After months of denying he did anything wrong, Scott Maddox, a former chairman of the Florida Democratic Party and veteran Tallahassee politico, will appear before a federal judge during the coming week and is expected to plead guilty to corruption-related charges.
Maddox, who most recently served as a Tallahassee city commissioner, and his longtime aide and personal friend, Paige Carter-Smith, were indicted last year on allegations of wrongdoing stemming from the operation of two companies. The 44-count indictment also accused Maddox and Carter-Smith of lying to federal agents, defrauding a bank and violating tax laws.
The notice of Tuesday’s change-of-plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle doesn’t say whether Maddox and Carter-Smith intend to plead guilty to some or all of the charges.
A multi-year FBI probe into city corruption --- which included undercover agents posing as developers --- became an obstacle last year for Democrat Andrew Gillum in his race for governor against Republican Ron DeSantis. Then-candidate DeSantis accused Gillum, a former Tallahassee mayor who also had served on the city commission, of being a target of the FBI sting, which the Democrat repeatedly denied.
But Gillum was wrapped up in at least part of the probe. In January, the state ethics commission unanimously found probable cause that Gillum, as mayor, violated ethics laws for allegedly accepting gifts from Tallahassee entrepreneur Adam Corey and undercover FBI agents posing as developers. Corey had been a close friend of Gillum and lobbied city officials.
The allegations involved trips the former mayor took to Costa Rica and New York, a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty and a ticket to the Broadway hit, “Hamilton.” The ethics commission in June agreed to a settlement in which Gillum paid $5,000 and four of the five charges of ethics violations against him were dropped.
When the settlement was reached in April, Gillum, who’s now a political commentator on CNN, called the agreement “vindication.” The results “confirm what I’ve said all along --- the facts matter and I never knowingly violated any ethics laws,” Gillum said at the time.
MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019
PROPERTY TAXES ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss ad valorem, or property, taxes. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Occupational Therapy will hold a conference call. (Monday, 9 a.m., Call-in number: 1-888-585-9008. Code: 564341766.)
UF FACILITIES AT ISSUE: The Committee on Facilities and Capital Investments of the University of Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Monday, 10 a.m., University of Florida, 123 Tigert Hall, Gainesville.)
RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Broward County. (Monday, 10 a.m., Aging & Disability Resource Center, 5300 Hiatus Road, Sunrise. Also, 1 p.m., Hallandale Beach Library, 300 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach.)
MOODY FOCUSES ON AUTOMOTIVE FRAUD: Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will hold a news conference in Duval County about efforts to fight automotive fraud. (Monday, 10:15 a.m., Office of the Attorney General, 1300 Riverplace Blvd., #405, Jacksonville.)
PHARMACY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Pharmacy will meet in Hillsborough County. (Monday, 11 a.m., Four Points by Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore, 4400 West Cypress St., Tampa.)
RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES ON TABLE: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will analyze the Risk Management Trust Fund. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
MEDICAID EXPANSION WEIGHED: State analysts will hold a workshop to discuss the financial impacts of a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand Medicaid coverage. The proposal would offer Medicaid coverage to low-income adults who currently are not eligible. Florida lawmakers have repeatedly rejected such an expansion, which is optional for states as part of the federal Affordable Care Act. The proposed constitutional amendment would expand eligibility to people whose incomes are up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, an amount that varies depending on the number of people in a family. Under state law, analysts, meeting as the Financial Impact Estimating Conference, are required to look at how such initiatives would affect revenues and costs for state and local governments. A new state law (HB 5) also requires the analysts to evaluate impacts to the economy and the state budget. Backers of the proposed constitutional amendment hope to put the issue on the 2020 ballot but acknowledge it might get pushed back to 2022. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
ACOSTA SPEAKS AT TEA PARTY EVENT: Republican Christian Acosta, who is running in Congressional District 21, is slated to speak during a meeting of the Palm Beach County Tea Party. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., is running for re-election in the district. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Abacoa Golf Club, 105 Barbados Dr., Jupiter.)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2019
RUBIO TAKES PART IN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, will take part in a “Women in Small Business Roundtable” discussion with the National Women’s Business Council. The discussion will focus on female entrepreneurship in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, University Student Center, 140 Seventh Ave. South, St. Petersburg.)
