Twelve Constitution Revision Commission Proposals Could Land On The Ballot
April 5, 2018
When they go to the polls in November, voters could face a dozen ballot measures from the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, under a plan advanced Wednesday.
The plan, which received preliminary approval from the commission’s Style and Drafting Committee, groups 24 proposed changes to the state Constitution into 12 ballot measures for the Nov. 6 general election.
The proposed ballot measures, if approved by the full commission, would be added to five proposed constitutional amendments already on the 2018 ballot.
The preliminary groupings combine:
— A ban (Proposal 65) on workplace vaping or electronic cigarettes with a ban (P91) on offshore drilling for gas and oil in state waters.
— Three public-school issues, including an eight-year term limit (P43) for school board members and a requirement (P10) that students be educated in “civic literacy.”
— Three judicial or criminal justice issues, including a measure focused on victims’ rights (P96) and a proposal (P41) that would increase the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75.
— Two higher-education measures combined with a proposal (P49) to provide survivor benefits to families of police officers, other first responders and Florida-based military members who are killed in the line of duty.
— Four “government structure” measures, including a proposed requirement (P13) that constitutional officers such as sheriffs be elected officials in charter counties and a proposal (P103) for the annual legislative session to begin in January in even-numbered years.
— Three “clean up” measures, including eliminating a defunct reference in the Constitution to a high-speed rail system (P12) and the repeal (P3) of language aimed at preventing “aliens ineligible for citizenship” from owning land. The land-owning provision, which was aimed at Asian immigrants in the 1920s, was never enforced.
The 37-member Constitution Revision Commission meets every 20 years and has the unique power to place proposed constitutional amendments directly on the ballot. Each of the issues considered by the Style and Drafting Committee received an initial approval from the full commission but will ultimately need backing of 22 commission members to go on the ballot.
Along with the issues that have been grouped, the Style and Drafting Committee also decided to let six other constitutional changes remain as “stand-alone” proposals.
Commissioner Brecht Heuchan, chairman of the committee, said two measures were left as separate proposals because they may be amended. One proposal (P39) is an ethics measure, which includes a six-year lobbying ban for former public officials, while the other (P93) would allow the creation of “innovation” school districts.
Four other measures were left as stand-alone proposals because they were initially endorsed by the commission in votes that fell short of the 22 that will be necessary for any constitutional change to be placed on the ballot.
Those measures include a proposed ban (P67) on greyhound racing and a requirement (P29) that employers use a federal verification system to determine the immigration eligibility of workers.
Carey Theil, a lobbyist for Grey2K USA Worldwide, an animal-welfare advocacy group, said his organization supports the racing ban as a separate ballot proposal, while expressing confidence the final vote by the commission will exceed the 18 votes that proposal originally received.
“We’re comfortable being by ourselves,” Theil said. “We do not believe we are at 18. We believe we are in excess of 22 votes today.”
Jack Cory, a lobbyist for the Florida Greyhound Association, which opposes the racing ban, said his group also supports leaving the measure as a separate ballot item. Cory said the proposal “does not belong in the Constitution” and that it should be a decision made by the full commission.
The Style and Drafting Committee also approved the “ordering” of the dozen ballot measures, beginning with the measure dealing with victims’ rights and judicial retirement ages and ending with the proposed greyhound-racing ban.
Heuchan said he looked back over the voting history of ballot proposals since 1998 and could not find any correlation between the ballot position and the fate of the measures, although he acknowledged it was an informal survey. He said other factors seemed to impact the amendments more, including the visibility of the issues with voters and whether advocacy groups were campaigning for or against the proposals.
With the prospect of the commission advancing a dozen additional ballot measures, Heuchan said “decision fatigue” by voters is a factor that the commission will have to consider before its final decisions.
“This whole notion of fatigue is real. It’s a real thing,” Heuchan said.
The five proposed constitutional changes already on the November ballot include a measure to expand the homestead-exemption property tax break, a measure to restore voting rights to former felons and a measure to give voters the final authority in deciding whether to allow casino-style gambling.
