicated it wants the head of state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to explain why Scott’s requested ban on foreign travel hasn’t been followed.
Karl Rasmussen, Scott’s director of Cabinet affairs, sent a sharply worded letter Thursday to Citizens President Barry Gilway advising him to attend the Aug. 19 Cabinet meeting to discuss why Citizens board members continue to take international business trips.
“Gov. Scott previously called on Citizens board members to change their travel policy so it prohibited international travel and permitted only essential employees to attend board meetings,” Rasmussen wrote. “Recent media stories report that not only have these requests been rebuffed, but Citizens board members have continued international travel, sometimes at excessive costs to state taxpayers.”
The Palm Beach Post reported Sunday that Citizens Chairman Chris Gardner was given approval to spend two nights in a $425-per night resort in Bermuda in April.
Gardner was working on a multimillion-dollar reinsurance issue for Citizens. The hotel rate exceeded Citizens’ $373-per night cap on Bermuda travel.
Gardner repaid the difference in May after the Post asked for the travel records.
Gilway, who said this week only that he would attend the Cabinet meeting, has previously defended some of the travel, noting that international travel sometimes comes with high costs that are hard to avoid.
STORY OF THE WEEK: A Leon County judge orders the Legislature to redraw congressional districts by Aug. 15, a requirement that will likely lead to a special session.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It sounds a little cozy to be staying at your daughter’s apartment.”—George Collins, an Orlando Republican and tea party member challenging Rep. Tom Goodson, R-Titusville, on questions about the incumbent’s residency.
Back To School Sale Tax Holiday Info; School Supply Lists
August 3, 2014
School starts Monday, August 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
CLICK HERE for printable school supply lists from each elementary school and middle school in Escambia County, plus the North Escambia area schools in Santa Rosa County and Escambia County, AL.
CLICK HERE for weekend school supply sales tax information for both Florida and Alabama.
McDavid ‘Sew N So’ Club Honored With State Association Award
August 3, 2014
The McDavid “Sew N So” Club has won the Florida Health Care Activity Coordinators Association 2014 Community Involvement Award. The club provides residents at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center with handmade wheelchair caddies, pillows, lap robes and activity pillows. They also assist with special occasions. The award was presented recently in Daytona Beach to club member Hilda Malone. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shriners Hospital To Provide Free Medical Screenings
August 3, 2014
On August 5, medical staff from Shriners Hospitals for Children – Galveston will host a free screening clinic for children up to age 18 in Mobile.
The pediatric burn care center is internationally recognized for acute burn care and reconstructive surgery, but the hospital also provides expert care conditions that include pressure ulcers, infected wounds, amputations, microtia deformities, craniofacial deformities, hemangiomas, port wine stains, hairy nevus, soft tissue infections, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa and necrotizing fasciitis.
All care and services at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Galveston are provided regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Additionally, local chapters of Shriners International in Mobile, Biloxi, and Pensacola provide transportation to and from the hospital and assist in offsetting transportation costs.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to visit with families from various communities across Alabama, Mississippi and Florida,” said Mary Jaco, hospital administrator. “Our goal is to identify children with specialty needs and ensure that they receive the care they need regardless of their families’ financial situation,” Jaco continued.
The free screening clinic will be hosted on Tuesday, August 5 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Mobile chapter of Shriners International at 7701 Hitt Road in Mobile
Showers, Thunderstorm Likely Today
August 3, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Monday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Monday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Wahoos Beat Smokies 2-1
August 3, 2014
Juan Duran homered in the seventh inning with two outs to break a 1-1 tie, and the Blue Wahoos bullpen held on for the 2-1 win at Smokies Park on Saturday night.
The Smokies got their lone run in the first, when Jon Moscot (W, 6-10) issued a bases-loaded walk to Christian Villanueva. Moscot went on to turn in a great start logging 6.0 innings with four walks and five strikeouts. He allowed just five hits on his way to his sixth win of the season.
Seth Mejias-Brean tripled home Pensacola’s first run in the fourth to tie the game at one. Smokies right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha over ran the line drive leading to the triple which scored Chris Berset from second base. In the seventh, Juan Duran worked the count full after falling behind 0-2 before launching the go-ahead and game-winning home run into the left field stands.
Fabian Williamson followed Moscot into the game with two scoreless innings before Shane Dyer (S, 14) pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Cubs top pitching prospect C.J. Edwards started for the Smokies, but was limited to just 3.1 innings before reaching his pitch limit. He allowed just 1 R/ER on two hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts. Tony Zych (L, 4-5) took the loss in relief for Tennessee. The home run was the only hit and run he allowed over 1.1 innings.
