Orlando Mayoral Race

[spenser1058]

Teresa Jacobs makes it official: she's running for OCPS Chair. So far, her opposition is Democrat Nancy Robbinson. Jacobs would be considered the front runner by most.

That makes three very high profile countywide races this year, assuming Jerry Demings steps down as sheriff to run for OC Chair. Add to that all three races being competitive and it's something of a first in many years.

Teresa Jacobs announces run for Orange County School Board Chair
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-teresa-jacobs-school-chair-20180411-story.html

From the Sentinel

[spenser1058]

Oh this is fun! A blast from the past just like the 1980's.

Incumbent, term-limited OC District 4 Commisioner Jennifer Thompson, who is supporting her aide as a potential successor, is accusing Buddy Dyer of trying to get a foot in the door and let the "downtown establishment" (c'mon, get it right, it's the Downtown Crowd!) control the county commission by supporting one of his aides for the position.

Just when you thought there was detente between the Dome and S. Rosalind!

Gonna be a long summer...

Thompson accuses Dyer of 'power grab' for backing adviser in commission race
http://bit.ly/2JxGgzD

From the Sentinel

[orlandoguy]

Oh this is fun! A blast from the past just like the 1980's.
Incumbent, term-limited OC District 4 Commisioner Jennifer Thompson, who is supporting her aide as a potential successor, is accusing Buddy Dyer of trying to get a foot in the door and let the "downtown establishment" (c'mon, get it right, it's the Downtown Crowd!) control the county commission by supporting one of his aides for the position.
Just when you thought there was detente between the Dome and S. Rosalind!
Gonna be a long summer...
Thompson accuses Dyer of 'power grab' for backing adviser in commission race
http://bit.ly/2JxGgzD
From the Sentinel

My eyes can't roll back far enough in my head to express what a dumb claim that is. Thompson's always been a blowhard ... glad she's keeping her track record intact even in her final months on the commission.

[spenser1058]

Orlando may be ground zero for the Puerto Rican response by voters to the administration's efforts at restoring the island to normal after last year's hurricanes:

https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/relief-debacle-puerto-ricos-governor-looks-political-revenge-florida-090049999.html

From Yahoo

Watch for impacts on county commission races and the race for the US Senate especially.

[spenser1058]

The fourth and final FL special election before November's midterms has taken place and Democrats are now 4-0.

This is a Miami state House seat and what is most important is the Democratic winner is a Cuban-American. For years, the Cuban-American vote had been reliably Republican but the crack in a solid red wall has been widening since President Obama first campaigned in the area in 2008.

https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/05/01/let-the-blue-wave-continue-democrats-notch-4th-florida-bellwether-win-396458

From Politico

[spenser1058]

This is a great look by former Obama campaigner Steve Schale at how the demographics are affecting the political swings both in the MSA and the broader Orlando-Daytona-Melbourne media market.

One really cool stat I hadn't seen before: the Orlando MSA is the country's 32nd largest economy.

From Orlando Rising

http://orlando-rising.com/steve-schale-orlando-revisited/

[spenser1058]

An interesting "who knew?" popped up in this story about which local firms are giving to various gubernatorial candidates. 

It seems David Albertson, former president of the grocery chain and I'm guessing a scion of the founding family, lives in Winter Park. I had not heard that before.

Central Florida donors line up behind governor candidates
http://bit.ly/2KSg7MG

From the Sentinel

[smileguy]

4 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

An interesting "who knew?" popped up in this story about which local firms are giving to various gubernatorial candidates. 

It seems David Albertson, former president of the grocery chain and I'm guessing a scion of the founding family, lives in Winter Park. I had not heard that before.

Central Florida donors line up behind governor candidates
http://bit.ly/2KSg7MG

From the Sentinel

David and his wife Judy are heavily involved at UCF (she, a former trustee), and friends of the arts.

[spenser1058]

7 hours ago, smileguy said:

David and his wife Judy are heavily involved at UCF (she, a former trustee), and friends of the arts.

I think either the article is confused or we are. I've met the David Albertson and his wife Judy that you noted and you're right that the are longtime fixtures in the arts community and at UCF. He's from Mass tho and his family's background, while in fruits and veggies, wasn't the Albertsons chain (which was sold off by the family some time ago.)

I'm going to grab the Scooby snacks and fire up the Mystery Machine and see if I can sort this out.

[smileguy]

On 5/12/2018 at 8:27 AM, spenser1058 said:

I think either the article is confused or we are. I've met the David Albertson and his wife Judy that you noted and you're right that the are longtime fixtures in the arts community and at UCF. He's from Mass tho and his family's background, while in fruits and veggies, wasn't the Albertsons chain (which was sold off by the family some time ago.)

I'm going to grab the Scooby snacks and fire up the Mystery Machine and see if I can sort this out.

I saw the name and assumed it was the same David... let me know if you find out how many Albertsons there are!

[spenser1058]

Publix is going full throttle to elect Republican and Polk County hometown favorite Adam Putnam governor:

http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/05/15/publix-is-supporting-adam-putnams-run-for-governor-like-no-politician-before/

From the St Pete Times

[spenser1058]

A look at segregation patterns and their continued persistence in today's metro area:

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/05/18/new-map-reminds-us-that-orlando-remains-incredibly-segregated?media=AMP+HTML

Where people live, of course, directly affects voting patterns.

From Orlando Weekly

[spenser1058]

Meanwhile, in the Congressional race for FL-6, a Republican candidate suggests Puerto Rican citizens not be allowed to vote in Florida:

https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/05/22/congressional-candidate-under-fire-for-saying-puerto-rican-evacuees-shouldnt-vote-in-florida-431220

FL-6 includes portions of Volusia, Flagler and Lake counties.

