[Tallahassee, FL] Lawmakers’ second attempt at a Senate redistricting map that would meet constitutional muster passed the Florida House on a relatively narrow 61-47 margin Tuesday, with House Democrats and Miami-Dade Republicans complaining that the new plan represented little real improvement over the first.

Every Republican member of the Miami-Dade caucus and Rep. Denise Grimsley (R-77/Sebring) joined Democrats in opposing the plan.

In debate that lasted little more than an hour, supporters argued that the changes in the maps systematically answered each of the objections that the Florida Supreme Court lodged to the original Senate plan.

Justices threw out the first draft of the Senate map for violating the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments approved by voters in a November 2010 referendum.

House Redistricting Committee Chairman Will Weatherford (R-61/Wesley Chapel) also pointed out that the failure to pass a map would result in the Supreme Court drawing its own plan – something that would happen anyway if the court strikes down the second draft.

“If this map doesn’t pass, what this body is doing is abdicating its responsibility to the Supreme Court,” Weatherford said.

Photo: FL House

Rep. Jeanette Nunez criticized the new map’s “blatant disregard for the Hispanic population”

But Democrats said the second draft was plagued by the same problems as the first: carving up the state to favor Republicans who dominate the Legislature despite having fewer registered voters and preserving incumbents. They hammered the plan for drawing only two incumbents into the same district.

“It kind of reminds me of the gang that couldn’t shoot straight,” said Rep. Franklin Sands (D-98/Weston).

Republicans brushed off the suggestions that only having one district where two senators would be forced to run against each other – and where Sen. David Simmons (R-22/Maitland) has already said he will move to avoid that showdown – violated the constitutional ban on intentionally favoring incumbents.

A Democratic alternative by Rep. Evan Jenne (D-100/Dania Beach) – who said it would force a fifth of Senate incumbents to face off with each other – was shot down on a party line, 72-36 vote.

But even Democratic members of the House noted that the map was mostly put forward to offer an alternative for the Supreme Court to look at when it reviews the new map.

The Florida Democratic Party‘s response was more succinct: “We’ll see you in court,” spokeswoman Brannon Jordan said in a statement issued moments after the vote.

Meanwhile, Republicans from Southeast Florida raised objections of their own, saying the map violated the Voting Rights Act by not including a fourth district in Miami-Dade that would clearly allow the Hispanic community an opportunity to elect a candidate of its choice.

Photo: FL House

Redistricting rages: Rep. Sands called the Senate “the gang that couldn’t shoot straight”

Amendments carving out that district were repeatedly rejected in the upper chamber.

“And here we are again, having to justify the blatant disregard for the Hispanic population of Miami-Dade County,” said Rep. Jeanette Nunez (R-112/Miami).

House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R-113/Miami) said he believed a fourth district would be created at some point, with a challenge under the Voting Rights Act likely if the Supreme Court allows the new map to stand.

“I just wish the Florida Senate had done it and not left it to the judiciary to do so,” he said.

By: Brandon Larrabee/The News Service of Florida

Image: Rep. Evan Jenne (photo: FL House)

redistricting

[Tallahassee, FL] With the new Florida Senate redistricting maps expected to easily pass the House next week, lawmakers in the upper chamber and potential candidates for those seats are beginning to evaluate their electoral futures.

For a few, the decisions are where and whether to run for another term. And at least one legislative leader is already openly pondering whether to serve out the four-year term that he would be awarded by the literal bounce of the ping-pong ball.

Much of the soul-searching would have been avoided under the first Senate plan, which critics said did not pair any incumbents and left everyone with a clear seat drawn for them. Things are not as clear the second time around.

Perhaps the most intense decisions will be made by those lawmakers who are facing decisions based on the districts they were drawn into or out of. For example, Sen. David Simmons (R-22/Maitland) said he will relocate after being drawn into the same district with fellow GOPer Sen. Andy Gardiner (R-9/Orlando) slated to become Senate president in 2014.

“I will move back to Seminole County,” Simmons said.

The freshman senator noted that he lived in Seminole for more than 15 years, moving to Maitland about six years ago, and owns several residences.

Almost 65% of the new District 10 – which includes all of Seminole County – is current in Simmons’ District 22.

