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Commissioner Putnam Highlights National School Breakfast Week

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam encourages Florida schools to “Take the School Breakfast Challenge” and celebrate National School Breakfast Week from March 6-11. National School Breakfast Week celebrates healthy starts to the day in cafeterias throughout the state. Last year, more than 140 million breakfasts were served to Florida’s K-12 students.

“Academic success begins at breakfast, and we have worked hard to make sure students start their day with nutritious options,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “I thank our partners for organizing fun activities to excite kids about wholesome meals.”

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services administers the School Breakfast Program at the state level to ensure schools have the ability to provide healthy, wholesome breakfasts to students every day. 

Some events to promote National School Breakfast Week include:

  • Okaloosa County Public Schools will host a 1950s costume event and coloring contest.
  • Volusia County Public Schools will host fruit samplings and help students create themed posters.
  • Chile Elementary and Ft. Clarke Middle School in Alachua County will host giveaways, games and photo booths and participate in a breakfast “Egg Pop” promotion featuring new menu items.
  • Double Branch Elementary in Pasco County will use a “Minecraft” theme to excite students about “Building Your Way to a Better Day Starts With Breakfast.’
  • Pasco High School will host a beach-themed event.
  • Woodland Elementary in Pasco County will host special guests from the community, including policemen, firemen and nurses.
  • Sunray Elementary in Pasco County will host a motorcycle “Born to ride Straight to Breakfast” event with Bikers Against Child Abuse, police officers and Pasco County Fire. 

In an effort to enhance school nutrition, new dietary guidelines were implemented in 2012. New requirements include: providing age-appropriate caloric ranges, larger servings of fruit and vegetables, a wider variety of vegetables, fat-free or 1-percent milk, more whole grains and less sodium. 

For more information about the School Breakfast Program or the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Senator Bradley Introduces Legislation to Stabilize Workers' Compensation Rates

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Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island) today filed Senate Bill 1582, Workers’ Compensation Insurance. The legislation addresses a number of recent legal challenges and outlines reforms needed to bring stability to the workers’ compensation rates paid by Florida businesses.
“While I believe comprehensive legislation to overhaul the entire workers’ compensation system and reduce rates is our ultimate goal, the current cycle of enacting laws that impact businesses only to have those changes overturned by the courts creates instability for businesses that must be avoided,” said Senator Bradley. “My goal in filing this bill is to concentrate efforts on stabilizing rates and introducing more competition between insurers. The bill also incorporates recent court decisions to avoid costly and protracted litigation.”
The legislation filed today requires insurance carriers to authorize or decline requests for authorization from health care providers within three business days. The request is deemed authorized if the insurance carrier fails to respond. The bill also requires a claimant to state with specificity the amount of each requested benefit at issue in a petition, and requires judges of compensation claims to dismiss petitions that do not contain such specificity.
The bill amends statutes relating to temporary total disability benefits and temporary partial disability benefits from 104 weeks to 260 weeks, consistent with the Florida Supreme Court decision in Westphal v. City of St. Petersburg. In keeping with the Florida Supreme Court decision in Miles v. City of Clearwater, the bill deletes the prohibition against attorneys and others to receive a fee or other consideration unless approved by a Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC).
“Making meaningful comprehensive changes that can withstand judicial scrutiny should be the goal,” continued Senator Bradley. “This legislation incorporates significant provisions that will stabilize rates and bring Florida in line with 38 other states that encourage more competition among insurers and limit the amount of the insurer’s defense fees that can be passed on to businesses, while not subjecting businesses to a tug-of-war between the Legislature and the Judiciary.”
The legislation converts Florida to a loss cost state, similar to 38 other states that allow a rating or advisory organization to file the rates that are projected to cover losses. Under this system, insurers are required to file separately the remaining components of the rates needed to cover expenses and profit, known as loss costs multipliers, encouraging competition among insurers for the remaining components.
Attorney fees continue to be a major driver for rate increases and an effort to rein in those fees by the Legislature was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court in a 5-2 ruling last year. Therefore, the legislation retains the statutory fee schedule for setting claimant attorney’s fees but directs the JCC to consider factors in each case and allows the JCC to decrease or increase the attorney fee subject to a maximum hourly rate of $250. The legislation also provides that an insurer’s defense and cost containment expenses are excessive if they exceed 15 percent of the insurer’s incurred losses for the average of the three most recent calendar years. Each insurer must return amounts over 15 percent DCCE to employers via either a cash refund or credit toward the future purchase of insurance.

