Politics
Jacksonville Bold for 7.2.25: Musical Chairs
Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico was as good as his word, picking first-term elected officials for Council Committees.
One of them will be particularly important to Mayor Donna Deegan next month as budget deliberations begin: Finance Chair Raul Arias.
The Southside Republican is joining a panel with five others from his party (VP Nick Howland, former President Ron Salem, Rory Diamond, Joe Carlucci and Will Lahnen) and one Democrat, Ju’Coby Pittman.
In other words, expect August to be must-see TV, assuming your cable provider carries the City Hall feed.
With Deegan in her third year, expect adversarial treatment in the August hearings.
Howland, Salem, and Diamond have been her harshest critics on the Council, and at least two of these men are looking for higher office — perhaps the mayoralty itself.
With the city facing a fiscal crunch, expect so-called DEI initiatives to come under scrutiny.
Of course, Finance isn’t the only fruit in the produce section.
The most true-blue small-c conservative on the Council, Mike Gay, will chair the Neighborhoods Committee and will enjoy a 6-1 GOP advantage there as well.
Joe Carlucci’s steady hand will guide the all-important Land Use and Zoning committee, giving the San Marco Republican a significant say in development. A 5-2 GOP majority will also be in place.
Chris Miller chairs a Rules Committee that, incredibly enough, will have no Democrats.
Meanwhile, though Republican Will Lahnen chairs Transportation, Energy and Utilities, that committee will be the only one with a Democratic majority. However, it is not a historically prestigious committee, and the most significant issues the Council faces will be addressed elsewhere.
Blanding boom
More details are emerging about the 2,000 illegal immigrants to be held at Camp Blanding later this month, a companion effort to the “Alligator Alcatraz” in South Florida.
And Gov. Ron DeSantis says Cecil Field will play a role in immigration enforcement, including deportation.
“The big jets, we probably would have to take up to Cecil Field, which is not that far away from there. So, the convenience, they can either leave from Blanding or a pretty short ride to Cecil Field,” DeSantis said.
In contrast to “Alligator Alcatraz,” Camp Blanding has existing infrastructure, which means that the setup involving makeshift tents may differ in North Florida.
Requests for Proposal for vendors are due today, Wednesday, July 2.
Picked again
Nick Primrose is headed back to the St. Johns River State College District Board of Trustees.
The current Chief of Regulatory Compliance at the Jacksonville Port Authority, he has also served as Deputy General Counsel to Governors DeSantis and Rick Scott, as well as General Counsel for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He also chaired the Florida Elections Commission.
Primrose ran for the state House last year, and while he ultimately didn’t make it out of the HD 18 Primary, he continues to do substantial work on several fronts.
The Senate will have to reconfirm his reappointment, but that’s pro forma in this case.
Golden Chief
Jacksonville has a new leader of the Fire and Rescue Department, along with a new second-in-command.
Percy Golden II has been appointed Chief of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD). Jake Blanton was named as the new Deputy Chief of JFRD. Both have extensive experience in the department.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan announced the appointments this week.
“It’s with great pride that I’m appointing Percy Golden II to be the next Chief of JFRD,” said Deegan. “He will bring creative and innovative thinking, a strong focus on JFRD’s young workforce, and a deep love for Jacksonville to the role. I’m excited to work with him and ensure JFRD continues to be the best fire department in the country.”
Percy was Deputy Chief of the Emergency Preparedness Division before being named to the top slot. He’s a 21-year veteran of the JFRD. Blanton has 30 years of service in the department and was Rescue Division Chief before being appointed to the Deputy Chief position.
There were 17 candidates reviewed for the Chief’s position and that was narrowed down to five finalists. The process took six weeks before the final decision was made to go with Golden.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Mayor Deegan for the confidence and trust that she has placed in me to lead this department,” said Golden. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and fully committed to serving this city with the same passion and dedication that has defined JFRD for generations.”
There were other management personnel updates at JFRD, including Willie King being named Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Dallas Cooke appointed Chief of Rescue, James Schaudel tapped for Deputy Chief of Emergency Preparedness, Terrance Holmes selected for Deputy Chief of Fire Operations and Chris Scott approved as Deputy Chief of Administrative Services.
Cathedral Arts Project boosted
Jacksonville’s Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) received more than $700,000 in the state budget signed by Gov. DeSantis.
CAP provides arts education and awareness to K-12 students throughout Northeast Florida, serving students beyond traditional public schools, including charter schools, homeschools, military families, and students in residential crisis care.
