Government Digest

Candidates line up for
Governor and Senate seats

FLORIDA — While Gov. Charlie Crist mulls a run at the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Mel Martinez, three candidates have filed as candidates in the 2010 general election for Crist's current job.

Among the gubernatorial candidates are Josue Larose, a Fort Lauderdale Republican; Hillsboro Beach Democrat Marc Shepard; and C.C. Reed of Miami, who doesn't list a party affiliation.

Larose appears to be hedging his bets, as he has also filed to run for Bill Nelson's U.S. Senate seat in 2012.

Maybe he can afford a second major candidacy: On the Web site PerfectBusiness.com, Larose is listed as “Millionaire Josue Larose.”

And his personal description on the site states he is an “an economist, federal lobbyist, capitalist and a great business leader.” His user name is elitejosuerlarose.

The four candidates who have filed for Martinez' seat are Daytona Beach Democrat Tyrone K. Brown, Sr.; Jacksonville Democrat Jorge A. Lovenguth; Orlando Republican Bob Coggins; and Sarasota Republican Gwyndolyn McClellan.

Sen. Crist planning
ahead. Way ahead.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY - There must be no time like the present for State Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, who has filed to run for the Hillsborough County Commission District 2 seat, a seat that won't even be vacated by Commissioner Ken Hagan until 2012. Hagan has already filed to run for the seat to be vacated by Commissioner Jim Norman.

Crist, 51, is chairman of the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee and has served in the Senate since 1990.

He defeated Kathy Castor in 2000 to become the state senator for District 12, which covers northern Hillsborough and central Pasco counties. A former state representative, Crist is currently serving his final term in the senate, which ends in 2010.

Buying a foreclosed home? Deal or no deal!

CHARLOTTE COUNTY - As part of its Ask the Building Department Series, the Charlotte County Building Construction Services Department is hosting a program on buying and renovating foreclosed homes.

The program is scheduled for March 4, from 5-7 p.m. at the Murdock Administration Building, Room 119, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte. The program is designed to educate buyers who are looking to purchase or rebuild homes that have been abandoned or foreclosed.

Representatives from the banking and realty industries, along with building department staff, will speak on how expired permits or outstanding code cases might affect a purchase.

There will be a question and answer session at the end of the presentation. For more information call Mary Ann Grey at (941) 743-1245.

Charlotte County prepares new population and job projections

CHARLOTTE COUNTY- Charlotte County has released demographic and socio-economic projections tracking growth to the year 2050.

The information in the projections will be used to update the county's comprehensive plan, a process known as Smart Charlotte 2050.

The projections include a set of population, housing and employment figures that could forecast future demand for public services such as schools, public water and sewer systems and roads.

Total projections, including housing and employment estimates, are available at the county's growth management offices in the County Administrative Complex, 18500 Murdock Circle, Room B-201, Port Charlotte. The report is also available online at www.CharlotteCountyFL.com. Select the Comprehensive Plan link from the list on the left to access it.

MEETINGS

COLLIER COUNTY
The Collier County Planning Commission meets March 2 at 8:30 a.m. to consider revisions to the sign code of the Collier Land Development Code. The meeting will be held in the Board of County Commissioners chambers, on the third floor of the W. Harmon Turner Building, Building F, Collier County Government Center, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Naples. For more information call Catherine Fabacher at (239) 252-2322.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Hillsborough County will hold a series of six public meetings to hear public comment on the draft of its post-disaster redevelopment plan, which local governments and community organizations have been working on for the past year. The first meeting will be held March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the University Area Community Center, 14013 N. 22nd Street, Tampa.
Other meetings are scheduled for March 5, 9, 10, 16 and 19. Each meeting is at a different location throughout the county and all begin at 6:30 p.m. For other meeting locations, more information or to submit your comments on the plan electronically, go to the county's Web site at www.hillsboroughcounty.org. Click on the “A-Z Index” link and then select “Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan.” For more information call (813) 272-5600.

PINELLAS COUNTY
Pinellas County government officials will host the first of three public budget meetings March 3 at Palm Harbor University High School. The others will be held March 23 at Osceola High School and March 26 at Gibbs High School. All of the meetings will be held from 5:30-8 p.m.
The meetings are being held to gather feedback from residents as Pinellas County commissioners consider the reduction or elimination of some public services and programs. The commission plans to cut 20% from its overall general fund for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
For more information call (727) 464-3000 or go to www.pinellascounty.org/budget.

ONLINE WEBINAR
Holland & Knight policy experts are hosting a webinar titled “Follow the Money: The Path to Stimulus Money. ” The webinar is scheduled for March 5, from 3-5 p.m. The presentation will go over the various elements of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will discuss strategies for accessing funding at the federal, state and local level. It will also feature a roundtable discussion on the transportation, water and energy aspects of the bill.
To register for the webinar go to www.hklaw.com, select news and events and then click events. If you have a question you would like to hear the presenters discuss you may email it to [email protected] prior to the program.