Photo: FL Senate

Tough decision ahead for Sen. Maria Sachs after redistricting

A tougher decision might be ahead for Sen. Maria Sachs (D-30/Boca Raton). Despite media reports to the contrary, Sachs apparently lives in the new District 25. That places her just outside of the reconfigured District 34, which includes Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff (R-25/Fort Lauderdale) and contains about 40% of Sachs’ current district.

Both of the new districts are staunchly Democratic, but running in District 25 could spark a contested primary between Sachs and Rep. Joe Abruzzo (D-85/Wellington) who is expected to run in that district.

“What we all need to do is we need to just hold the powder and see exactly how the lines are drawn by the court – if they are going to confirm our lines or draw their own,” Sachs said after the Senate wrapped up its end of the redistricting process.

She sidestepped a question on whether she would run against a fellow Democrat, saying she would decide where to make her bid after doing a statistical analysis of the new districts.

“I will run,” she said. “I’m going to fight for the people in Broward and in Palm Beach.”

Other lawmakers face different questions. Sen. Don Gaetz (R-4/Niceville) would be allowed to hold onto his seat until 2016 under the current map – two years after his term as Senate president would come to an end. That’s because he was assigned an odd number in the raffle the Senate Reapportionment Committee held to decide which lawmakers would get two-year terms and which would get four years.

Gaetz said he hasn’t decided whether to stay on after his leadership role came to an end.

Photo: FL House

Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera praises Republican House members in May 2011.

“That’s probably more in the hands of Vicky Gaetz than Don Gaetz,” he said. “We had not really made plans beyond the Senate presidency if I’m fortunate enough to serve.”

He also noted that the maps and the new numbering system have to be approved by the Florida Supreme Court, which scrapped the old numbering system for favoring incumbents.

“I’m not going to do any long-term leases in Tallahassee,” he added.

Of course, all the questions revolve around the Supreme Court’s approval and the House being willing to go along with the Senate plan. Already, there are some signs of disquiet over the measure.

Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-36/Miami) who fought for a fourth strongly Hispanic district in Miami-Dade County, said some House lawmakers might continue his fight.

House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R-113/Miami) said he believed the Senate made a mistake by not drawing the fourth district. He noted that there are 1.6 million Hispanics in Miami-Dade County according to the 2010 Census, and an ideal Senate district includes about 470,000 people – meaning that three districts filled with nothing but Hispanics could be drawn with a significant number still left over.

But Lopez-Cantera said he has to study the issue further and it is “too soon to say yet” whether he will try to amend the plan.

“On the surface, I am not pleased with the Senate map,” he said.

By: Brandon Larrabee/The News Service of Florida

Lead image: FL Sen. David Simmons of Maitland

redistricting

[Tallahassee, FL] The battle rages on in Tallahassee during a special session designed to meet the criteria set forth by the state’s highest court and voter-passed amendments.

Racial and even moral conflicts entered the already-contentious redistricting process Wednesday as a key Florida Senate committee sent a proposed map to the floor despite Hispanic and conservative Christian disagreements with some elements of the plan.

The maps passed the Senate Reapportionment Committee on a day that at times veered between the unusual and the surreal.

District numbers for the upper chamber’s new redistricting plan – necessary because the Florida Supreme Court threw out the maps – were selected in part by a raffle-style drawing. That prompted one Senate Republican to accuse the panel of breaking the state’s gambling laws.

And the racial politics of Miami-Dade County, which had been relatively muted throughout the redistricting process, have begun to boil over in a battle over whether to create a fourth majority-Hispanic district in the county.

The most unique flare-up of the day came when senators essentially raffled off odd and even seats. Because of the way the state’s term limit laws work, an odd or even seat can mean the difference between a lawmaker serving an eight-year term or getting an extra two years.

Photo: FL Senate

Sen. Gary Siplin raises an issue during a recent committee hearing

The original Senate map gave almost every incumbent in the chamber an opportunity to serve as long as 10 years, one of several aspects of the plan that the Florida Supreme Court said violated the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments approved by voters in a 2010 referendum.

But the raffle upset some lawmakers who are opposed to gambling and said the new system sent the wrong message.

“I believe that there are people all across the state of Florida that will be very, very deeply offended by the Florida Senate casting lots to make a decision,” said Sen. Ronda Storms (R-10/Valrico).