Florida Mental Health Leaders Set to Host Press Conference on Potential Appropriation Cuts

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March 9th press conference will plead to legislators to not cut mental health funding in Florida; State Legislators and other elected officials available for questions

Concerned the Senate is considering a $50 million cut in mental health appropriations this year, statewide mental health leaders will hold a press conference on March 9, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the State House of Representatives media room in Tallahassee to bring awareness about the industry’s already low funding status. Florida remains at the bottom in the nation in appropriations for mental health services, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, despite a significant demand. 

Mental health services in Florida are struggling to address the state’s opioid death crisis, escalating suicide rate and untreated mental illnesses.  In 2016, state legislators passed SB12, a comprehensive mental health system overhaul that is greatly improving services.  A funding cut will significantly impact the work that is currently being implemented.

Press conference participants will include: State Representatives Mike Miller (R) of District 47 and Carlos Smith (D) of District 49 and other elected officials across Florida; Denise Marzullo, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Northeast Florida; and Rick Marquis, father of a son living with mental illness. 

WHAT: Press Conference on Mental Health Funding in Florida

WHEN: Thursday, March 9th at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Florida State Capitol | Tallahassee, Fla.
State House of Representatives Press, Room 333

Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. Items scheduled for consideration can be found here. Public comment may be taken on any item noticed for public participation.
The Commission Conference is scheduled for the following time and location:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
9:30 a.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida

The Commission Conference will be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listing) and is available online at htpp://www.floridapsc.com/ (look for the Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage).
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

Advocates Will Respond to Governor’s State of the State

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Awake the State

“We need a Florida that works for all Floridians”

Advocates will gather at the State Capitol and in cities throughout Florida to “Awake The State” on the opening day of the 2017 legislative session. Labor leaders, legislators and advocates for access to health care, quality public schools, reproductive and immigration rights will provide a counterpoint to Gov. Rick Scott and his legislative allies’ agenda that rewards their corporate backers while ignoring the needs of everyday Floridians. The event at the Capitol will be part of a series of statewide actions and events promoting a different agenda: “a Florida that works for all Floridians.”
Schedule for Tuesday, March 7th:
WHO: Policy experts, lawmakers, and advocates for the Tallahassee event include the following speakers:

  • Haley Gentile, FSU graduate student and advocate for reproductive rights
  • Rep. Shevrin Jones
  • Francesca Menes, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for Florida Immigrant Coalition
  • Aliki Moncrief, Executive Director of Florida Conservation Voters
  • Rich Templin, Ph.D., Legislative and Political Director of the Florida AFL-CIO
  • Karen Woodall, Executive Director of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy

WHAT: Tallahassee press conference unveiling Awake The State’s progressive agenda to build a Florida that works for all Floridians.
Additional press events will be held in other cities across the state including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Stuart, Cocoa and Ocala (details on those events are below).
WHEN: Tuesday, March 7th at 12pm (or immediately following the conclusion of the State of the State address).
WHERE: Florida State Capitol – Fourth Floor rotunda
400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Additional events: 
Brevard County
Contact: Phil Stasik (321-4 55-2221; stasik@ cfl.rr.com)
Intersection of Highway U.S. 1 and S.R. 520, Cocoa, FL
Starts at 4:30pm
Broward County
Contact: Jamecia Gray (323-617-1178; [email protected])
Office of Sen. Perry Thurston
2151 NW 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 32311
Starts at 12:00pm
Duval County
Contact: Pat McCulough (352-246-7717; [email protected])
Hemming Park
117 West Duval, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Starts at 12:00pm
Hillsborough County
Contact: Tim Heberlein (813-532-9846; [email protected])
Gaslight Park
400 N. Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33609
Starts at 2:00pm
Lee County
Contact: Michelle Guerin (239-839-6118; [email protected])
Centennial Park – Main Pavilion
2000 W. First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
Starts at 5:00pm
Marion County
Contact: Rachel Ochs (352-789-0445; [email protected])
Ocala Downtown Square
100 SE 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
Starts at 5:00pm
Martin County
Contact: Mary Higgins (772-519-3820; [email protected])
River Warrior Lodge
725 NW Federal Highway, Stuart, FL 34994
Starts at 4:30pm
Miami-Dade
Contact: Lorenzo Canizares (610-308-0783; [email protected])
Government Center
111 NW 1st St., Miami, FL 33128
Starts at 2:00pm
Orange County
Contact: Mitch Emerson (805-427-4183; [email protected])
Orlando Office Of Sen. Marco Rubio
201 S Orange Ave Ste 350, Orlando, Florida 32801
Starts at 11:30am
Palm Beach County
Contact: Tom Conboy (561-412-6997; [email protected])
West Palm Beach City Hall Courtyard
401 Clematis St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Starts at 4:30pm
Awake The State started as a Facebook page that quickly grew to thousands strong, resulting in events in cities across the state in March of 2011. Every year since, Floridians have organized Awake The State events in their communities at the beginning of the legislative session to engage their neighbors on important issues affecting our state. The Awake The State movement provides a platform for everyday Floridians to make their voices heard and fight for a Florida that works for all Floridians while pushing back against Rick Scott and the legislature’s wrongheaded priorities that reward the wealthy and well-connected.

