MEDICAL MARIJUANA SIGNATURES TOP 540K
With a surge of petitions before a Feb. 1 deadline, backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana had submitted 542,211 valid signatures to the state as of mid-day Tuesday, according to the Florida Division of Elections website. People United for Medical Marijuana must reach 683,149 valid signatures by Feb. 1 to get the proposal on the November ballot. The group also still needs Florida Supreme Court approval of the proposed ballot wording, which has drawn opposition from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Republican legislative leaders. Gov. Rick Scott maintained his opposition Tuesday to legalization. “I’ve said all along I’m against illegal drug use,” Scott told reporters after an appearance in Tallahassee. “I’ve watched how it impacts families. The attorney general gave her best advice to the Supreme Court.”
CRIST HIRES MORE OBAMA CAMPAIGN STAFF
Democrat Charlie Crist has hired Jim Messina, a longtime adviser to President Barack Obama, to help run his campaign for governor. “RT to help me welcome @Messina2012 to the People’s Team. Join us at http://charliecrist.com,” Crist tweeted on Monday. Messina, who headed up Obama’s 2012 campaign after serving as Obama’s deputy chief of staff, won’t handle daily operations for the campaign, which is still without a manager. Messina joins a number of other Crist campaign aides linked to the president. Crist brought on board Teddy Goff, who oversaw Obama’s digital media in the 2012 campaign, and Goff’s firm Precision Strategies, which also has a number of Obama advisers. Already working on Crist’s campaign: finance director Jessica Clarke, who served as Obama’s Florida finance director in 2012; pollster John Anzalone; Steve Schale, a veteran Florida Democratic consultant who ran Obama’s Florida campaign in 2012; advertising guru Jim Margolis; and Dylan Sumner, Obama’s mail strategist in both presidential campaigns. Kevin Cate, who was part of Obama’s press team in 2008, is handling media for Crist.
EISNAUGLE DRAWS CHALLENGER IN HD 44
Orlando Republican Stephen Facella has opened a campaign account to run in a special election to replace former Rep. Steve Precourt, who resigned this month after he was chosen to become executive director of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. Facella joins former Rep. Erik Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, in seeking the seat. A special primary is scheduled for March 11, with the general election April 8. No Democrats had filed paperwork for the special election as of Tuesday morning, though Democrats Lee Douglas of Winter Garden and Shaun Raja of Orlando earlier opened accounts to run for the seat during the regular November election. Meanwhile, Miami Democrat Daphne Campbell has drawn a challenger as she seeks to win another term this fall in House District 108. Miami Democrat Jarlens Princilis opened a campaign account Friday, according to the state Division of Elections website.
SCOTT NAMES ST. PETE ATTORNEY TO CITIZENS BOARD
Gov. Rick Scott has named St. Petersburg attorney James Holton to complete a vacant term on the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors and has reappointed John Wortman to a second term on the board. Holton, 59, is president of Holton Cos., and previously served as chairman of the Florida Transportation Commission and as a member of the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors. Holton replaces John Rollins, who resigned in September to become chief risk officer for the state-backed insurer. The term expires July 31. In 2013, Holton contributed $25,500 to the “Let’s Get to Work” committee backing Scott’s reelection. Wortman, 73, of Ponte Vedra Beach, is a consultant with Wortman Capital Associates. He has been on the board since Sept, 2011. His new term is set to end July 31, 2016.