The funding, sponsored by Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough and Rep. Kiyan Michael, will allow CAP to expand its services to provide on-base programs for military families, as well as specialized programming for students and training for teachers.
Eliminating septic tanks
Funds secured in Florida’s new state budget will aid in the move to eliminate septic tanks in Atlantic Beach. With strong lobbying efforts this Session by Atlantic Beach Mayor Curtis Ford and The Fiorentino Group, the funds will complete a longtime effort by city leaders to convert septic tanks to the collective sewer system.
The primary focus will be on the Marshside community, a low-lying area subject to coastal flooding that currently houses 33 of the city’s remaining septic tanks.
Yarborough and Michael successfully championed the recently approved state dollars.
Fernandina Beach border facility
The Port of Fernandina was another budget winner in Northeast Florida, with state funds secured for the design and construction of a new Customs and Border Protection Facility on Port grounds.
Thanks to the support of Yarborough and Rep. Dean Black, as well as a successful lobbying push from Fiorentino Group Partner Davis Bean, the Port can begin upgrading the existing facility under recommendations made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
With CBP on-site, the Port can continue to carry out customs and immigration operations, including conducting inspections and processing immigration documents.
Green Cove Springs river trail
When Gov. DeSantis signed the budget Monday, he gave the green light for the City of Green Cove Springs to begin work on a winding trail along the St. Johns River that will eventually connect Historic Spring Park to the new Shands Bridge and over the River to St. Johns County.
Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Judson Sapp, along with future Speaker Sam Garrison, championed the $475,000 appropriation poised to set the project in motion.
New mobile lab
Florida’s new state budget includes $850,000 for a mobile lab to raise awareness of Career and Technical Education (CTE) among Duval County’s elementary-age students.
The innovative lab will enable students in kindergarten through fifth grade to explore various career opportunities, potentially developing interests that may lead to future studies and career paths.
The project was championed by Republican Rep. Wyman Duggan and Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis, both from Jacksonville.
Black History Museum moves forward
After the statutorily created Black History Museum Task Force selected St. Johns County to be the home for the Florida Museum of Black History in 2024, the Legislature followed through with a $1 million appropriation to provide seed money to the County.
Republican Sen. Tom Leek of Ormond Beach led the charge along with Republican Rep. Michael’s sponsorship in the House.
The funds will be used for project planning, design and engineering of a world-class museum and educational facility.
The museum site will be adjacent to the historic cottage hit by a bullet, likely intended for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during a 1964 visit to St. Augustine.
In the NAVI
Automated mass transit is more than just a concept. It’s a reality as part of the city’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program on 12 stops on the Bay Street Corridor.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority launched its Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation service Monday, which it bills as a “groundbreaking service (that) is seamlessly integrating autonomous vehicles into Jacksonville’s mobility network, making it easier, faster, and smarter to move around our city.”
Eventually, 14 vans will run from the Central Business Core, near the Performing Arts Center, to the Sports & Entertainment District, connecting the Urban Core neighborhoods and providing a quick, easy ride that will reduce the impact of cars downtown.
Rides are free through the end of September.
Elevate goes down
Students from Jacksonville’s toughest neighborhoods will have to go to the school of hard knocks to learn about life, at least if they were relying on state money for the Elevate Jacksonville initiative to teach them anything.
Gov. Ron DeSantis carved out a modest $250,000 appropriation for the nonprofit initiative serving students at Ribault High, Ribault Middle and Westside High, throwing the organization’s operations into turmoil just hours before the new fiscal year began Tuesday.
Approximately 500 students facing challenges ranging from mental health issues to unemployment benefited from the program at last count, with “daily instruction in life-skills curricula, one-on-one mentorship and career guidance” as well as “scholarships, internships and trade opportunities,” according to the Senate appropriations request from Republican Yarborough.
If the money had been granted, $125,000 would have been allocated to salaries, $75,000 to staff training and curriculum development and $50,000 for contracted services related to youth mentorship and life skills training.
Despite what Rep. Duggan’s appropriations request stated were “letters of support from principals at Jean Ribault High and Middle Schools and Westside High School, highlighting its positive impact on student achievement, life preparation and personal growth,” lobbyist Mincy Pollock was unable to secure the funding from the Governor this time around.
Sweet 16
One of the main roads leading into the tourism-rich city of St. Augustine will undergo a major makeover, valued at $25 million.
State Road 16, coming off Interstate 95 in St. Johns County, is slated for road improvements following approval by the County Commission.
