Florida is setting an unapologetic pro-freedom, pro-parental rights, child-focused example in education for other states to follow.

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." 

                                                                     ~Samuel Adams~ 

Donate to the Florida Disaster Fund

To contribute, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222. 

If you are like me, you get a lot of phone calls, texts, and emails about the slate of Republican candidates. Many of those reaching out are not limited to the county we serve, which leaves us scrambling to find a slate card for another county. In order to try and help this problem and to showcase the great work of our county parties, we have put together a resource that everyone is welcome to use. At www.FloridaRepublicanTeam.com you can find slate cards for a number of county parties (if we don't have yours, please reply to this email with it so we can update the site) as well as recommendations on judges.

I hope that you will find this resource useful and feel free to share.

Evan

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS

DeSantis vs. Crist Debate Tonight

The gubernatorial debate between Governor Ron DeSantis and his Democrat challenger Charlie Crist will take place tonight, October 24th. It will be the only scheduled debate between the candidates for governor in Florida.

Originally set to take place at the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce on Wednesday, October 12, Hurricane Ian forced a postponement until Monday October 24 at the same venue.

The rescheduled debate will air statewide as initially planned to begin at 7 p.m. In our region, the debate will be carried live by WPEC News-12 in West Palm Beach.

There will be no audience, and no tickets were sold for the debate.

The debate will occur after mail-in voting has already begun, and with early voting starting in many parts of Florida the same day as the debate.

Crist has trailed DeSantis in most public opinion polls.

The Fort Pierce Police Department advises that road closures in downtown Fort Pierce will begin at 3:00 PM and remain in effect until 11:00 PM. The public is asked to limit traffic in the area.

Special Session of the Legislature Called on Property Insurance

At an appearance in Fort Myers on Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a special legislative session would occur sometime in November or December aimed at addressing Florida’s struggling property insurance market, as well as providing targeted property tax relief for homeowners who lost their homes to Hurricane Ian. Exact dates were not announced. 

DeSantis also signed an executive order extending property tax payment deadlines in all counties designated as disaster zones by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) but said he did not have the authority to make the relief permanent. 

“I do not have the authority as governor to eliminate property tax obligations,” DeSantis said. “So, this will eliminate [those] payment dates. The reason we’re doing that is to give us time so that the legislature can come in sometime after the election but before the end of the year and provide rebates for the affected homeowners or property owners.”

Against a towering backdrop of hurricane debris, DeSantis said he had spoken with both incoming House Speaker Paul Renner and incoming Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and described them both as “eager” to come in and address both issues.

Over the last several years, a number of private insurance companies have pulled out of Florida or been declared financially insolvent and ceased operations entirely, causing a spike in homeowners insurance premiums as other companies scramble to absorb the increased demand. Much of the market has spilled over to the state-subsidized Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, which was created as “the insurer of last resort,” intended to be used only for a small number of homeowners who could not find insurance coverage anywhere else. But because of the failing market, the number of Citizens Insurance policyholders has exploded to nearly 1.1 million policies.

Florida Will Not Follow CDC COVID Changes to Childhood Immunization Schedule

Federal health officials voted Thursday to update their immunization schedule to include COVID-19 vaccines in its 2023 childhood immunization schedule. Members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved the changes to recommend the shots for children ages 18 and under.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday brought the issue up during a press conference in Fort Myers Beach, saying he will ensure the prohibition of vaccine mandates for kids if he continues to serve as governor.

“The fear is that schools could potentially mandate your child to get a COVID shot, even if that’s not something that you want to do,” he said. “So, I just want everyone to be clear: As long as I’m around, as long as I’m kicking and screaming, there will be no COVID shot mandates for your kids. That is your decision to make as a parent.”

A November 2021 Florida law already prohibits COVID vaccine mandates for students. The law states that “an educational institution or elected or appointed local official may not impose a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for any student.”

However, that section of the law expires June 1, 2023.

DeSantis continued: “These are new shots. I get a kick out of it when people try to compare it to MMR and stuff, things that have been around for decades and decades. So, parents by and large, most parents in Florida, have opted against doing these booster shots, particularly for the young kids. The surgeon general of Florida does not recommend this for young kids, for kids under 18.”