The Blue Wahoos were able to hold Smokies shortstop Addison Russell to just a 1-for-4 game, making him just 2-for-13 in the series against his hometown team.
Pensacola can win the series with a victory on Sunday afternoon. The Wahoos will send RHP Robert Stephenson (5-7, 4.19) to the mound against Smokies RHP Pierce Johnson (3-4, 2.98). First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT at Smokies Park.
Margaret E. Sanders
August 3, 2014
Margaret E. Sanders was born in Big Springs, TX ,on March 25, 1934, to Paul Stadler Ellis and Mazzie Wright Ellis. She passed away on July 19, 2014. She was a 1952 graduate of Tate High School.
She married James D. Sanders on Feb. 28 1960, whom she leaves behind after 54 years of marriage.They reared four sons, Kenneth M. Sanders, Robert C. Sanders, Carl D. Sanders, and Byron J. Sanders in the Elsanor community where she was also active in volunteering. After retiring from a lengthy civil service career with the Naval Aviation Depot in Pensacola where she served with the public affairs officer, she continued to work for the Providence Family Medical Center. She shared a love for decorating cakes, writing stories, painting, and sewing with family and friends.
Her siblings and she were very close; Alvin D. Ellis preceeds her in death. She is survived by siblings Paula E. Nighbert of Hilliard, FL, Charles E. Ellis of Cantonment, and James Ellis of Fredericksburg, Texas; 10 grandchildren who called her “Gink”, Thomas, Hannah, Marrah, Joseph, Aaron, Emily, Adam, Maria, Curry, and Robert Jr.
She was a long-time member of Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church in Molino and loved to sing from the “old school hymnal”.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Margaret E. Sanders, 80, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North was held on Saturday, August 2, 2014.
Herman Black
August 3, 2014
Mr. Herman Black, 86, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2014, in Pensacola.
Mr. Black was a native of Canoe and resident of Atmore for most of his life. Mr. Black was member of the Atmore VFW post and attended the Canoe Methodist Church. His parents, Presley and Pearl Black; and brother, William Billy Black, precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Black of Atmore; two sons, Butch (Glenda) Black of Atmore and Tal (Embee) Black of Bay Minette; one daughter, Suzan (David) Amos of Atmore; one brother, Jerry (Barbara) Black of Clayton, NC; seven grandchildren, Chris Black, Chad Black, Shawn Amos, Nicholas Plash, Brandon Amos, Cody Black and Kelby Amos; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 2, 2014 at the Canoe Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Watts and Larry Renfroe officiating.
Burial was at the Canoe Methodist Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Tommy Young, Blake Young, Freddy Lambeth, Thomas Guy, Jimmy Lee and Johnny Lee Jones.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Susan Dianne Waters Bryant
August 3, 2014
Susan Dianne Waters Bryant went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 27, 2014.
She was born on December 7, 1952, to Oscar Waters and Gladys M. Johnson.
Dianne was a resident of Cantonment and had worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at West Florida Hospital.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Regina Dianne Ferguson; father, Oscar Ellis Waters; and step-father, Bill Johnson.
Dianne is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Greenhill; sons, David (Kelly) Bryant and Johnny Bryant; mother, Gladys M. Johnson; sisters, Sharon Giraud and family and Linda Waymire and family; brother, David Shirey; granddaughters, Taylor Ferguson (Matt Flota) and Annie (Ryan) Normand; grandsons, Michael Ferguson (Angel Golden), Ellis Merchant, Austin Tanton (Breann Bellizzi), Dylan Bryant (Shawna Rose) and River Bryant; great-grandchildren, Kamden Ferguson, Wyatt Normand and Skye Tanton.
Dianne was loved by her family and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 2, 2014, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Steven Simmons officiating.
Burial was in Morgan Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Teen Cited After Running Stop Sign, Hitting Car And House
August 2, 2014
A Pensacola teen was ticketed after running a stop sign and hitting a vehicle and a house Friday afternoon in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 16-year old David Lane Godwin was traveling west on Kingsfield Road in a 2014 Dodge Challenger when he failed to stop for a stop sign at County Road 97. His vehicle was hit by a 2006 Ford 500 driven by 51-year old Tamala Ann Mattheiss of Cantonment, forcing the Dodge Challenger to travel about 63 feet before striking a house in the 1700 block of Highway 97.
Godwin and Mattheiss were both transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious injuries. Godwin’s passenger, 15-year old Preston Layne Walker of Cantonment, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The house sustained about $3,000 in damages, according to the FHP.
Troopers cited Godwin for running a stop sign.
Pictured: A vehicle collided with another vehicle and a house Friday afternoon in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