“We are ecstatic about moving ahead on these two critical road improvement projects,” said St. Johns County Public Works Director Greg Caldwell. “These improvements will reduce traffic delays, increase roadway connectivity, and enhance the safety of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians that use SR 16.”
The total package includes two elements that two different contractors will complete.
The most substantial part of the work will be the construction and widening of State Road 16 from International Golf Parkway to County Road 2209. That element amounts to $21.46 million and was awarded to C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc., which was the lowest bidder on that part of the project.
That element of the work will involve widening the road to four lanes and making improvements to intersections in several areas.
The other phase of the project will focus on signalization and other upgrades to State Road 16 intersections with Stratton Boulevard and Industry Center Road. That project will cost about $4.34 million.
The County Commission awarded that contract to Besch & Smith Civil Group Inc., based in St. Augustine, which was also the lowest bidder on that phase of the work. The construction will involve adding two median openings, four traffic signals and crosswalks for pedestrians.
The Florida Department of Transportation is partially funding both projects, which are part of a larger county commitment to improve transportation.
Water works
Flooding remains an issue in San Marco, according to WJXT.
People on Riviera and Landon were among those impacted by Monday’s downpour, with cars flooded out and homeowners worried about their foundations, despite pumps being brought in to dredge the neighborhood.
“I can’t imagine living in this while it rains. This wasn’t that big of a thunderstorm. What happens when a real storm comes through here?” Ethan Farris said.
The drainage should be fixed next year, but that won’t bring much comfort to people dealing with torrential tropical rains this week.
Property props
Landowners with property in one of North Florida’s most prominent conservation areas are being encouraged to seek federal financial assistance, mainly for agricultural interests.
The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, wants landowners to apply for federal assistance. The two groups are targeting landowners in the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor (O2O) and the Corridor to Coast (C2C) areas to apply for Regional Conservation Partnership Program Land Management funding.
An NFLT press release stated that approximately $1.7 million in funding is available through these programs for O2O and C2C property owners.
“Land management is not always easy, and this program will provide landowners with a little help to do things they may already be doing to ensure the land remains a natural resource and thriving habitat for plants and wildlife,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “We will be holding workshops to help explain the process and to help landowners apply. We encourage landowners within the O2O and C2C to join us.”
The first workshop is scheduled for July 16 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Clay County University of Florida (UF) Extension Office, located on State Road 16 in Green Cove Springs. The second event will take place in Flagler County on July 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UF Extension, located on Sawgrass Road. Those interested in attending should call the NFLT at (904) 557-7985 or email [email protected].
Sporting JAX sponsor
The first entirely professional women’s team in Jacksonville’s history kicks off training camp on Tuesday when Sporting JAX begins preparations for the Gainbridge Super League soccer season.
On Wednesday, the club announced a major sponsorship with Ascension, which will be featured on the front of the team’s uniform shirts as part of a multi-year agreement.
In addition to appearing on the front of the women’s professional team kits, Ascension St. Vincent’s will appear on replica kits available to the public as well as the front of 30,000 Sporting JAX Soccer Academy matchday and training kits over the next two years.
Ascension will provide health care services for the women’s team, including physicians, medical specialists, imaging and surgical support and on-site athletic trainers.
Ascension will be on the club’s broadcast and digital platforms, as well as throughout all youth and community engagement programs.
“At Ascension St. Vincent’s, we believe in investing in the long term health and vitality of our communities,” said Michael Shaw, chief strategy officer at Ascension. “This partnership with Sporting JAX allows us to further that mission by supporting professional athletes, inspiring young players and improving health outcomes across the First Coast.”
When Sporting JAX kicks off next month with preseason friendlies against Scottish women’s champions Hibernian FC and Wrexham, it will mark the start of the first professional women’s season in the city. The team will open training on Tuesday and play closed-door friendlies in the preseason against the Orlando Pride of the NWSL, the University of Florida, and Gainbridge Super League rivals Lexington SC. The two home preseason friendlies against the Scottish women’s champions, Hibernian FC and Wrexham AFC, on Aug. 2 and 10, will be played at UNF’s Hodges Stadium, where the team will play home games as it works toward a planned 15,000-capacity soccer stadium.
The regular season opens on Aug. 23 against DC Power FC.
The team announced the signings of several key players with international and overseas experience last week, including forward Jade Pennock, who recently helped lead the Central Coast Mariners to an A-League championship in Australia and has experience playing in England for Sheffield United and Birmingham City. The team also announced the signing of midfielder Helena Errington, who has represented New Zealand in the U-20 World Cup qualifiers and former U.S. U-17, U-20 and U-23 midfielder Sophie Jones.