PHARMACY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Pharmacy will meet in Hillsborough County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Four Points by Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore, 4400 West Cypress St., Tampa.)
UTILITY ISSUES CONSIDERED: The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a series of issues involving electric utilities and water and wastewater utilities. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
PRE-K PROGRAM EYED: The Early Learning Programs Education Conference will discuss issues involving the voluntary pre-kindergarten program. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami. Also, 10 a.m., Lighthouse Point Library, 2200 N.E. 38th St., Lighthouse Point.)
MADDOX CHANGES PLEA: Former Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox, a onetime chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, will appear before U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle to change his plea in a 44-count indictment on corruption-related charges. Maddox’s longtime aide, Paige Carter-Smith, who was also indicted, is also expected to change her plea. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., U.S. Courthouse, 111 North Adams St., Tallahassee.)
CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES ON TABLE: The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida will hold a press briefing in Miami-Dade County about civil-rights issues facing communities of color. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. Reporters may contact the ACLU of Florida for location information in Miami.)
MEDICAID FORMULA AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or FMAP, which helps determine how much money the federal government provides to Florida for the Medicaid program. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
MEDICAID EXPENDITURES ANALYZED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze expenditures in the Medicaid program. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
AEROSPACE EXPANSION EYED: U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., and Space Florida President Frank DiBello will be among the speakers during a Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce event about expanding the aerospace industry in Volusia County. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Jim Henderson Welcome Center, 600 South Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach.)
ST. JOHNS BIKE TRAIL EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house on plans for a 1.2-mile stretch of a multi-use trail in New Smyrna Beach that is part of the St. Johns River to the Sea Loop Trail. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Brannon Center, 105 South Riverside Dr., New Smyrna Beach.)
BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK FISHING AT ISSUE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold the first in a series of workshops about proposed rule changes for fishing in Biscayne National Park. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., University of Miami, Newman Alumni Center, 6200 San Amaro Dr., Coral Gables.)
SALES TAX ‘HOLIDAY’ ENDS: A sales-tax “holiday” for back-to-school shoppers will end at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. During the period, which started Friday, shoppers are able to avoid paying sales taxes on clothes and shoes costing $60 or less, school supplies costing $15 or less and personal computers and accessories costing $1,000 or less.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019
RURAL COUNTIES AT ISSUE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss issues related to fiscally constrained counties, which generally are rural counties. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
PAROLE CASES ON TABLE: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
EDUCATION PROJECTS ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze the Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO, program. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The state Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, 101 Rhyne Building, 2740 Centerview Dr., Tallahassee.)
RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Broward and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 West Sample Road, Coral Springs. Also, 10 a.m., Hope Community Center, 2198 Four Winds Blvd., Kissimmee. Also, 10 a.m., city of Miramar’s 2019 Career & Education Fair, Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar. Also, 2 p.m., West Osceola Library, 305 Campus St., Kissimmee.)
TOBACCO TAXES ON TABLE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will take up issues related to tobacco taxes. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK FISHING AT ISSUE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue a series of workshops about proposed rule changes for fishing in Biscayne National Park. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Florida City City Hall, 404 West Palm Dr., Florida City.)
WATER RATES DISCUSSED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting in Lake County about a rate proposal by Raintree Waterworks, Inc. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Tavares Civic Center, 100 East Caroline St., Tavares.)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2019
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)
LOTTERY LOOKED AT: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze issues related to the lottery. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS AT ISSUE: The Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators is scheduled to meet in Orange County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 6850 Westwood Blvd., Orlando.)
RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Volusia, Broward, Hendry, Seminole and Manatee counties. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Ormond Beach Senior Center, 351 Andrews St., Ormond Beach. Also, 10 a.m., Southwest Ranches Town Hall, 13400 Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches. Also, 10 a.m., LaBelle City Hall, 481 West Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle. Also, 1 p.m., Miramar Branch Library, 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar. Also, 1:30 p.m., in conjunction with the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, Seminole County Library, 215 North Oxford Road, Casselberry. Also, 2 p.m., Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Dr., Holmes Beach.)
CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES ON TABLE: The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida will hold a press briefing in Duval County about civil-rights issues facing communities of color. (Thursday, 11 a.m. Reporters may contact the ACLU of Florida for location information in Jacksonville.)
BEAN, BYRD HOLD OFFICE HOURS: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, will host joint office hours in Duval County. (Thursday, noon, Beaches Branch Library, 600 Third St., Neptune Beach.)
FINANCIAL AID ON TABLE: The Education Estimating Conference will consider student financial-aid issues. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT CONSIDERED: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze enrollment in the Florida College System. (Thursday, 3 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
BEAN, FISCHER HOLD OFFICE HOURS: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, will host joint office hours in Duval County. (Thursday, 3 p.m., Mandarin Branch Library, 3330 Kori Road, Jacksonville.)
BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK FISHING AT ISSUE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue a series of workshops about proposed rule changes for fishing in Biscayne National Park. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Murray E. Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo.)
GAS RATE INCREASE DISCUSSED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting about a proposal by Sebring Gas Systems, Inc. for a rate increase in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Jack Stroup Civic Center, 355 West Center Ave., Sebring.)
PHYSICAL THERAPY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Physical Therapy will meet in Duval County. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 East Coastline Dr., Jacksonville.)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019
PHYSICAL THERAPY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Physical Therapy will meet in Duval County. (Friday, 8 a.m., Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 East Coastline Dr., Jacksonville.)
MEDICAID EXPANSION WEIGHED: State analysts will hold a meeting to consider the financial impacts of a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand Medicaid coverage. The proposal would offer Medicaid coverage to low-income adults who currently are not eligible. Florida lawmakers have repeatedly rejected such an expansion, which is optional for states as part of the federal Affordable Care Act. The proposed constitutional amendment would expand eligibility to people whose incomes are up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, an amount that varies depending on the number of people in a family. Under state law, analysts, meeting as the Financial Impact Estimating Conference, are required to look at how such initiatives would affect revenues and costs for state and local governments. A new state law (HB 5) also requires the analysts to evaluate impacts to the economy and the state budget. Backers of the proposed constitutional amendment hope to put the issue on the 2020 ballot but acknowledge it might get pushed back to 2022. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
CANCER CONTRACT FIGHT IN COURT: Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker will hold a hearing in a dispute over a new state law that sparked a bitter feud between one of Florida’s largest cancer-care companies and physicians who formerly worked for the firm. Part of the law retroactively negates no-compete clauses in contracts 21st Century Oncology had with the doctors. (Friday, 9 a.m., U.S. Courthouse, 111 North Adams St., Tallahassee.)
HEALTHY KIDS BOARD MEETS: The Florida Healthy Kids Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to meet in Orange County. (Friday, 9 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)
CIRCUIT JUDGE CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED: The 9th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is scheduled to interview candidates for a circuit-judge position. The 9th Circuit is made up of Orange and Osceola counties. Candidates scheduled to be interviewed are Robert Dunaway, Eric DuBois, John Beamer, Heather Trick, Christine Lomas, Barbara Leach, Hallie Zobel, Craig McCarthy, Harold Bacchus, Vincent Chiu, Kafi Kennedy Swanson, Sonia McDowell, Charles Hart II, Gisela Laurent, Mikaela Nix, Lydia LaBar, Mark Skipper and Andrew Bain. (Friday, 9 a.m., GrayRobinson P.A., 301 East Pine St., Suite 1400, Orlando.)
FORMER SURGEON GENERAL AT TIGER BAY: Former Florida Surgeon General Frank Farmer is scheduled to speak to the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., LPGA Clubhouse, 1000 Champions Dr., Daytona Beach.)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2019
LONGTIME LOBBYIST REMEMBERED: A memorial service will be held for Paul Sanford, a longtime lobbyist who died July 17 at age 78. Sanford was a prominent insurance lobbyist and continued to represent clients during this spring’s legislative session. Among those clients were the American Council of Life Insurers, Florida Blue and the Florida Insurance Council. (Saturday, 2 p.m., St. Paul Catholic Church, 2609 Park St., Jacksonville.)