Another Month of Good Economic News for Florida

Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.5 percent in the month of September, the second lowest rate in the state’s recorded history and the lowest rate since October 2006. Florida also had the second fastest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the nation, growing at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2022 while the national GDP has declined for two consecutive quarters.

The September 2022 data demonstrates that Florida’s economy has remained strong. Florida’s private sector employment increased by 47,500 jobs over the month in September 2022, an increase of 0.6 percent and 0.4 percentage point faster than the national growth rate of 0.2 percent. Florida’s labor force grew by 3.0 percent over the year in September 2022, a full percentage point faster than the national labor force growth rate of 2.0 percent. Over the month, Florida’s labor force increased by 8,000 in September 2022 while the national labor force shrank

“Florida’s economy continues to outpace the national average- Floridians are finding jobs, and our state’s businesses are thriving. As we continue to support Southwest Florida communities in their recovery from Hurricane Ian, a resilient economy is paramount,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “With inflation still surging due to federal policies and with Southwest Florida recovering from Hurricane Ian, Florida has maintained sound fiscal and economic policies that will help us mitigate these challenges.”

“Leadership matters – Florida’s economy is strong, resilient, and positioned for continued success because of Governor DeSantis’ decisive leadership,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle. “Florida didn’t get lucky. Instead of locking people down during the pandemic, Governor DeSantis lifted people up, and we are seeing the impacts of this direction nationally. Now in Southwest Florida after Hurricane Ian, the unprecedented and dedicated response to recovery spearheaded by the Governor and First Lady sends a strong message to the region that Florida has your back, and we will rebuild stronger than before.”

Over the year, total private sector employment grew by 461,500 jobs (+5.8 percent), 1.4 percentage points faster than the national rate of 4.4 percent. Florida employers have added jobs for 29 consecutive months through September 2022, and Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nation for 18 consecutive months since April 2021. In September 2022, Florida’s labor force grew by 316,000 (+3.0 percent) over the year, faster than the national rate of 2.0 percent by 1.0 percentage point over the same time period.

 First Lady Casey DeSantis Has Launched Four Major Initiatives Since Governor DeSantis Was Elected

First Lady DeSantis has become a champion for fighting cancer in the State of Florida, helping to secure $100 million in recurring funding for cancer research and care in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget. Declared cancer free by doctors in February of 2022 herself, First Lady DeSantis travels the state visiting with patients to draw attention to the importance of early screening and to provide support and hope to families affected by cancer. In honor of her work devoted to this issue, the Florida Legislature recently renamed the Florida Consortium of National Institute Centers Program the “Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program.” 

In September of 2019, First Lady DeSantis spearheaded Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity, Economic Self-Sufficiency and Hope. Implemented through the Department of Children and Families, this initiative is uniting communities through ‘Care Navigators’ who guide Floridians on an individualized path to prosperity by focusing on collaboration between the private sector, faith-based community, nonprofits, and government entities – breaking down traditional community silos in an effort to maximize resources and uncover opportunities. Beneficiaries of this initiative include, but are not limited to, single parents, Floridians on government assistance, mothers contending with substance abuse disorders, and children aging out of the foster care system.

In March of 2022, First Lady DeSantis announced that the Hope Florida initiative hit the major milestone of providing family-centered assistance to more than 25,000 Floridians to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency. Any Floridian can learn more about connecting with a Pathway to Prosperity ‘Care Navigator’ by visiting HopeFlorida.com or by calling 850-300-HOPE.

In February of 2021, First Lady DeSantis launched her Resiliency Florida initiative – a partnership with professional sports teams and athletes – including Tom Brady, David Beckham, Peyton Manning, Lou Holtz, Tony Dungy, Urban Meyer, Crystal Thomas, Ali Marpet, Bryant McFadden, Mark Richt, Twan Russell, Corey Simon, Tra Thomas, Jonathan Vilma, Charlie Ward, Tyler Johnson, Joey Logano, Brandon Lowe, and Chris Mueller – to address the stigma surrounding mental health. These teams and athletes are lending their voices and personal stories of resilience and hope to empower Florida students to persevere through adversity.

Additionally, to support the Resiliency Florida initiative, First Lady DeSantis worked with the Department of Education to develop Character Education Standards to be taught in Florida’s K-12 schools. Passed unanimously by the State Board of Education in July of 2021, these are Florida’s first standards for Character Education, setting clear expectations for students and teachers and providing opportunities for students to learn how character contributes to the overall civic health of a society and understand the importance of resiliency, responsibility, and respect.

