Florida’s housing market reported more closed sales, higher median prices and more pending sales in September compared to a year ago – when Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys on Sept. 10, 2017 – according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. [Read more…] about Fla. Housing Market: Closed Sales, Pending Sales, Median Prices Up in Sept. 2018
Timber Damage from Hurricane Michael Estimated at $1.3 Billion
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, today announced the estimated value of timber damage in Florida due to Hurricane Michael is $1.3 billion, impacting nearly three million acres of forestland. [Read more…] about Timber Damage from Hurricane Michael Estimated at $1.3 Billion
Nelson unveils new ad that aims at Scott’s bad enviro record
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s campaign unveiled a new ad today that’s sure to get voters jumping. [Read more…] about Nelson unveils new ad that aims at Scott’s bad enviro record
New Nelson ad takes aim at Scott’s divisive, rigid partisanship
“The Senate race comes down to one question: who has the independence to put Florida first?”
That’s what U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says in a new television spot to begin airing tomorrow. The 30-second spot, titled “Closer,” showcases Nelson’s deep roots in the state. “Folks, I’m a fifth-generation Floridian. I’ve always put Florida first – and I always will,” Nelson says.
He also says in the ad that “when President Trump asks for something that’s good for him and bad for Florida, I know what I’ll do: I’ll say ‘no’. And we all know what Rick Scott will do – he’ll say ‘yes’.”
The message is scheduled to start airing in most Florida markets tomorrow, excluding the parts of the Panhandle hardest hit by Hurricane Michael.
Here’s a link to watch “Closer” followed by the script:
“CLOSER”
The Senate race comes down to one question, who has the independence to put Florida first.
When President Trump asks for something that’s good for him and bad for Florida, I know what I’ll do: I’ll say no.
And we all know what Rick Scott will do, he’ll say yes.
Folks, I’m a fifth-generation Floridian.
I’ve always put Florida first – and I always will. Nelson says.
Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate
Women Applaud Governor Scott’s Voting Executive Order
The Florida Federation of Republican Women today issued the Following statement:
“Today Governor Rick Scott has proven once again why he is the one of the most successful governors in Florida history. He has worked diligently for the rights and freedoms of all Floridians and does so once again with his Executive Order 18-283.
Governor Scott knows that the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Michael should not be allowed to impact the voting rights of our citizens in the Panhandle. The Florida Federation of Republican Women are organized in many of the counties hardest hit by the storm. Voting on November 6th has been a critical concern for our members and their families.
Thank you, Governor Scott, for your leadership and for always standing for free and fair elections in Florida.”
Dena DeCamp
President of the Florida Federation of Republican Women
Today, the Governor issued Executive Order 18-283 which gives Supervisors of Elections in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington counties the authority to extend and enhance voting options based on needs and challenges they have identified, including:
- Locally-elected supervisors of elections in the impacted counties are now able to extend the amount of days of early voting, designate additional early voting locations and expedite the delivery and acceptance of vote-by-mail ballots. Each of these locally-elected supervisors of elections have reported significant obstacles created by Hurricane Michael preventing them from administering an election without these accommodations. These obstacles include, but are not limited to, damage to polling locations, extended telecommunications service disruptions, and large percentages of the counties’ population without power. Supervisors of Elections have not reported any damage to voting machines and all election-related equipment, including ballots, are secure.
- The locally-elected Supervisors of Elections in the eight affected counties will be able to determine if additional early voting sites and days are necessary. The early voting period in the affected counties can begin as early as Monday, October 22, 2018, and can extend through election day November 6, 2018.
- The Executive Order extends the registration date for poll watchers to noon on October 26, 2018.
- Executive Order 18-283 directs Secretary Detzner to coordinate with each supervisor of elections in Florida to ensure that Florida National Guard troops, first responders, law enforcement, volunteers, and utility power restoration workers engaged in the recovery efforts in the Panhandle and anyone who evacuated from the storm can cast a ballot.