Storms later called a point of order and asked for an opinion by Attorney General Pam Bondi during the raffle, saying Senate staff might be committing a misdemeanor by running the operation. Senate Reapportionment Chairman Don Gaetz (R-4/Niceville), rejected the point but said Storms was free to ask for an opinion from Bondi.

“This isn’t a lottery,” he told reporters. “This is the minority leader and the majority leader advising me as to what they believe ought to be put in the amendment that describes the assignment of senatorial district numbers.”

Storms said she would file an amendment to reorder the districts and make sure incumbents serve no longer than eight years – though she admitted the measure was likely to fail. The current way, she said, would damage the institution over the long term.

Photo: FL Senate

Sen. Evers (L) and Sen. Diaz de la Portilla (R) exchange ideas during 2011 session

“Even though these particular 40 Senators are serving, I think that we have diminished the decorum and the stature of the state of Florida by twirling balls around in a basket and having the secretary of the Senate call out numbers,” Storms said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-36/Miami) said he would take his fight to create a fourth majority-Hispanic seat in Miami-Dade County to the Senate floor. Diaz de la Portilla would turn the district represented by Sen. Gwen Margolis (D-35/North Miami Beach) into one where non-black Hispanics would comprise 66.2% of the voting-age population.

But he brushed aside claims that the effort was meant to help his brother, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who has filed to run for Margolis’ seat.

“Whoever wants to run for that district, that potential fourth Hispanic seat, will have to run and compete with a number of other people, because it will be an open seat,” Miguel Diaz de la Portilla said.

Margolis, in a debate with Diaz de la Portilla in front of reporters, dismissed those claims and said Diaz de la Portilla’s amendment could lock whites out of the county’s delegation.

“This amendment, if it makes a fourth seat in Dade County a protected seat, disenfranchises every Anglo,” said Margolis, who is white. “There will never be an Anglo member of the Florida Senate from Dade County if this amendment passes.”

Photo: FL Senate

Sen. Nan H. Rich presents during session in honor of FSU Day at the Capitol

Diaz de la Portilla portrayed Margolis as an incumbent attempting to cling to power and said deciding not to create the fourth district could open the map up to a challenge under the federal Voting Rights Act.

“You have incumbency protection on the one hand versus enfranchising language minorities on the other,” he said.

The map ultimately passed on a 21-6 vote, with Margolis and three other Democrats joining every Republican in approving the plan. In a separate vote, five Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. Gary Siplin (D-19/Orlando), opposed renumbering the districts through the raffle.

Democrats who opposed the overall plan said it didn’t go far enough to address justices’ concerns about eight districts, the numbering system and the division of the city of Lakeland.

“We have fixed a few things,” said Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich (D-34/Weston). “But I think the map simply does not fix a number of the things that the court suggested to us that needed to be corrected.”

Republicans, though, said the map was a success despite the arduous process.

“This is as good a product as you can possibly get,” said Sen. Nancy Detert (R-23/Venice).

By: Brandon Larrabee/The News Service of Florida

Lead image: Former Senate president, Democratic Senator Gwen Margolis during a 2011 Senate committee hearing (photo: FL Senate)

redistricting

[Washington, D.C.] During this morning’s appearance on CNN‘s State of the Union hosted by political analyst Candy Crowley, Gov. Rick Scott chided all of the Republican presidential primary campaigns for not talking enough about jobs while giving a wink-wink to voters over who he likes in the race.

While he did stop short of fully endorsing any candidate in the race, he did mention Mitt Romney by name multiple times, seemingly giving the nod to the former Massachusetts Governor, mega-millionaire businessman and current leader of the Republican presidential primary.

“I think what’s hard is it’s not like you can have ten people saying the same thing,” said Scott. “So somebody’s going to have to be in the lead. And in this case, I mean, Mitt Romney has done a better job.”

Crowley pressed him to endorse, but Scott wisely refused. But Scott name dropped Romney yet again as the pair talked about Florida’s Republican Hispanic voters.

“Well, I mean, the – the Latino vote is – look, the Latino vote cares about family. I mean, if you look at Governor Romney’s family, he’s been very successful. He’s built a great family, very committed to his wife,” Scott said.

He wasn’t through.

“He’s somebody that’s been successful in life. So I think if they look at his background, it’s what they want. They care about their families. They care about, you know, somebody that’s been successful in business. That’s what they care about. So I think that’s part of what his attraction to the Latino vote,” added Scott.