The next major task facing the Style and Drafting Committee will be approving the ballot-title and summary language for each of the dozen measures. The titles are limited to 15 words, and summaries cannot exceed 75 words. Courts have held both must not mislead voters.
Ballot measures endorsed by the committee are scheduled to move to the full commission beginning on April 16. The full commission can amend the measures with support from at least 22 of the 37 members.
The commission faces a May 10 deadline for finishing its work.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Elizabeth Ann Johnson Tharp
April 5, 2018
Elizabeth Ann Johnson Tharp, 75, surrounded by her family, went to live with her Savior on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 after a brief hospitalization.
Born at home on June 29, 1942 in Pineview Community, Escambia County, AL, she lived in Pensacola, FL and was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and homemaker and a faithful member of Pinehaven Missionary Baptist Church, Pensacola.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Calvin Nile Tharp, Pensacola; her children Melissa Lucille Bond (Joel Jr.) of Perkinston, MS, Sharon Elizabeth Rigby (Jimmy Lynn, Jr.) of Paxton, FL, Timothy Kevin Tharp of Pensacola, and lovingly claimed as adopted child Christine Wilson Nieves (Jeffrey) of Pompano Beach, FL; grandchildren Naomi Elizabeth Bond Fairley (Ethan), Nathan Joel Bond, Reuben James Bond, Ruth Evangeline Bond, and Levi Jeremiah Bond all of Perkinston, MS; Joshua Lynn Rigby (Victoria) of Samson, AL and Caleb Nile Rigby of Paxton, FL; and Adam Timothy Tharp of FL and Adriane Nicole Tharp of Connecticut; and adopted Bianca and Enso Nieves of Pompano Beach, FL; Great Grandchildren are twins Nahtelie Lissa and Bethanie Lynne Fairley, of Perkinston, MS, Anna Leigh Rigby, Micah Lynn Rigby, and Lily Elizabeth Rigby all of Samson, AL and David Wayne Rigby, of Andalusia, AL. Elizabeth Ann was preceded in death by her parents Nathaniel and Lois (Nall) Johnson, and her siblings Flora Mosley, Gay Hall, Violet Joyce, Myrtle Louise Eden (Floyd), James Burl Johnson (Virginia), Betty Jean Riddle (Carl), and Thomas Mitchell Johnson (Norma), and nephew Carl Thomas Riddle.
All services will be held at Faith Chapel North Funeral Home, Cantonment, FL. Pallbearers are the six grandsons Joshua, Caleb, Adam, Nathan, Reuben, and Levi. Visitation is from 5-9 pm on Friday, April 6 with funeral services at 10 am on Saturday, April 7 and interment immediately following at the Halls Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Hwy 113 North, Flomaton, AL.
William E. Bagwell
April 5, 2018
William E. Bagwell, age 88, of Pensacola passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018.
Mr. Bagwell was born in Spartanburg, SC and resided in Pensacola for the past 65 years. He was a US Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict and retired from Daniel’s Construction. Preceding Mr. Bagwell in death is his wife, Margaret Bagwell.
Survivors include his son, Terry Bagwell (Brenda); sister, Barbara Williams; four grandchildren, Rhianon Marsh (Paul), Caitlin Bagwell, Ethan Bagwell (Lauren) and Makenna Bagwell; and three great grandchildren, Kaleb Marsh, Emma Marsh and Aubrie Bagwell.
A graveside service will be held in the Masonic Gardens of Pensacola Memorial Gardens on Friday, April 6, 2018 at 3 p.m.
Three Finalists Named For Escambia County Fire Chief
April 4, 2018
The list of candidates for the Escambia County fire chief job has been narrowed to three after a selection committee meeting Wednesday. The candidate finalists are:
- Stephen F. Cox, South Bend, IN
- Russell Clark Nail, Melbourne, FL
- Paul Randall Smith, Mobile, AL
The county expects to being the top three candidates to Escambia County on Thursday, April 19 to tour the Emergency Operations Center and public safety building some local Escambia County Fire Rescue stations, followed by a meet and greet with staff, volunteer firefighters and full-time firefighters. The selection committee is then expected to conduct in-person interviews with the top three candidates the morning of Friday, April 20.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
FDLE Blows Up Computer Equipment From Child Porn Cases
April 4, 2018
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force joined together with the Regional Domestic Security Task Force Bomb Squad to explode computer equipment today that was used to view illicit images of children.