In December of 2019, First Lady DeSantis launched Florida’s “The Facts. Your Future.” campaign – a public affairs partnership between the Office of the Attorney General, the Florida Department of Health, and the Florida Department of Education. This initiative empowers students with the facts surrounding substance abuse and how it negatively impacts their lives. In March of 2022, First Lady DeSantis announced a major new phase of the initiative – the launch of a digital media campaign to send information to students through social media platforms, as well as a standalone website that contains “The Facts. Your Future.” content: TheFactsYourFuture.org.

First Lady DeSantis’ first major announcement was the Hope for Healing Florida initiative in May of 2019, which brought together stakeholders statewide to discuss new community-level solutions to address mental illness and substance abuse with emphasis on resources for children, veterans and first responders. The Hope for Healing website helps navigate the many ways Floridians can access available resources.

First Lady DeSantis attended the College of Charleston in South Carolina, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Economics and was a member of the International Economics Honors Society. There, she competed on the equestrian team and placed runner-up at the Division I NCAA National Championships. Additionally, she is a three-time national champion equestrian outside of school. Following her graduation from college, First Lady DeSantis worked for the PGA Tour as a producer and on-air host. Additionally, she worked for two Florida television stations in Jacksonville, where she held positions ranging from general assignment reporter, police beat reporter, weekend anchor, and morning anchor. She had the privilege of covering numerous military stories including deployments on the USS John F. Kennedy, the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier, and the USS Florida, a cruise missile submarine. For her work in television, First Lady DeSantis received an Emmy Award for on-air talent and two Emmy nominations: one for an investigative series called Real Life CSI and one for a documentary called Champion, The JT Townsend Story.

Stay up to date on Hurricane Ian Recovery:

Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Hurricane Ian Recovery (flgov.com)

Home | Florida Disaster

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHLEY MOODY

Florida Part of Coalition to Fight Biden Administration on Net-Zero CO2 by 2050

Last week, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, in a coalition with 19 other state attorneys general, filed comments before the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to push back against a Biden administration rule requiring all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to reduce on-road CO2 emissions to net-zero by 2050.

The comments argue that Congress has not given DOT authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

“Congress never gave the Department of Transportation the authority to implement these overbearing and widespread regulations—requiring all states to reduce on-road CO2 emissions to net-zero. This is just another example of Biden attempting to wield federal authority he does not have. Thankfully, state attorneys general are pushing back against this unlawful federal overreach,” Moody said.

In the comments filed with DOT, Moody and the coalition expressed concerns that DOT’s Federal Highway Administration overstepped its legal authority by proposing this measure. The coalition writes, “Given the Supreme Court recently made clear in West Virginia v. EPA that even the EPA cannot use its existing authority to take unprecedented and unauthorized actions to address climate change, such action is clearly beyond the authority Congress has given FHWA.”

The comments also note that the proposed measure violates the principles of federalism by requiring states to implement a federal regulatory program. The attorneys general note that the Supreme Court has said that “‘the Constitution protects us from our own best intentions: It divides power among sovereigns and among branches of government precisely so that we may resist the temptation to concentrate power in one location as an expedient solution to the crisis of the day.’”

Further, the attorneys general note that FHWA issued a similar rule, which was repealed after the agency determined that the measure may duplicate “existing efforts in some States” and imposed “unnecessary burdens on State DOTs and MPOs [Metropolitan planning organization] that were not contemplated by Congress.”

Moody was joined in signing on to the comments by the attorneys general of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

2022 Human Trafficking Summit

This week, the Attorney General launched the virtual 2022 Human Trafficking Summit. The annual summit provides participants with hours of educational content and presentations by experts about the latest in the fight to end human trafficking and help survivors heal.

This year, former Major League Baseball player Adam LaRoche delivered the keynote address. Adam dedicates much of his personal time advocating for victims of human trafficking. Through his E3 Ranch Foundation, Adam supports victims, raises awareness, and works with local law enforcement agencies to help educate and train first responders so they can better identify victims and safely execute rescue missions. Additionally, he serves as a task force officer with Homeland Security Investigations.