www.AwakeTheState.com

Awake The State is a grassroots movement of everyday Floridians working to build a Florida that works for every Floridian, not just the wealthy and well-connected.

 

PSC Helps Consumers in Winter Springs During National Consumer Protection Week

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Winter Springs about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Winter Springs Senior Center
400 N. Edgemon Avenue
Winter Springs, Florida 32708

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

Attorney General Bondi Releases Guide to Safeguard Against ID Theft

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Identity theft, especially during tax season, is a serious threat to Floridians. Today, Attorney General Pam Bondi is releasing an Identity Theft Resource Guide that offers a wealth of information about the many forms of identity theft, ways consumers can further protect private information and steps to take if identity theft occurs.
“Identity theft is a devastating crime that can leave victims facing years of financial hardships—but this new guide provides Floridians with the tools needed to better protect their sensitive financial and medical information from identify thieves,” said Attorney General Bondi.  
Identity theft occurs when someone uses or attempts to use the private personal information of another person to commit fraud, typically for economic gain. Tax identity theft has been the most common form of identity theft reported to the Federal Trade Commission for the past five years. However, there are other ways scammers can use someone’s personal information to commit identity theft. Children are particularly at risk for identity theft because there is currently no other credit history associated with a minor’s Social Security number.
While identity theft is often associated with stolen credit card numbers and unauthorized loans, it also occurs in the medical field. Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses or attempts to use another person’s name and insurance information to receive medical treatment or acquire prescription drugs. Additionally, someone working in the medical field could use another person’s information to submit fraudulent bills to insurance providers.
For more information on types of identity theft, warning signs and tips, view the resource guide here.
Anyone who suspects identity theft should file a standard FTC Identity Theft Affidavit at IdentityTheft.gov and contact local law enforcement. Consumers can also file complaints about identity theft and other types of fraud with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling (866) 9-NO-SCAM.

