Simply weeks into his tenure as Florida’s Schooling Commissioner, Anastasios Kamoutsas is hitting the bottom working in implementing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ schooling agenda.
This week, Kamoutsas courted a headline from the Tampa Bay Times studying, “How Florida’s new schooling chief is rattling colleges with public threats.”
The meat of the article was about how Kamoutsas is defaulting to lobbing complaints towards native faculty districts — whether or not it’s about books the state views as inappropriate or calling out academics unions — through the use of his X account.
That has led to some criticism from native officers who say they’d relatively tackle considerations privately.
However given DeSantis’ monitor document of aggressively combating tradition wars in public, that sort of jab is unquestionably seen as a badge of honor within the Governor’s Mansion.
Unnamed faculty officers have been additionally described by the Occasions as “on edge” and as attempting to keep away from being “the subsequent goal.”
Once more, music to the DeSantis administration’s ears.
We’ve written in the past about Democrats’ overreaction to scrutiny of doubtless inappropriate faculty supplies whereas also wondering whether or not Republicans are responding within the least intrusive means. We’ll concede that some colleges and left-leaning areas have been too lax with age-appropriate content material moderation, but when the pendulum was too far on one facet earlier than, it has in all probability swung too far within the different route now.
That appears to be the best way our politics is working lately although, and Republicans nonetheless include a vice grip on Florida’s political system.
As long as that’s the case, the state appears prepared to make use of its energy to get districts aligned with state requirements. To this point, Kamoutsas is proving a prepared vessel for finishing up that mission. Utilizing trendy social media instruments could make some native leaders uncomfortable, but it surely’s a part of trendy technological means to win over public opinion. And Kamoutsas is taking full benefit.
Now, it’s onto our weekly sport of winners and losers.
Winners
Honorable point out: Farmers. Florida’s farming neighborhood will get a double shout-out this week.
On Thursday, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Senate President Ben Albritton and Senate President Professional Tempore Jason Brodeur spoke to media to focus on the state placing $38 million into the Farmers Feeding Florida initiative.
That initiative started in July and goals to place extra contemporary produce, meat and different merchandise into meals banks for these in want.
This system hopes to eradicate wasted farm merchandise whereas additionally offering sustenance to households in want through the Summer time, when faculty meal plans aren’t accessible.
On high of that, the South Florida Water Administration District also announced this previous week that farmers within the Everglades Agricultural Space had as soon as once more simply surpassed their goal for phosphorus discount, dropping phosphorus runoff by 62% from the Everglades Ceaselessly Act’s baseline, which was set by measuring output from 1979 to 1988.
These farmers have now averaged a 57% discount for the reason that laws launched an incentive program in 1996 to encourage phosphorus discount.
That has helped scale back water air pollution in Florida, as phosphorus is one nutrient that enables poisonous algae to thrive.
Feeding households in want and serving to the surroundings keep clear — that’s work we are able to get behind.
Virtually (however not fairly) the most important winner: Oyster harvesters. It’s been a very long time coming, however oyster harvesters within the Apalachicola Bay seem like again in enterprise.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) is ready to permit a restricted harvesting period of at least a month in January, however officers hope to start providing a constant seasonal harvesting interval starting later subsequent 12 months.
That’s welcome information for an trade that has been fully shut down since 2020, with the trade starting to break down years earlier than that.
The transfer additionally comes after DeSantis in June signed legislation prohibiting oil drilling in sure delicate elements of the state. That laws covers Apalachicola Bay and got here as proposals would have allowed drilling within the bay, worrying oyster harvesters anxious concerning the trade’s restoration.
FWC Commissioners nonetheless want to carry a remaining vote in November, however the interval is anticipated to cowl round 94 acres.
Sure, some critics have raised considerations about reopening, worrying a setback might result in one other full closure of the bay and hurt the oyster inhabitants. Even workers initially really helpful ready till October to reopen the bay.
So Commissioners will must be cautious. However that is an trade that was identified across the nation earlier this century. They need assistance, and if the state can try this safely, then it needs to be welcome information.
The most important winner: Jay Collins. Congratulations to the state’s new Lieutenant Governor, as Collins lastly received the nod from DeSantis this previous week.
Collins has a heroic backstory thanks partly to his service as an Military fight veteran, the place he earned each a Purple Coronary heart and Bronze Star. He’s additionally confirmed his conservative chops throughout his tenure within the Senate, positioning himself as an in depth DeSantis ally.
Now, this decide usually wouldn’t create any main coverage rumblings. The Lieutenant Governor place in Florida doesn’t carry a complete lot of weight. If it did, DeSantis wouldn’t have left it open for six months after former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez left to steer Florida Worldwide College.
