President Barack Obama is headed to Florida. Obama will tour a school in Miami and beat with former Gov. Jeb Bush, who has ruled out both running for the Republican presidential nomination and taking on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, before heading to a fund-raiser for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. Nelson will be on hand for the fund-raiser Obama will also be attending a fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a rising star for the Democrats, on Friday afternoon U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who is considering running in the Republican primary to take on Nelson in 2012, will be holding a town hall meeting in Fort Myers on Monday night. Mack will be joined by Mayor Randy Henderson of Fort Myers and Robert Levy of the Cato Institute
Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam toured the Panhandle on Tuesday, speaking with community leaders and fishers in Destin to explore ideas on how to restore consumer confidence in seafood from the Gulf Leaders from both parties met at a round table held by Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper on Tuesday in New Port Richey to focus on pill mills. Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, who is penciled in to take over as House speaker after the 2012 elections, and former Sen. Dave Aronberg, who ran for the Democratic attorney general nomination and is helping Attorney General Pam Bondi on the matter, were in attendance Who will be the next Democratic leader in the Florida House? Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Joe Gibbons of Pembroke Park will square off with Rep. Perry Thurston of Plantation in a caucus vote on Tuesday before the Legislature convenes
With Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, facing term limits in 2012, former Rep. Leslie Waters has expressed interest in running for the open seat. Waters, a Republican currently serving on the Seminole City Council and as vice mayor, was first elected to the Florida House in 1998 and served until 2006 when she faced term limits. During her last term, Waters served as speaker pro tempore Rep. Dwayne Taylor, D-Daytona Beach, continues touring the state to take aim at reforms for state employees benefits backed by Gov. Rick Scott ... The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus met in Tallahassee this past weekend and heard from a number of prominent politicians, including former U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel-Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, and Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum. Sally Phillips was chosen to lead the caucus
Former Gov. Charlie Crist is showing no signs of going away. On Monday, it was announced that Crist would be a part-time instructor at Stetson Universitys School of Law. Crist also went to bat for Dick Grecos mayoral campaign, recording a telephone call urging Tampa residents to get out and back Greco at the pollson Tuesday. Crist, who ran with no party affiliation for the U.S. Senate in 2010, is also keeping his connections with independent candidates. He took part in a telephone town hall earlier this week on behalf of Eliot Cutler who ran for governor of Maine with no party affiliation and the No Labels organization New Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson is enjoying a bit of the national spotlight with profiles in The Hill and Politic365. Yes, they both mention her many colorful hats Former Gov. Buddy MacKay was one of the keynote speakers at the University of Florida Levin College of Laws 17th annual Public Interest Environmental Conference last week. MacKay touched on energy matters in his speech.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
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