Gov. Rick Scott appoints members to Florida Constitution Revision Commission

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Governor Rick Scott announced today the appointment of 14 members to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) in accordance with Article XI, Section II of the Florida Constitution. The Governor appointed Carlos Beruff as Chairman of the Commission on Wednesday. The 37–member Commission convenes every 20 years to review Florida’s Constitution and propose potential changes to be approved by Florida voters.
Governor Scott said, “I am incredibly honored today to appoint 14 members from across Florida to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. These members stood out as exemplary choices for this historic Commission whose diverse backgrounds and experience in education, business and policy will ensure we continue to champion policies that make Florida the best place for families for generations to come.”
Dr. Jose “Pepe” Armas – Miami
Dr. Jose “Pepe” Armas is a distinguished physician and healthcare executive whose focus on patient-centered care has defined his career. Dr. Armas currently serves as the Chairman of MCCI Group, which he founded in 1998, a leading physician healthcare group in the Southeastern United States. In 2011, Governor Rick Scott appointed Dr. Armas to the Florida International University Board of Trustees, a position the Governor reappointed him to in 2016.
Dr. Armas is a member of the National Advisory Board of Health Research Resources, Inc., the Humana Utilization Committee, the Board of Statewide Florida Independent Physicians Association, the American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, and the American College of Physician Executives. He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board and is a member of the Interview Committee of Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and on the Advisory Board for the School of Nursing and Healthcare of Georgetown University.
Dr. Armas graduated medical school with Honors from Catholic University in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He also completed post-graduate training at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach and St. Barnabas Hospital affiliated with Cornell University in New York.
Lisa Carlton – Sarasota
Lisa Carlton is an eighth generation Floridian and the co-owner and manager of the Mabry Carlton Ranch, Inc. in Sarasota County. She spent much of her life in public service to the people of Florida including most recently as a Florida State Senator. After graduating from law school, Senator Carlton practiced law in Sarasota County for several years before entering the realm of public service. In 1994 Senator Carlton was elected to represent the 70th District of the Florida House of Representatives. After two terms in the Florida House, then Representative Carlton became Senator Carlton when she was elected to represent the 23rd District of the Florida Senate in 1998. In 2002, Senator Carlton was elected in the 24th District of the Florida Senate where she served until 2008.
Growing up on the Mabry Carlton Ranch, Senator Carlton saw firsthand the challenges of operating a family business as she watched her parents manage a 17,000 acre cattle and citrus ranch – the same ranch she helps manage today.
Currently, Senator Carlton is a member of the Board of Directors for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and is a founding a member of the Florida Historic Capitol Foundation. Senator Carlton received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University and a Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law.
Timothy Cerio – Tallahassee
Timothy Cerio is an accomplished attorney practicing at his own law firm in Tallahassee. Along with being a former shareholder with the GrayRobinson law firm, Mr. Cerio has previously served as General Counsel to Governor Rick Scott from 2015 to 2016 and Chief of Staff and General Counsel at the Florida Department of Health from 2005 to 2007. In 2013, Mr. Cerio was appointed by Governor Scott to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the First District Court of Appeal.
Mr. Cerio received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida where he was a member of Florida Blue Key. Mr. Cerio has remained active with his alma mater serving as president of the University of Florida Alumni Association and UF College of Law Alumni Council.
Emery Gainey – Tallahassee
Emery Gainey has devoted his career to law enforcement in Florida. Mr. Gainey is a member of the Attorney General’s senior executive management team and currently serves as the Director of Law Enforcement, Victim Services & Criminal Justice Programs and is the liaison between federal, state and local law enforcement administrators and the Attorney General. Mr. Gainey plays a key role in the development, implementation and execution of the Attorney General’s criminal justice related initiatives.
On May 20, 2016, Governor Rick Scott appointed Mr. Gainey to serve as Sheriff of Marion County, where he served until January 3, 2017, before returning to the Attorney General’s Office.
Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office in 2007, Mr. Gainey served with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years, holding several key positions during his tenure including Chief Deputy, Division Commander of the Uniform Patrol and Homeland Security Commander.
Mr. Gainey is a member of the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, FBI National Academy Associates, Florida Chapter, and serves on numerous community boards and professional organizations.
Mr. Gainey is a graduate of the University of Florida and the FBI National Academy.
Brecht Heuchan – Tallahassee
Brecht Heuchan is the Founder and CEO of ContributionLink, LLC, a leading political intelligence, data analytics and fundraising company which serves many of America’s most sophisticated corporations, trade associations and campaigns.
Mr. Heuchan also owns The Labrador Company, a Florida based political and government affairs firm that since its start in 2001, has represented a wide array of clients from small non-profits to some of the largest and most respected industry leaders in the world.
Throughout his career, Mr. Heuchan has gained extensive legislative, governmental and policy experience and used that knowledge in service to Governor Rick Scott and nearly a dozen Florida Senate Presidents and Speakers of the Florida House in a variety of staff and consulting capacities. In 1997, Mr. Heuchan was tasked by Speaker Daniel Webster to coordinate the Speaker’s Constitution Revision Commission appointees. He also monitored the work of the 97-98 CRC on the Speaker’s behalf, giving him a deep understanding and familiarity of the CRC process.
Mr. Heuchan received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University.
Marva Johnson – Winter Garden
Marva Johnson is an accomplished member of Florida’s business community and leader in Florida education. Mrs. Johnson, the Regional Vice President of State Government Affairs for Charter Communications currently serves as the chair of the Florida State Board of Education. Previously, Mrs. Johnson served as a member of the Florida Virtual School Board and Advisory Board for Rollins College’s Crummer Center for Leadership Development.
Mrs. Johnson received her Bachelor of Science in business administration from Georgetown University before receiving a Master of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizuetta Business School and a Juris Doctor from the Georgia State University College of Law.
In 2014, Mrs. Johnson received the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council’s Champion for Digital Equality Award in recognition of her leadership and advocacy in helping bridge the digital divide in education for low-income families.
Darlene Jordan – Palm Beach
Darlene Jordan is the Executive Director of the Gerald R. Jordan Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports education, health and youth services, and the arts. In April 2016, Governor Scott appointed Mrs. Jordan to the Board of Governors of the State University System.
Mrs. Jordan is a member of Fordham’s Board of Directors and Co-Chair of Fordham’s successful $500 million Campaign which supports new facilities, more student scholarships, more endowed faculty chairs and more funding for academic endeavors throughout Fordham’s colleges and schools. She currently serves on Fordham’s Executive Committee and is Chair of the Development and University Relations Committee and Co-Chair of the Financial Aid Campaign. Mrs. Jordan is also Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. She serves as a Member of the Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors and is a trustee of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, Oxbridge Academy and Rosarian Academy.
Mrs. Jordan is a former Assistant Attorney General for the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, where she served in the Insurance Fraud Division from 1996 to 1999. Previously, she was an Assistant District Attorney in the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, from 1991 through 1996.