 

[spenser1058]

The Sentinel's Scott Maxwell goes in-depth with the OC mayoral candidates about everything from taxes to SunRail:

Mayoral hopefuls talk taxes, guns, wages, rail and biggering the convention center (again)
http://bit.ly/2IO4j0z

[spenser1058]

Former Vice President Joe Biden has endorsed incumbent Darren Soto in the Democratic primary for the 9th congressional district against opponent Alan Grayson. This is huge for Darren.

https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/05/29/biden-endorses-soto-over-grayson-in-florida-congressional-primary-439387

From Politico

[spenser1058]

Senator Bill Nelson is in a dogfight for reelection with Governor Rick Scott and both have been battling for Puerto Rican voters in Florida, who are viewed as a key swing bloc.

Tomorrow, a former Puerto Rican governor and father of the current one is scheduled to endorse Nelson. It's a huge get for the senator who many Democrats have been questioning his campaign's effectiveness thus far.

http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/03/former-puerto-rican-governor-to-endorse-bill-nelson-on-monday/

From the St Pete Times

[spenser1058]

Here go the "Resign to Run" submissions in several races. This is likely to be one of the most competitive years ever in OC and OCPS politics.

Jerry Demings submits required resignation letter as sheriff to run for Orange County mayor
http://bit.ly/2kUhdM8

From the Sentinel

Look to see if Pete Clarke resigns to run for mayor, which would set in place a District 3 OC Commission race. My personal favorite in that one is Eric Rollings, who is one of the most sympathetic  I've seen regarding our urban issues among commission candidates.

UPDATE: Today, June 8, Pete Clarke resigned to run for OC Mayor and Eric Rollings announced he's definitely in the race to succeed Pete in District 3.

[AmIReal]

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

Here go the "Resign to Run" submissions in several races. This is likely to be one of the most competitive years ever in OC and OCPS politics.

Jerry Demings submits required resignation letter as sheriff to run for Orange County mayor
http://bit.ly/2kUhdM8

From the Sentinel

Look to see if Pete Clarke resigns to run for mayor, which would set in place a District 3 OC Commission race. My personal favorite in that one is Eric Rolling, who is one of the most sympathetic candidates I've seen to our urban issues of any commission candidate.

I agree on Eric- really great guy. He said he is going to hold Pete's hand and file the paperwork at the same time. I have a hard time seeing Pete give up his current seat, but I am hopeful.

[spenser1058]

A Yuge! endorsement today of Gwen Graham by the Florida teachers' union, FEA. For a Democrat, it doesn't get any bigger than that.

Former congressman Patrick Murphy also opted to sit out the race. He had sent up a trial balloon suggesting he would run on a bipartisan ticket with former Republican congressman David Jolly. 

Murphy instead opted to endorse Gwen.

From the St. Pete Times

http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/08/gwen-graham-called-dream-candidate-in-teachers-union-endorsement/

[spenser1058]

The US Senate race that has led Gov. Rick Scott to go gaga about rail for the first time in eight years continues to be close.

According to the latest NBC News/Marist poll, incumbent Bill Nelson leads by four points. It's safe to assume this was in the field before Scott's newfound interest in HSR, so be on the lookout for the next poll shows what impact transit has for Florida voters.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/06/26/florida-senate-race-is-close-while-democrats-hold-solid-leads-in-ariz.html

From CNBC

Meanwhile, in the crowded race for OC Commission District 3 (which includes much of downtown), Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has endorsed candidate Eric Rollings.

Given the number of folks running, this should be helpful for Eric.

 

 

[spenser1058]

In another sign of just how much things are changing in Florida, a county commission race in a primarily Cuban-American district in Miami-Dade County has gone not only to a Democrat but also to the non-Hispanic candidate.

It wasn't long ago that the Cuban-American vote in South Florida was reliably Republican and voters generally supported the Hispanic candidate. But increasingly since the Obama era that's been changing and now has made it to the local level.

Democrats are still not out of the woods in the state as Bill Nelson's outreach to Puerto Rican voters is still lacking and turnout in midterm elections still favors GOP strongholds like The Villages over that in blue urban areas. Nevertheless, with President Trump's approval ratings underwater in much of the state, there's definitely reason for hope among the state's Democrats for the first time since 1990.

‘The Blue Wave Came’: Win for Non-Hispanic Democrat Signals Big Shift in Miami  
https://nyti.ms/2IGjior?smid=nytcore-ios-share

From the New York Times

[spenser1058]

Anna Eskamani, the Democratic candidate for FL House District 47 (which includes a lot of the core), gets noticed by the New York Times:

4,500 Tech Workers, 1 Mission: Get Democrats Elected  
https://nyti.ms/2NKpSOp?smid=nytcore-ios-share

[spenser1058]

The latest poll on the Democratic race for governor indicates it's still anyone's race.

My candidate, Gwen Graham, is still in the thick of it, with a little slippage for Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine. 

With 25% undecided and blogger Peter Schorsch always a bit shifty, this may not mean much. All I can say at this point is that if Jeff Greene wins (he's been flooding airwaves and mailboxes with media paid for from his own pocket,) I'll be ashamed to be a Democrat.

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/268888-jeff-greene-joins-gwen-graham-atop-democratic-primary-field-new-poll-shows-philip-levine-slips-to-third

From Florida Politics

[aent]

Apparently on the other side of the isle, it seems Ron DeSantis is well on his way to overtaking Adam Putnam as the frontrunner in the race.

[spenser1058]

Republican Rob Panepinto is up with his first ad for OC Mayor:

http://orlando-rising.com/rob-panepinto-launches-first-orange-county-mayoral-commercial/

From Orlando Rising