Sporting JAX also has plans to launch a professional men’s team in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional men’s soccer in the United States. However, the club has not yet officially confirmed when the team will begin play.
The USL announced this year its intention to launch a first-division league with promotion and relegation to be incorporated in the future. Sporting JAX could petition to be included in the top tier, although the parameters of a decision have not been made public.
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As St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch prepares to seek a second term, some political observers have questioned whether his first four years delivered enough progress to merit re-election.
Longtime community leaders like Rep. Michele Rayner, Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers and Rev. J.C. Pritchett say the answer is already clear: No other candidate brings the same mix of lived experience, policy acumen and unshakable commitment to the city’s underserved neighborhoods as Welch.
Elected in 2021 as the city’s first Black Mayor, Welch came into office with a sweeping promise to build an inclusive St. Pete. His agenda emphasized affordable housing, equity and the long-delayed redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District — the once-thriving Black neighborhood razed in the 1980s to make way for Tropicana Field.
The symbolism of Welch — whose family lost their lumberyard business in that very neighborhood — taking the lead on its reimagining is not lost on his supporters.
“The Gas Plant is in his fingernails,” said Pritchett, a longtime pastor and civic leader. “He realizes how sacred that is and how important that is. He has heard the stories, from his family and from residents, about what it was like to be displaced from your home and be promised for almost 50 years an answer and it not be delivered.”
While some recent coverage has spotlighted perceived stumbles — including storm recovery challenges, City Hall turnover, and the Tampa Bay Rays’ withdrawal from the redevelopment deal — Welch’s allies say the record tells a different story: a leader navigating complex crises with pragmatism, restraint and a steady hand.
Pritchett, whose ministerial alliance endorsed Welch in 2021, said the Mayor remains the right leader for a city on the edge of transformation.
“I think he ought to be able to have the opportunity to really lean into the work that he started,” he said.
Already, City Council member Brandi Gabbard has announced she will run against Welch. A well-known Realtor and moderate Democrat, Gabbard is considered a credible contender with appeal across ideological lines. She may not be the only challenger; former Governor and U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist is also reportedly weighing a bid for the office.
Rayner, who has known Welch for much of her life, said he is uniquely suited to carry forward the Gas Plant vision because of his roots in the community.
“He understands the nuances of what this means, not only for St. Pete at large but for Black people who did not get what was owed to them,” Rayner said. “He’s able to navigate the sensitivities around that issue in a way no one else can.”
Under Welch’s leadership, the city launched an ambitious redevelopment plan with the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines to transform the 86-acre site into a new neighborhood featuring affordable housing, a ballpark and cultural amenities honoring the displaced Gas Plant community.
But after hurricanes battered the city last year, causing widespread damage, the Rays pulled out of the agreement in early 2025 following Pinellas County and City Council’s decision to slightly delay bond votes.
Critics have seized on the collapse as a political liability, but supporters argue the narrative is misplaced. They say the Rays walked away from a handshake deal, not the other way around.
“When the vote happened and we thought we had a deal, Stu (Sternberg), the Mayor, and Brian Auld and others went out to celebrate, and we hugged and we shook hands,” Pritchett said. “Only to find that in March the Rays walked away from the handshake and from the covenant and from the deal.”
“It left the residents hanging, and our community is still healing from that,” he added. “They left hurt and a void and an ‘I told you so’ that has existed since 1978. This Mayor did not pause, this Mayor was not caught like a deer in the headlights. This Mayor said, ‘let’s pivot and find a solution to deliver to the residents a development for the future.’”
Flowers, a longtime Welch ally and successor after his time on the County Commission, rejected claims that storm damage or financing delays doomed the deal as “hogwash.” Her family lost a dry-cleaning business at the Gas Plant District, and she praised Welch’s efforts to revive the community’s vision for the district.
“When the deal fell through with the Rays, and of course the Gas Plant District was a part of that, initially I was very angry,” Flowers said. “I cannot tell you the number of hours and the amount of time, the amount of documents that we had to peruse through, meetings to attend and briefings for almost two years. The amount of money that’s put out on the front end with bond counsel, legal counsel, the Sports Authority.”
Flowers maintains that damage to Tropicana Field’s roof and facilities was out of anybody’s control, and while the timing was unfortunate, the situation did not delay plans for a new state-of-the-art facility.
