Government Digest: Aug. 20 - Aug. 26

Rep. Kevin Ambler cited

TAMPA — State Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Lutz, a candidate for state Senate, was cited for violating the right-of-way by a state highway patrol officer Aug. 14 in a mid-day traffic accident that hospitalized a 71-year old woman.

According to a St. Pete Times report, Ambler, an attorney, was taken to a hospital by his wife, but was not seriously injured. Ambler faces Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman in the Aug. 24 Republican primary for the District 12 seat. The Times story also reports that according to state records, Ambler's previous traffic incidents include 10 speeding charges since 1999. Five of those happened within the last five yearsAlcohol was not a factor in the crash.

International trade deal

COLLIER COUNTY — The board of directors for the Economic Development Council of Collier County approved an agreement with the Florida Foreign Trade Association for an “Alliance to Promote International Trade” at its Aug. 3 board meeting. The EDC's international program provides export assistance, international trade leads, inbound and outbound trade missions and incentives. A steering committee will be set up to turn the agreement into international trade and economic development.

Smith gets Sink nod

TALLAHASSEE — Former State Sen. Rod Smith of Gainesville accepted Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink's invitation to be her running mate. Smith, 60, who served in the Senate from 2000-2006, lost a bid for governor in 2006. A University of Florida law school graduate, Smith was a state attorney for the 8th Circuit from 1992-2000.

Scott, Rubio have edge

FLORIDA — With approval ratings for Independent Gov. Charlie Crist hitting an all-time low, the U.S. Senate candidate's chances for winning the three-way race against the Republican and Democratic nominees are dropping.

A Mason-Dixon Polling and Research telephone survey, taken from Aug. 9-11, shows Crist with just a 44% approval rating, the first time the governor's popularity has fallen below 50%. In a three-way race with Democrat Kendrick Meek as his party's nominee, Rubio leads with 38% support to Crist's 33% and Meek's 18% with 11% undecided. With Jeff Greene as the Democrat's nominee, enough of Meek's supporters slide over to support Crist to give the Independent 39% support, with Rubio at 38% and Greene at 12%.

In the governor's race, Scott has a 10-percentage point lead over fellow Republican Bill McCollum among registered voters based on a St. Pete Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll. But McCollum leads in the Mason-Dixon poll of likely Republican voters, 34% to 30% with a third undecided. That means a large turnout that brings out much more than the just likely voters, favors Scott.

In the November general election, with so many undecided voters, the three-way race is a toss-up according to the Times/Herald/Bay News 9 poll. Scott leads Sink, 30% to 29% with 26% undecided, and Sink leads McCollum, 30% to 26%, with 29% undecided. Independent Bud Chiles gets 14% support with Scott in the race, and 12% support with McCollum as the Republican nominee.

Asked which candidate “really understands Florida's economic issues and how to fix them,” 41% picked Scott, 27% chose McCollum, 8% said both, 3% replied neither and 20% were unsure.

MEETINGS

SARASOTA COUNTY

The Charter Review Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Sarasota County Administration Center commission chamber, first floor, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. For more information, call (941) 861-5279.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

A floodplain management workshop meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the Brandon Regional Service Center, 311 Pauls Drive, Brandon. For more information, call Patrick Murphy at (813) 272-5275.

MANATEE COUNTY

The 14th Street Community Redevelopment Agency will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at the Peace Lutheran Church and School, 1611 30th Ave. W., Bradenton. For more information, call Ivan Groom at (941) 749-3029 ext. 6232 or email to [email protected].

LEE COUNTY

The general membership of the Horizon Council of the Fort Myers Regional Partnership will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at the Lee County Economic Development Office 12800 University Drive, suite 325, Fort Myers. For more information call (239) 338-3161.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Red Sox spring training stadium is at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at 11581 Daniels Parkway. For more information, call Booch DiMarchi at (239) 533-2105.