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Orange County jumps into legal fight over SB 180

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Orange County is joining more than two dozen local governments suing the state to overturn legislation (SB 180) with the hope of gaining back home rule authority over land use and planning.

The county announced it is joining the Leon County Circuit Court lawsuit that already includes several other cities and counties, including Fort Lauderdale, Homestead, Naples and Manatee County.

SB 180 neuters Vision 2050, Orange County’s comprehensive plan, the county said in a press release.

“With Orange County’s population projected to exceed 2 million residents by 2050, it is imperative for the County to implement smarter growth management policies that protect natural habitats, foster small business growth, promote walkability, and expand access to affordable housing,” the county said in a statement.

SB 180, which passed this year, freezes municipal government development regulations in the aftermath of a hurricane or other disasters. Lawmakers said they want to eliminate the red tape to help areas hit by storms recover faster.

But the local governments’ ongoing lawsuit called SB 180 “the largest incursion into local home rule authority in the history of Florida since the adoption of the Florida Constitution in 1968.”

“Some of the Local Governments have received letters from Florida Commerce advising them that certain Planning and Zoning Regulations are in direct conflict with Section 28,” the lawsuit said.

Orange County was one of them.

The county received notice from the state in July that its comprehensive plan amendment it submitted for state review was invalid because the state called it “more restrictive or burdensome.” But the lawsuit countered that the state never ever identified “what it was more restrictive or burdensome than, or to whom it was more restrictive or burdensome.”

“Some of the Local Governments have also had to pause moving forward with Planning and Zoning Regulations that have been years in development even if those regulations are unrelated to emergencies or rebuilding after emergencies, amounting to a waste of the public funds expended in effort to pass said regulations and expanding the reach of SB 180 past emergencies,” the 46-page lawsuit said.

In advance of the upcoming Legislative Session, Republican lawmakers have already filed bills that could make changes to SB 180.



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Nicholas Hessing joins Becker’s local and state lobbying teams

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He joins the firm after serving as Governmental Relations Manager for the Children’s Services Council of Broward County.

Becker is bringing on Nicholas Hessing to work with the firm’s statehouse team and longtime Broward lobbyist Bernie Friedman.

Hessing will support Becker’s Tallahassee operation while also helping represent more than 50 active clients before the Broward County Commission and city governments across the county.

He joins the firm after serving as Governmental Relations Manager for the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, which oversees a $160 million budget, and as campaign manager for Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and former Sen. Lauren Book.

“During his time with the Children’s Services Council, Nic assisted the CSC’s 100-plus funded agencies navigating complex local, state, and federal government systems, and delivered results for these organizations and for the children and families they serve,” said Nan Rich, Broward County Commissioner and former state Senator.

“Nic’s expertise in government affairs, community relations, and his innate drive to shape our county’s health and future will be an asset to Becker and Broward for years to come.”

Trantalis credited Hessing with crafting “a winning strategy that brought us to victory” as his campaign manager while Rep. Robin Bartleman said “he has grown from his time as my Chief Legislative Aide, into a sharp, driven lobbyist who moves with integrity.”

At Becker, Hessing will assist in representing more than 50 active clients both at the state level and before the County Commission and Broward city governments. The FSU and University of Miami alumnus said he is ready to hit the ground running.

“I am thrilled to bring the strong relationships that I’ve developed with civic, business [and] charitable organization leaders throughout South Florida to Becker and look forward to collaborating with Becker’s talented team of government lobbyists as we grow,” Hessing said.



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Roger Chapin, Mira Tanna battle in Orlando City Council runoff election

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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 concluded 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.



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Monica Matteo-Salinas, Monique Pardo Pope square off in Miami Beach Commission runoff

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Early voting is underway in Miami Beach ahead of a Dec. 9 runoff that will decide the city’s only open Commission seat — a head-to-head contest between Monica Matteo-Salinas and Monique Pardo Pope for the Group 1 seat.

Matteo-Salinas, a Democrat and longtime City Hall aide, finished first last month with 23.2% of the vote. Pardo Pope, a Republican lawyer, advanced with 20.1%.

They outpaced four other candidates competing to succeed outgoing Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez last month, but neither captured a large enough share of the vote — more than 50% — to win outright.

The runoff has sharpened into a choice between two contrasting résumés, platforms and campaign narratives along with a late-cycle revelation about Pardo Pope that has drawn national headlines.

Voters are heading to the polls for the second time in just over a month as Miami Beach faces turbulence on multiple fronts, from state scrutiny over finances and charges that a local ordinance conflicts with Florida’s homelessness law to the removal of cultural landmarks due to their so-called “woke” significance and accusations of pay-for-play policymaking.

Matteo-Salinas, 46, has consolidated establishment support for her campaign, which centers on a promise to work on expanding trolley service, increasing the city’s affordable housing index and establishing a new “water czar” position in the city, paid by resort taxes.

She’s earned endorsements from several local pols, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Beach Commissioners Alex Fernandez, Laura Dominguez and Tanya Bhatt; and former Miami Beach Dan Gelber.

Groups backing her bid include the Miami Beach Fraternal Order of Police, LGBTQ groups SAVE Action PAC and Equality Florida Action PAC, and the public-safety-focused neighborhood group SOBESafe.

Pardo Pope, 45, has centered her messaging on public safety, investing in mental health, backing school choice initiatives, supporting homelessness services, encouraging “smart, thoughtful development” that preserves Miami Beach’s character while addressing flooding and roadway congestion, and alleviating cost-of-living issues for longtime residents and first-time homebuyers through “fair taxation.”

Though she has touted her guardian ad litem work as evidence of her temperament and commitment to service, that part of her record has drawn renewed scrutiny in recent weeks. A review of Pardo Pope’s case records with the Miami-Dade Clerk’s Office shows her listed as a guardian ad litem on just three cases — one of which she was discharged from after trying to get the mother in the case jailed.

She’s also been the subject of negative attention for omitting that her father was the convicted, Nazi-adoring serial killer Manuel Pardo, to whom she wrote several loving social media posts.

Pardo Pope has said that she forgave him in order to move forward with her life and asked voters to judge her on her own life and work.

Her backing includes the Miami-Dade Republican Party, Miami-Dade Commissioner René García, state Rep. Alex Rizo, former Miami Beach City Attorney Jose Smith, Miami Realtors PAC, the Venezuelan American Republican Club and Teach Florida PAC, a Jewish education group.

Two of her former Group 1 opponents, Daniel Ciraldo and Omar Gimenez, are also backing her.

Matteo-Salinas raised about $133,000 and spent $82,000 by Dec. 4. Pardo Pope raised about $190,000 — of which 29% was self-given — and spent close to $170,000.

Early voting runs through Sunday at four locations citywide. Election Day is Monday, Dec. 9.



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