“That facility would have had to come down anyway, No. 1,” Flowers said. “And No. 2, the city had insurance on the facility. So it would have had to have been repaired in order for them to finish out playing in 2026, which is what is happening right now.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just calling it hogwash,” she said. “That was hogwash to say, you know, costs went up and this and that and the other. But they could never show us on paper where their contractor and their developer said it went from this many million to this much. They couldn’t show it because it didn’t exist.”
With development rights now back in the city’s hands, Welch is pushing forward. He’s prioritized building affordable senior housing, expanding the Woodson African American Museum, and exploring new convention and mixed-use options.
A new request for proposals is expected to be finalized early next year after the City Council requested additional time for potential developers and pumped the brakes on a more aggressive timeline set by Welch this year.
“He’s going to make a decision sometime in January or early February,” Flowers said. “But that’s on those 86 acres, we can move forward with that, we don’t have to wait and see what’s going to happen with the Rays.”
“We don’t have to focus on Tropicana Field until the new owners make their play,” she said. “That’s up to them. But what we can focus on is the Gas Plant district. They’re going to be playing in that dome, we know that, through 2026. They may have to play there a little longer because wherever they decide to build they’ve got to build it before they can go.”
Beyond the Gas Plant, Welch’s administration has advanced several measurable goals. In 2024 alone, the city supported 281 new affordable housing units, helped 193 homeowners with essential repairs and assisted 87 first-time buyers with down payments. His team launched a $3 million utility relief program that served more than 7,600 renter households and invested $1.5 million into minority- and women-owned small businesses through the South St. Pete CRA.
When Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit within weeks of each other last year, Welch led a cleanup effort that cleared more than 2 million cubic yards of debris in under 90 days and secured $159 million in federal recovery funds. Critics were quick to criticize the speed of the cleanup, they even labeled the debris “Welch piles,” but progress reports show the city met or exceeded its benchmarks, a point his supporters say speaks to his quiet effectiveness.
“Besides ambition, I would like to see opposing candidates point to the issues that would make one decide that he should not be re-elected for another four years,” Pritchett said. “If you want to say it’s hurricane debris, so be it, but every time there’s a challenge he’s delivered.”
Welch has also been criticized for complying with a state order to remove intersection murals featuring racial justice and Pride themes, a decision that drew accusations of cowardice from some activists. Supporters say that view ignores his duty to protect the city from multimillion-dollar funding cuts threatened by the Florida Department of Transportation for noncompliance.
“Activists and community leaders have the privilege of breaking the law and challenging Tallahassee’s decisions,” Pritchett said. “The Mayor has taken an oath to follow the law and to be an example of civic responsibility. It’s performative political rhetoric to suggest the Mayor would break the law and lay over the murals to protect them temporarily from being removed.”
Rayner agreed, describing Welch’s approach as “principled and pragmatic.” His creation of the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and continued support for leadership positions like the city’s LGBTQ+ Liaison reflects his commitment to inclusion despite popular rhetoric trumpeted by right-wing politicians. Those efforts have helped the city maintain a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.
“He’s not kowtowing to bullying out of Tallahassee,” Rayner said. “He is answering the call of the people that elected him and not answering the call of some performance politics of the state legislature. What I appreciate about Mayor Welch is he doesn’t say what is politically advantageous or expedient. He is very principled and character-driven. And I think that’s why you see him do the things that he does.”
Welch’s allies also reject claims of a toxic workplace culture at City Hall, citing the Mayor’s adherence to process. He placed his former Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens on leave during an internal investigation, prompting her to resign amid bullying allegations. Former Communications Director Janelle Irwin Taylor, who is now a senior staff member for Florida Politics, leveled the allegations against Owens.
Former Managing Director of Economic and Workforce Development Brian Caper, one of the city leaders behind work to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District and on the canceled deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, also resigned his position after findings that he sexually harassed a subordinate in his department.
“Public service is like any other sector,” Pritchett said. “When a complaint is filed the HR department investigates and interviews. Unions and contracts are not controlled by the Mayor. Following the advice of legal and following proper procedures is the responsibility of the Mayor for the hundreds of employees of the city.”
As Welch positions himself for re-election, his campaign is expected to emphasize results over rhetoric: a city that has rebuilt from two major storms, launched major equity and resilience initiatives, and remained on strong fiscal footing amid statewide political turbulence.
“He measures twice and cuts once; he really wants to make sure he’s getting things right for the people,” Rayner said.
Roger Chapin and Mira Tanna are going head-to-head in Tuesday’s Orlando City Council runoff after a margin of only 14 votes separated them in last month’s crowded General Election.