“Today’s event shows the dedication local, state and federal agencies have when it comes to protecting innocent children from predators,” said FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “If your child has an online presence, parents need to be extremely cautious and engaged to keep their children safe.”
“In today’s social media environment material can be viewed over and over again. It never seems to disappear,” said Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons. “It is good to know that this particular equipment and material will never again be used to view child pornography.”
The hard drives, computers and other items were exploded at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office firing range near Cantonment.
For more photos, click here. Video is at the bottom of the page.
All pieces of evidence destroyed during “Operation Final Disposition” are from cases that have been prosecuted and are not subject to appeal. After a case is finished, evidence destruction is completed in a law-enforcement environment without any fanfare. But as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, FDLE and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office opted for public destruction in the hope of bringing attention to child abuse and how we can all work together to prevent it.
Evidence that was able to be wiped clean is being donated to the Gulf Coast Kid’s House. Gulf Coast Kid’s House is a child advocacy center serving victims of child abuse. Gulf Coast Kid’s House provides a place where child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, medical and mental health professionals’ work together under one roof to provide comprehensive services to abuse victims.
Pictured top and inset: A bomb squad exploded computer equipment once used to view child porn Tuesday at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office firing range near Cantonment. Pictured below: The remains of a computer. Pictured bottom: The remains of a computer keyboard in a tree. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Familes Oppose Tighter Florida Prison Visitation Rules
April 4, 2018
Proposed changes to visitation at Florida prisons are drawing pushback from families, friends and supporters of the state’s 100,000 inmates.
Under a current rule, visitation is allowed every weekend as well as on state holidays. But the Florida Department of Corrections is moving ahead with a rule change that could cut visitation in half, a plan that critics say ignores research showing frequent visits with family and friends lowers recidivism and aids prisoners’ reentry.
Under the proposed rule change set to go into effect Saturday, visits would be limited to a minimum of two per month, for two hours at a time, on alternating weekends, depending on the inmate’s corrections identification number.
About 100 people, many of them friends and family of inmates, appeared at a public hearing about the proposed rule in Tallahassee Tuesday.
Corrections officials maintain the change will help prison staff manage the number of visitors coming on a given weekend and prevent overflow crowds.
Richard Comerford, the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Institutions, said the changes are also needed, at least in part, because of an increase in people trying to introduce contraband into prisons as well as staff shortages.
“The number of recovered weapons, cell phones, and illicit drugs continues to rise across the state, within our facilities. Many of these incidents of contraband have been linked to visitation,” said Comerford, a former warden at Century Correctional Institution.
But Melba Rios, whose fiancé is currently incarcerated, said family visitors are not the source of the contraband. Cutting back on visitation could have unintended consequences, Rios warned. “There is no way that by reducing the visits, that you will stop the introduction of contraband,” Rios said. “What you are doing is actually inciting violence and you are upsetting family members.”
Several family members and former inmates who spoke at the hearing contend contraband is often brought behind prison walls by correctional officers who feel they are overworked and underpaid.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, visitors are responsible for just 2.5 percent of contraband brought into Florida prisons.
The “drastic cuts are unjustified and will undermine public safety,” the SPLC said in a letter to corrections officials. The proposed change is slated to be reevaluated after 90 days.
There will be no changes to the normal weekend visitation schedule until after the rule making process is complete.
by The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com.
Gulf Breeze Mayor Won’t Seek Reelection, But Will Seek To Remain Century’s Attorney
April 4, 2018
Tuesday, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, an attorney, announced that he will not be seeking reelection, but he plans to continue working as attorney for the Town of Century.