- The restriction on vote-by-mail ballots being forwarded to a different address has been waived. This will help displaced voters to cast a ballot. The Executive Order also waives provisions so voters in the affected counties can more easily obtain vote-by-mail ballots.
Florida Federation of Republican Women
Nelson Earns Endorsement of Major Metropolitan Newspaper, His Sixth
“[Sen. Bill] Nelson has long been a bulwark against oil drilling off Florida’s coast, a bipartisan position that protects Florida’s shoreline, and the state’s important tourism industry, from the petroleum industry’s greed.”
So stated Florida’s second largest newspaper in endorsing U.S. Bill Nelson today for re-election.
It brings to a half-dozen the number of such endorsements Nelson has earned so far in the Senate campaign. The most recent nod came from the Orlando Sentinel editorial board, which called Nelson “a centrist” and praised him for his bipartisan willingness to join with Republicans often.
The Sentinel concluded: “He’s a decent person who has served Florida and his country well, both in the military and in politics. Bill Nelson has earned another term in the U.S. Senate.”
The newspaper contrasted Nelson’s record with that of his GOP opponent, Rick Scott.
“Scott will further the political tribalism that’s dividing this country, to the peril of us all,” the editorial board stated.
The Sentinel’s assessment has been widely agreed upon by editorial boards around the state.
Florida’s largest newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times, noted: “U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has built a commendable career in public service as a moderate who steadily works in a bipartisan fashion on issues important to Floridians. … Gov. Rick Scott, who has consistently sided with the wealthy and the well-connected as he has eroded the interests of working families. Nelson has served Floridians well and deserves a fourth term.”
The Miami Herald’s judgment was succinct: “Re-elect Bill Nelson to the Senate. He puts Florida’s interests first.” And “Scott has been an election-year Johnny Come Lately to many issues of the utmost importance to the state,” the newspaper wrote. “His poor environmental record … has led to the red-tide crisis on one Florida coast and a slick of blue-green algae on the other.”
The South Florida Sun Sentinel said: “Nelson has been a workhorse, not a show horse. … It’s not just the people of Florida who need Bill Nelson back in the Senate. It’s all of the people of the United States of America.”
The Palm Beach Post cited Nelson’s leadership on issues of critical importance to the state, including fighting the opioid crisis and protecting Florida’s natural resources and delivered a scathing rebuke of Nelson’s GOP opponent, Scott, slamming his time in office as “marked by cronyism” and “high-handed legal actions to fight government transparency that have cost state taxpayers millions.”
And the nation’s only trilingual newspaper, Tampa’s La Gaceta slammed Scott for being “a bad governor.”
The full Orlando Sentinel endorsement is available here.
The full Palm Beach Post endorsement is available here.
The full Tampa Bay Times endorsement is available here.
The full Miami Herald endorsement is available here.
The full Sun Sentinel endorsement is available here.
The full La Gaceta endorsement is available here.
Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate
Floridians with pre-existing conditions meet with Nelson
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Val Demings on Thursday met with area residents concerned they could lose their health care coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions. [Read more…] about Floridians with pre-existing conditions meet with Nelson
Gov. Scott Releases Updates on Hurricane Michael Response in Franklin County
Governor Rick Scott has been in constant communication with local officials and emergency management in Franklin County. The following information has been reported to the State Emergency Response Team and includes specific actions the state has taken to aid the residents of Franklin County impacted by Hurricane Michael. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Releases Updates on Hurricane Michael Response in Franklin County
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Update on Hurricane Recovery Efforts
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services continues to provide response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Michael. [Read more…] about Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Update on Hurricane Recovery Efforts
Gov. Scott Releases Updates on Hurricane Michael Response in Washington County
Governor Rick Scott has been in constant communication with local officials and emergency management in Washington County. The following information has been reported to the State Emergency Response Team and includes specific actions the state has taken to aid the residents of Washington County impacted by Hurricane Michael. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Releases Updates on Hurricane Michael Response in Washington County