An outright endorsement from Gov. Scott in the Republican presidential primary? No. A wink-wink, “Romney’s my man”? Absolutely.

Crowley also asked Scott about his “kind of in the basement” approval ratings and how they might affect the upcoming general election.

“You know what the chatter is out there, that there is worry by some anonymous folks that say he’s going to be a drag on the ticket in Florida. Do you worry about that?,” inquired Crowley.

Scott dodged the question, or at least steered it away from the “drag” issue.

“I’m going to have an election in three years,” said Scott. “And they’ll decide. And hopefully in my election, it’s what I get judged on every third Friday of every month. Tell me what the unemployment number is. Now down 2.1%, second biggest drop in the country. That’s how I’ll get judged.”

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Republican presidential primary

[Washington, D.C.] This week, with Florida the center of attention thanks to Tuesday’s Republican primary, Marco Rubio – the U.S. Senator from the Sunshine State by way of Miami – found himself back in Washington, D.C., joining the rest of his fellow senators to start the second session of the 112th Congress.

They are part of the least-popular Congress in history, mind you.

Rubio wasted no time, he hit the ground running, raising a ruckus over the national debt and hammering Senate Democrats for failing to pass a budget for over 1,000 days. He also blasted the president for “counterproductive” tax measures hours before Obama delivered his State of the Union Address.

It’s the kind of talk that has gained Rubio a following across the red parts of the country – that and his Hispanic heritage and made-for-the-History Channel back story. It is no wonder the charismatic son of Cuban immigrants is being bandied about as a possible vice presidential candidate to run alongside Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney.

But Rubio has always denied that there is interest in joining a ticket and has gone out of his way to keep the kingmaker wolves at bay (at least until after Florida’s contentious Republican primary).

In a recent interview with USA Today, Rubio was singing the same tune:

Q: Speaking of vice president, has any campaign vetted you for the job?

A: Not even talked to me about it… Look guys, I get all that. But we’re not really focused on that. It’s not something we’ve talked about with anybody.

Here’s the bottom line: I want to do everything I can to ensure that Barack Obama doesn’t get a second term. Nothing personal. I think the man is a good father (and) a good husband. I believe he loves his country. But I think he is a believer in a flawed ideology and I think his policies reflect it. And I want to see him defeated and I want to do anything I can and almost everything I can to help our nominee win, but I don’t believe that’s going to be in the role of vice president.

Photo: Sen. Marco Rubio's Office

Sen. Marco Rubio (shown visiting Libya) is staying out of the Republican primary

Helping his chances with either of the Republican primary frontrunners – if he does eventually change his mind, that is – is the fact that he refuses to endorse anyone before Tuesday’s primary. That’s just smart politics any way you slice it.

Plus, both Gingrich and Romney helped him win his Senate seat via endorsements and stumping, so how could he choose between the two?

“I’m not going to referee or somehow (be an) arbiter of Florida,” Rubio was quoted as saying. “Voters don’t need me in that role.”

Staff Mobile Office Hours

Rubio’s staff will be hosting Mobile Office Hours to meet with constituents and assist them with federal issues in their own communities.

All times listed below are local:

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012

Lake County
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
W.T. Bland Public Library
1995 North Donnelly Street
Mount Dora, FL 32757

Sumter County
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Villages Public Library at Belvedere
325 Belvedere Boulevard
The Villages, FL 32162

Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012

Miami-Dade County
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street
Miami, FL 33128

Putnam County
3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Palatka Public Library
601 College Road
Palatka, FL 32177

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

Brevard County
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Melbourne Public Library
540 E. Fee Ave
Melbourne, FL 32901

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Sen. Marco Rubio’s website

Republican primary

[Tallahassee, FL] According to Florida Department of Education officials, the Florida graduation rate for high school students is as high as it has ever been. The number – which now sits at 80.1% – is a 1.1% improvement over last year, part of a six-year climb upward.

That’s a 10% improvement since 2006-07, something everyone in the system can be proud of.

“I want to commend Florida’s teachers, students, parents and school leaders for their dedication to helping their students learn and earn their high school diplomas,” said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “As educators, we each play a significant role in helping our students achieve academic success, and graduation is one critical step toward the path to college and career.”