“My decision not to run again as Mayor of Gulf Breeze will not impact my role as the attorney for the Town of Century,” Dannheisser said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
“Gulf Breeze is unique in the sense that its elected officials have always been unpaid volunteers who serve as a means of community service. Over the past three and half years as Mayor, I have spent a tremendous amount of time working to make things better for the City. We have accomplished more during my time in office than during any comparable time of the City’s history. The City was in good shape when I became Mayor and I am very comfortable that I will be leaving the City in an even better position than when I came into office. Now it is time for someone else to head the call for public service and take the lead in continuing the City’s upward trajectory,” he said.
“I have maintained my law practice while Mayor of Gulf Breeze, although occasionally the demands on my time made for some long nights and weekends to take care of my law firm clients’ needs. Now, I will have more time for my law practice as well as pursuing other endeavors which I have wanted to take up,” Dannheisser concluded.
Also Tuesday, Gulf Breeze City Attorney Mike Stebbins resigned. Dannheisser said he does not intend to return to working as Gulf Breeze attorney, a job he held prior to being elected mayor.
Atmore Man Charged With Aggravated Battery Of His Pregnant Girlfriend
April 4, 2018
An Atmore man has been charged with aggravated battery when the offender knew the victim was pregnant.
Uylessis Foster-Davis, 25, allegedly picked his girlfriend up from Babe’s Gentleman’s Club, her place of employment, and brought her back to their shared residence. When they arrived, Foster-Davis could not find his phone in the vehicle, so he borrowed his girlfriend’s phone in order to call his phone inside the vehicle. Foster-Davis became irate over a Snapchat on the victim’s phone, claimed she was cheating on him.
He then grabbed her and pushed her down, and she ran after hitting, throwing arms up in front of her face and hitting Foster-Davis, according to an arrest report. Foster-Davis tackled her from behind, causing her to land on the ground again, the report states.
Foster-Davis fled the scene and was located by deputies a short time later. He denied physical contact between the two, but later changed his story and said the girlfriend hit him in the face, deputies said. He admitted to a deputy that he knew his girlfriend of three months was about one month pregnant, according to the report.
Foster-Davis remained in the Escambia County Jail after a judge revoked his bond in an outstanding felony fleeing and eluding law enforcement case. Foster-Davis is accused of running from a Pensacola Police officer with lights and sirens activated.
Tate String Orchestra Receives High Marks At National Orchestra Festival
April 4, 2018
The Tate High School String Orchestra recently received high marks in the annual National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta.
“This was a significant step for us and something I always wanted to do” said Catherine McConnell, the Tate High Orchestra director. “So, we were ecstatic when we found out that we qualified, and started practicing hard and raising funds right away.”
The Tate orchestra also worked with members of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, receiving professional feedback during sectional rehearsals throughout the year.
The orchestra prepared a program of seven pieces and performed for an panel of three nationally-renowned and esteemed orchestra adjudicators. The judges commented on the orchestra’s high level of preparation and energy, awarding both Excellent and Superior ratings.
While at the National Orchestra Festival, the orchestra students were able to attend a variety of professional sessions focusing on aspects of string performance and education, and also see another top orchestra perform. Following Tate’s concert performance, the orchestra was able to participate in a 45-minute clinic led by a leading orchestra professor.
“It gave me a brand new perspective of our orchestra. Before we went, I thought it would be just local orchestras from around our region,” said senior concert master Caroline Bruns. “I found out when we arrived that we would be observing an orchestra from Honolulu perform. This made me realize that we’re not just a little orchestra from Florida, but one that is good enough to perform at the same festival as those from across the country. My favorite part was seeing people from all over the United States who love orchestra as much as I do.”
“We were blessed with an amazing opportunity,” said Tate freshman Micheala Bragg. “From that opportunity grew unity and an experience unlike any other. I will cherish it always.”
The Tate orchestra will perform May 7 at 7 p.m. during the Ransom Middle and Tate String Pops concert in the auditorium at Washington High School. Admission is free.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Turned Colder Tonight, Down Near 40
April 4, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Rain possible through early afternoon. High near 67. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.