Mrs. Jordan received her Bachelor of Arts from Fordham University and her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University School of Law. She has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 1992 and the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts since 1993.
Fred Karlinsky – Weston
A nationally recognized authority on national insurance regulatory and compliance issues, Fred Karlinsky is Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Insurance Regulatory and Transactions Practice Group.
Mr. Karlinsky is experienced in transactional law, executive and legislative governmental affairs, administrative law and corporate representation. Recognized as one of the top insurance lawyers by Chambers and Partners, Mr. Karlinsky represents insurers, reinsurers, producers and other insurance interests throughout the U.S. and internationally in a wide variety of business, operational, regulatory, transactional and governmental matters.
In addition to his role with Greenberg Traurig, Mr. Karlinsky has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Florida State University College of Law since 2008, where he teaches a course on Insurance Law and Risk Management. He is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator. Mr. Karlinsky was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission in 2011 and served as the vice chairman and chairman. He currently serves as Governor Scott’s appointee on the Florida Supreme Court Nominating Commission.
This year, Mr. Karlinsky served as the co-chair to the 17th Annual Florida Celebration of Reading event. Funds raised from the annual Florida Celebration of Reading help support programs of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
Mr. Karlinsky received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami and a Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law.
Belinda Keiser – Parkland
Belinda Keiser has devoted her career to advancing Florida’s economic and workforce development, global competitiveness, education and healthcare. In addition to serving on various governmental boards, Mrs. Keiser has been the vice chancellor of Keiser University for more than 20 years and is an advocate for students’ accessibility to higher education and workforce talent development.
Mrs. Keiser has served as an an Ex-Officio member of the Florida Council of 100, member of the Board of Florida’s Chamber of Commerce and on the Florida Government Efficiency Task Force. Previously, she served on the Workforce Florida Inc. Board of Directors from 2005 to 2010, including serving as its past chair. Currently, Mrs. Keiser is serving as a reappointed member of the 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission of Broward County and as an appointee of Governor Rick Scott to the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors.
In 2016, Mrs. Keiser was presented with the Congressional Record in Recognition of Women’s History Month by Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Speaker Paul Ryan for her work in the areas of education, public service and philanthropy.
Mrs. Keiser received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a certificate in paralegal studies from Keiser University and a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.
Frank Kruppenbacher – Orlando
Frank Kruppenbacher is an accomplished attorney who has spent much of the past 10 years serving his community and the state through positions on various boards and commissions. Over the past three decades, Mr. Kruppenbacher has gained invaluable experience in the public sector serving on the Florida Commission on Ethics, Florida Commission on Sales Tax Reform, Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Ethics & Campaign Finance Reform Taskforce, Orange County Oversight Committee, Orange County Charter Commission, Central Florida Zoological Board, Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Orange County Sheriff Department Oversight Board.
Mr. Kruppenbacher currently serves as the Chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. He was reappointed to the Aviation Authority by Governor Rick Scott in 2014.
Mr. Kruppenbacher attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland where he received his Bachelor of Arts. He subsequently received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education Program where he received a certificate in public engagement.
Dr. Gary Lester – The Villages
Dr. Gary Lester is the Vice President of The Villages for Community Relations and has spent 34 years as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. In his service to the Church, Dr. Lester pastored congregations in Texas, Arkansas and Ohio before moving to Florida in 1991.
Dr. Lester has served on numerous boards and advisory groups including the United States Military Academy Nominations Board and the Judicial Nominating Commission – Middle District of Florida.
Dr. Lester received a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana Tech University and attended seminary at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas.
Jimmy Patronis – Panama City
A lifelong Floridian, Jimmy Patronis has dedicated his career to public service and his family business in Panama City. Mr. Patronis is currently a commissioner on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), a position he was appointed to by Governor Rick Scott for a four-year term beginning January 2015. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Patronis represented District 6 (Bay County) in the Florida House of Representatives.
Commissioner Patronis was appointed by Governors Jeb Bush and Lawton Chiles to the Florida Elections Commission and is also a past Chairman and Board Member of the Bay County-Panama City International Airport and Industrial District. A member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), Commissioner Patronis serves on NARUC’s Committee on Consumer Affairs and Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. He also serves on the Advisory Council for New Mexico State University’s Center for Public Utilities.
Commissioner Patronis received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Florida State University. He is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Bay County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Programs.
Pam Stewart – Tallahassee
Florida Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner Pam Stewart has dedicated her life to ensuring Florida’s students have access to a high quality education that enables them to reach their full potential and achieve their academic and career goals.
Commissioner Stewart has served 37 years in education, beginning her career as a school teacher. She spent the first 20 years of her career as a guidance counselor, testing and research specialist, assistant principal and principal at both the elementary and high school levels.
In 2004, she joined the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Public Schools as Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality, where her experience in the school environment informed her leadership and resulted in Florida being recognized as a national leader in recruitment, development and performance pay for teachers. Commissioner Stewart served as Deputy Superintendent for Academic Services in St. Johns County, during which time the district was the highest performing district in the state. In 2011, she returned to DOE, and in 2013, the State Board of Education appointed her as Commissioner of Education.
Commissioner Stewart holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education/early childhood from the University of South Florida and a Master of Education in counselor education from the University of Central Florida. She earned her certification in educational leadership at Stetson University.
Nicole Washington – Miami Beach
Nicole Washington is a leader in higher education with more than 10 years of experience teaching, performing educational research and advocating for educational policy. As the State Policy Consultant for the Lumina Foundation she has worked to expand access and success for students in higher education and collaborated with organizations such as the Institute on Higher Education Policy, Education Commission on the States and Jobs for the Future. In Florida, Ms. Washington has served as the Associate Director of Governmental Relations for the State University System Board of Governors, as well as the Budget Director for Education in the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget (OPB).
Ms. Washington is a board member of Florida A&M University, the LeRoy Collins Institute and the Veterans Trust Board. She is also currently a member of Class VII of Connect Florida.
Ms. Washington graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Art degree and then attended Mercy College in New York earning a Master of Science in elementary education. Ms. Washington is also a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University where she earned a Master of Art in comparative education.

