Politics: Former House Speaker Thrasher on Verge of Election to Florida Senate
Former Florida House Speaker John Thrasher (R-St. Augustine) won the Republican special primary election for state Senate District 8 on September 15, 2009. The October 6, 2009 special election is largely a formality, with Mr. Thrasher facing opposition only from write-in candidates.
Senate District 8, a coastal district that stretches from the Georgia state line to northern Volusia County, had been represented by Sen. James E. (Jim) King, Jr. (R-Jacksonville) until his July 26, 2009 death.
Mr. Thrasher received 39.2 percent of the 34,150 votes cast. His nearest opponent, anti-tax activist Dan Quiggle of Ponte Vedra Beach, received 27.3 percent of the vote.
The candidates in the special primary election raised $1,121,061 in contributions, led by Mr. Thrasher with contributions of $622,952. The campaign also saw significant independent expenditures, primarily by groups affiliated with trial lawyers opposed to Mr. Thrasher. Media reports estimated that spending by groups not affiliated with candidates may have exceeded $2 million.
Economy: Florida Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly to 10.7 Percent
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2009 was 10.7 percent, according to a statement released by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation on September 18, 2009. The August rate was 0.1 percentage point lower than the revised July unemployment rate of 10.8 percent. The August 2009 unemployment rate was 4.2 percentage points higher than the August 2008 rate.
Florida’s August unemployment rate was one percentage point higher than the 9.7 percent national unemployment rate, representing the smallest gap between the Florida rate and the national rate since January 2009, when the gap also was one percentage point.
According to the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the counties with the highest unemployment have had seasonal declines in agriculture or continued weakness in construction and manufacturing. The counties with the highest unemployment rates in August were Hendry County (16.4 percent), Flagler County (15.7 percent), Indian River County (15.2 percent), St. Lucie County (14.7 percent), and Lee County (13.5 percent). The counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Liberty County (5.6 percent), Monroe and Walton counties (6.5 percent each), Okaloosa County (6.9 percent), Lafayette County (seven percent), Franklin County (7.1 percent), and Leon and Alachua counties (7.2 percent). The Agency for Workforce Innovation attributes these counties’ relatively low unemployment rates to their high percentage of government employees and to summer tourism.
Utilities Regulation: Governor Crist Urges Public Service Commissioners to Oppose Rate Increase
Gov. Charlie Crist weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Florida Public Service Commission.
In recent weeks, with major rate increases for Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) and Progress Energy Florida pending, the commission has been operating under an ethical cloud. One staff member resigned over his attendance at a Kentucky Derby party sponsored by an FPL executive, and two staff members were suspended and one reassigned because of possible improper communication with another FPL executive. Senate President Pro Tem Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) had recommended that the commission delay action on the rate filings until after possible Senate hearings on the ethics issues.
In a discussion with reporters on September 14, 2009, Gov. Crist urged the commission to go forward. He also said that votes on the rate proposals would have an impact on his decisions regarding the reappointment or replacement of two commissioners. The terms of Commission Chair Matthew Carter and Commissioner Katrina McMurrian expire on January 1, 2010. Gov. Crist said that the outcome of the rate cases before the commission will provide him with “a better handle on who to appoint or reappoint.” He continued, “I’m trying to appoint members that will be sympathetic to the people and the economic challenge they’re facing.” The Public Service Commission Nominating Council has given Gov. Crist six nominations, including Commissioners Carter and McMurrian, for the vacancies that will occur in 2010.
Commissioner McMurrian did not comment beyond saying, “He’s the governor.” Commissioner Carter said that he did not feel threatened, but added, “No one should tell the commission how to vote. I don’t have the luxury of deciding a case before it’s over. That would be illegal. And I’m not going to get into a war of words with the governor.”
Making his position on the rate proposals clear, Gov. Crist said, “Reducing the rates reduces the rates, and it seems to me that the people deserve a break now more than ever. And so that’s what I’ve encouraged and I continue to encourage.”
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