Chapin holds the big fundraising edge and the advantage of having name recognition as the son of former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin. He also carries the support of the establishment, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and incumbent City Commissioner Robert Stuart, who didn’t seek re-election.
Tanna’s strengths are her grassroots campaign and the endorsements of popular Orlando Democrats like U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who are lending their support to help her knock on doors and engage with voters.
Early voting at the Supervisor of Elections office, 119 W. Kaley St., runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Election Day precinct polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Chapin and Tanna are both Democrats, and the winner will be the first new City Commissioner to represent District 3 in 20 years. The four-year term currently pays $79,343 annually for the nonpartisan seat. District 3 spans College Park, Audubon Park, Baldwin Park, Coytown and other downtown area neighborhoods north of Colonial Drive.
Tanna works as the Orlando city grants manager. She commutes to work on the bus, and is focused on fixing Central Florida’s public transit.
Chapin is a public affairs and public relations consultant. He said his biggest client is Mears Transportation, his former employer. His priorities include the Main Street Districts on Ivanhoe Boulevard and Edgewater and Corrine drives.
In making his case to voters, Chapin pointed to his long résumé of public service. After a failed bid for Orlando City Council in 2002, he got involved on the Municipal Planning Board, Downtown Development Board, Orlando Utilities Commission and more.
Chapin argues he is the most experienced candidate in the race and would “govern from the middle” to work with both Republicans and Democrats, citing Dyer as an example of a politician who can work both sides of the aisle to get things done.
Tanna’s supporters say she is the right fit and has the vision to help make changes as Orlando faces big challenges in a lack of affordable housing and congested traffic. They also say bus routes and SunRail don’t meet enough people’s needs. Tanna also pointed to her city career, saying she knows City Hall and is ready to jump in on Day 1.
Tanna’s endorsements include the Young Democrats of Orange County, Ruth’s List, the Sierra Club, the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association and Ruth’s List Florida. Endorsements also include state Sens. LaVon Bracy Davis and Carlos Guillermo Smith, as well as state Reps. Johanna López, Rita Harris, RaShon Young. Orange County Commissioners Nichole Wilson and Mike Scott and Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell are also backing Tanna.
Chapin won endorsements from the Orlando Sentinel, the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, the Orlando Regional Realtor Association and unions representing police and fire. Orange County Sheriff John Mina also is backing Chapin.
Chris Durant, who placed third, just out of reach in the Nov. 4 General Election, has endorsed Chapin and is being paid $1,500 to join him on the campaign trail.
One man’s tax cut is another man’s socialism.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is embracing wealth redistribution as part of his final budget proposal as a way of sweetening his pitch to eliminate homestead property taxes.
He justifies it by saying he’s got the money to spend to help “rural counties” by paying to make up those lost tax revenues.
“We have 32 fiscally constrained counties. You know, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, these are powerhouses. I’m putting in my budget the revenue to totally backfill every one of those rural counties. So they’re not going to miss a single thing,” the Governor said on “Fox & Friends.”
“I’ve got a big surplus. Why would I not do that to be able to help them?”
The Governor’s budget tease is intended to support his proposal — which, so far, is only in words — to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot next year to let voters get rid of the tax on homesteaded, owner-occupied houses and condos.
It comes as four separate tax abatement proposals are moving in the House.
One measure (HJR 201) would eliminate all non-school property taxes for residents with homestead exemptions.
Another (HJR 211) would allow homeowners to transfer their accumulated Save Our Homes benefits to a new primary residence, without portability caps or restrictions on home values.
Another proposal (HJR 205) would exempt Florida residents 65 and older from paying non-school homestead property taxes. In its current form, the measure has no long-term residency requirements for beneficiaries and no income threshold.
There’s also HJR 209, which would grant an additional $200,000 non-school homestead exemption to those who maintain multiperil property insurance, a provision that proponents say will link relief to insured, more resilient homes.
The Governor and his allies are decrying the House push, saying multiple ballot items would only confuse voters.
DeSantis’ suggestion that Miami-Dade and Palm Beach should shoulder burdens for towns like Melrose and Palatka is particularly provocative given that his appointed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has traveled to both big counties and alleged wasteful spending.
The executive branch budget proposal is always significantly modified in the legislative process, of course. But this pitch will force urban and suburban GOP lawmakers to decide whether their constituents should pay even more of the bills for parts of the state that haven’t figured out how to sustain themselves without state help, setting up a conflict between them and a lame-duck chief executive.
France abandons bid for the total suspension of Shein’s website
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