Alternate Members
Governor Scott has identified the following individuals to serve as alternates should one of the appointees not be able to fulfill their duties for the duration of the CRC:

  • Tom Kuntz, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the State University System of Florida
  • Don Eslinger, former Sheriff of Seminole County
  • Judge John Stargel, Circuit Judge in the Tenth Judicial Circuit

 

Florida League of Cities to Host Media Roundtable on 2017 Legislative Priorities

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The Florida League of Cities will host a media roundtable event with members of the Capitol Press Corps to discuss the League’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The League is Florida’s foremost advocacy organization on behalf of home rule powers and has served as the united voice for the state’s municipalities since 1922.
What: Media roundtable on 2017 legislative priorities
When: Monday, March 6
10:30 am
Where: Raymond C. Sittig Hall
301 S. Bronough Street (Kleman Plaza)
Tallahassee

Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.

Gov. Scott: State of Florida has Zero Tolerance for Hateful Acts Against the Jewish Community

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Governor Rick Scott released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcing plans to heighten outreach and support to Jewish Community Centers following bomb threats. 

Governor Rick Scott said, “I want to thank Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and the Trump administration for their attention to the threats against Jewish community centers, including many in Florida. The State of Florida is a great friend of Israel and we have absolutely zero tolerance for these hateful and anti-Semitic acts. We will continue to do all we can to help our Jewish communities and families.”