The summit also highlights ways the public can get involved in the fight. Breakout sessions provide information about spotting a victim of trafficking and what to do if you see something suspicious. Topics include how employers can help on this mission, the intersection of trafficking and domestic violence and what role virtual currency plays in the black market where traffickers conduct their unlawful trade.

The summit is available to access for free at HumanTraffickingSummit.com.

CFO JIMMY PATRONIS

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis Introduces Legislation to “Put the Brakes” on Attempts at Post-Storm Insurance Fraud

Chief Financial Officer Patronis is calling for a major overhaul in the way insurance is handled to prevent fraud in the wake of Hurricane Ian. His planned legislation in the upcoming session will address everything from bad public adjusters to helping consumers understand exactly what they’re signing in a post-storm environment. 

The announcement comes as new insurance claims come in every day in the wake of Hurricane Ian. 

“Public adjusters come into the market and there’s good public adjusters and there’s bad public adjusters,” Patronis said.

His plan will hopefully weed out bad public adjusters by reducing the amount they’re entitled to immediately following a storm by creating a schedule of how Florida residents’ payments will be laid out.

To read the announcement in full, click here. 

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO

40 The International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO and The South Florida Council of Fire Fighters (SFCFF) Have Endorsed Marco Rubio’s Re-election to the Senate. 

“On behalf of the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, I am proud to endorse your campaign for reelection to the United States Senate,” Sam A. Cabral International President of the International Union of Police Associations said. “You have long been an advocate for public safety and the brave men and women who provide it. Your vote and advocacy for issues important to us and our mission have been unwavering.” The endorsement letter may be found here. 

“In working with you and your staff, our organization has enjoyed a decades-long history of your advocacy, dating back to your days on West Miami’s City Commission,” John O’Brien, SFCFF President said of the endorsement. “On occasions where we have not seen eye-to-eye, I can attest to your willingness to meet with our organization in an effort to better appreciate our perspective.” The endorsement letter may be found here. 

The First and Only Debate Between Rubio and Demings Took Place on October 18^th

RUBIO PUT ON “A MASTER CLASS ON HOW TO DEBATE”

“Rubio bests Demings in their only Senate debate. Clear, specific, and detailed versus vague, abstract, and ad hominem.” – The American Spectator

“[Rubio’s] responses contained a level of detail that Ms. Demings’s did not.” – New York Times

“That was a master class on how to debate.”

– Morgan Ortagus on The Hugh Hewitt Show

“I’m not sure she adequately made the case for why you should vote for her.” – Jim DeFede on CBS Miami

“Sen. Marco Rubio stood strong as he debated a shrill and desperate Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) who is looking to unseat him as he runs for re-election.” – Townhall

“Rubio experience wins out in heated debate with Dem challenger, who opts to frolic in the mud.” – BizPac Review

“Rubio highlighted the sheer absurdity of Demings’ grandiose claims, reminding the audience that it has ‘never been easier to vote’ in the United States.” – Breitbart

“Rubio brutally counters Demings’ voter suppression accusation during debate.” – The Floridian

“Rubio shows how to talk abortion and election integrity.” – PJ Media

Attention Sebastian Residents: Three Construction Board Vacancies

Ryan Blade, Precinct Committeeman, PCT 10

The City of Sebastian has the following vacancies on its Construction Board:

·       One Regular Member, Contractor Position – Term expiring 9/2024

·       One Regular Member, HARV Contractor Position – Term expiring 9/2025

·       One Alternate Member, Contractor Position – Term expiring 9/2025

The role of the Construction Board is to advise the Sebastian City Council on “matters” affecting contractors or the construction industry within the Sebastian City Limits, according to a Press Release.

The Construction Board meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6PM. It has seven regular members and two alternate members.

According to the City of Sebastian’s website the Construction Board “approves applications for contractor licensing and conduct licensing violation hearings.”

To apply for the role, applicants must reside within the City of Sebastian for at least one year.

Construction Board positions are subject to financial reporting requirements.

If Sebastian City Council fills a vacancy with an alternate member, the City Council reserves the right to fill the alternate position with remaining applicants.

Applications are available from either the Sebastian City Clerk’s Office or online at cityofsebastian.org. Sebastian City Hall is open Monday through Friday 8AM to 4:30PM.

Applications for the positions will be accepted until open positions are filled.