Hispanic and African-American students have even made greater strides since 2006-2007, with Hispanic graduation rates increasing 13% and African-American rates increasing 11.5% during that period. This year Hispanics were at 77.3% (up 2% from last year) while African-Americans showed no growth from last year, achieving a rate of 68.4%.

The Florida graduation rate for White students was up 1.4% to 86.8%.

There is also good news when it comes to high school drop-outs, as Florida’s rate dropped below 2% at 1.9%, the first time it has been that low. In 2006-2007, the rate was 3.6%.

The figures exclude General Educational Development diplomas, otherwise known as GEDs.

More localized data as well as broken down by race:

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Justin Brockie

Related reading:

More stringent FCAT grading could leave 15000 more below passing mark statewide (Palm Beach Post) Education commissioner Gerard Robinson on Monday defended his recommendations to raise the scores needed to pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, telling The Palm Beach Post editorial board that the tougher scores will better ensure that …

Pasco Graduation Rates Above State Average (Patch.com) That news, released by the Florida Department of Education today, has Pasco County school officials celebrating. Pasco’s Florida Graduation Rate number of 88.5 percent beats the state’s 81.2 percent average handily. The county also beat state …

State University Chancellor says Florida grads need to focus more on science … (Palm Beach Post) In a rapidly changing economy, Florida must reinvent its university system by placing a greater emphasis on …

Florida graduation rate

[Tallahassee, FL] In what pretty much everybody is calling a surprise, earlier today Gov. Rick Scott appointed John M. Martinez – the son of former U.S. Senator/Orange County Mayor Mel Martinez – as Orange County Commissioner for District 3.

“John’s leadership ability is evident through his professional service and his broad community involvement,” said Scott. “I am confident he will bring the highest levels of integrity and ethics to the commission.”

Martinez, who will be the D3 Commissioner for less than a year, is replacing current temp Lui Damiani. Damiami was appointed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist to fill the vacancy left when Commissioner Mildred Fernandez found herself in hot water – and on video tape – taking bribes for official duties.

Damiani’s appointment was controversial as Fernandez was the only Hispanic on the Orange County Commission – and Damiani was not, as was repeatedly pointed out by the local Hispanic population. Martinez’s appointment should appease Orange County’s large and ever-growing (nearly 40%) Hispanic population, who now has a seat (albeit only one) at the seven-seat table (six commissioners and the county mayor).

And speaking of Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs (also a Republican), she weighed-in, saying that she supported, “Gov. Scott’s choice of John Martinez who has agreed not to seek election during the 2012 cycle. This demonstrates the Governor’s commitment to responsible leadership while ensuring a fair and level playing field in this upcoming election.”

But not everyone is pleased with Gov. Rick Scott‘s appointment. The Black, Latino and Puerto Rican Alliance for Justice called the naming of Martinez to the position “insulting.”

Photo: White House photo

Mel Martinez in the White House with President George W. Bush

“The organized Republican Cuban Political Machine which has so often pretended to speak for Puerto Ricans and Latinos got its biggest payoff to date with the appointment today of John Melquiades Martinez to the office of County Commissioner for District 3,” said the group’s statement. “He does not live in the District and has never been active. The Governor, a dedicated Republican who appears ignorant of Orange’s true Hispanic community, sought an “Hispanic” figure to pump up his popularity.”

The group points out that Puerto Ricans – the single largest segment of Orange County’s Hispanic Community at 140,000 strong – are not truly represented by the “inexperienced” nominee to the post. They say that Cuban Republicans, who make up less than 5% of the population, “cannot speak for 308,344 Hispanics” in Orange County.

Martinez, 30, will not seek re-election as part as the deal reached with Scott. He is appointed for a term beginning today and ending Nov. 19, 2012.

Martinez, an Orlando lawyer, has been the VP of Gardnyr Michael Capital Inc. since 2010. Curiously, Gardnyr Michael Capital helps municipalities – such as counties – obtain financing for various projects.

From 2006-2010, Martinez worked for Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor and Reed P.A. as an associate attorney. He secured his law degree from Florida State University.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected by Governor Scott to serve Orange County and District 3,” said new Commissioner Martinez. “As a native to Orange County, this is a unique and special opportunity to give back to a community where I have lived and worked my whole life. I am eager to get to work as an advocate for the residents of this district.”

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Gov. Rick Scott‘s office

Rick Scott