However Crew DeSantis has clearly demonstrated a concerted effort this week to push Collins into the general public eye. DeSantis as a part of his announcement released an epic video showcasing Collins. DeSantis introduced him to press conferences and the 2 appeared collectively on Mark Levin’s radio present. The Governor even posted a nearly one-hour conversation with Collins on his authorities X account.
May DeSantis assign Collins some pet challenge to spice up him additional? It’s attainable. Have a look at how the administration is utilizing Blaise Ingoglia to entrance the Florida Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
However extra importantly, the query is, what’s the purpose? The long-running hypothesis is that DeSantis needs a canine within the battle for Governor in 2026 to go towards the Donald Trump-backed Byron Donalds.
For some time, First Girl Casey DeSantis’ title was floated. However a delay in asserting whereas permitting Donalds to stack money and endorsements, mixed with the still-developing Hope Florida scandal, appears to have lessened expectations that she’ll run.
That’s led observers to foretell Collins will take up the mantle, and naming him as Lieutenant Governor is a strategy to increase his title ID — as a lot because the place can, no less than.
Will it work? And is that even the plan right here? We’ll see. However both manner, Crew DeSantis is intent on ensuring Floridians know Collins’ title.
How that can have an effect on a possible Governor’s race is a query for the long run. Even should you’re of the mindset that DeSantis is taking part in second fiddle to Trump by way of political energy within the Sunshine State, DeSantis nonetheless has loads of following, and bringing Collins nearer into his orbit is a win for the Military vet.
Losers
Dishonorable point out: Donna Deegan. Is Deegan’s hope for a second time period in bother?
It’s should you imagine the newest poll from The Tyson Group, which supplies Republicans on a generic poll a 5-point edge within the 2027 Jacksonville Mayor’s race.
After all, we’re nonetheless a methods out from that contest, however this survey is however notable.
Standard knowledge has stated regional heavy hitters are holding off a run till 2031, when Deegan would face time period limits ought to she win a second time period. It’s not even clear which critical Republican would step as much as the plate to problem Deegan within the upcoming cycle, so maybe her staff is feeling optimistic about their probabilities.
However the ballot from Ryan Tyson’s outfit reveals there’s a gap. And there’s an urge for food amongst Republicans to provide Deegan a critical problem, despite the fact that they’d be going up towards an incumbent. Why else would Ingoglia be so aggressively attempting to message Florida DOGE work in Jacksonville as a magnifying glass on Deegan — despite the fact that the Metropolis Council there answerable for the price range is managed by Republicans?
It’s as a result of Republicans are testing political messaging for 2027. Mixed with a ballot from somebody as revered as Tyson exhibiting Republicans have a lane, Deegan higher prepare for a bitter battle forward.
Virtually (however not fairly) the most important loser: Joe Geller. Geller is out as Bay Harbor Islands City Legal professional after a 6-1 vote spurred by criticism from Republican Rep. Fabián Basabe.
The transfer got here after Basabe and others accused Geller of not giving his full consideration to the job, as Geller additionally serves on the Miami-Dade Faculty Board.
Wednesday’s vote got here as Geller was on trip in Italy, so make of that what you’ll.
If it was solely Basabe publicly stumping to oust Geller, a Democrat who previously served within the Legislature, it may very well be chalked as much as easy politics. However a number of City Council members echoed complaints about Geller’s work delays, with Eric Rappaport pointing to a three-page record of unfinished tasks.
On the flip facet, nevertheless, the Council did simply enhance the month-to-month payment of Greenspoon Marder, which employs Geller, from $15,000 to $17,250. So why try this if the Council was upset along with his efficiency?
However, all however one Council member voted to provide Geller the boot, whereas retaining Greenspoon Marder with hopes of swapping in a substitute.
The most important loser: Black bears. After a devastating 2015 hunt officers needed to finish in simply two days, the FWC however authorized one other hunt this 12 months, arguing the bear inhabitants now wants reining in.
There may be some help for that notion, with the estimated inhabitants now topping 4,000, up from round 1,200 three a long time prior, when Florida put a cease to a then-annual hunt.
However the transfer has garnered intense criticism from some animal advocates. There was particular pushback over some strategies authorized for the hunt, equivalent to hounding and archery — which may go away bears wounded and struggling — in addition to baiting, which may appeal to different animals and disrupt the ecosystem.
Polling has proven the move is unpopular too, with clear majorities against such a hunt.
However the FWC pushed ahead unanimously anyway, authorizing a 23-day hunt in December with 187 permits being issued by lottery. These permits are good for just one bear, hopefully retaining this season in examine.
There may be already a lawsuit in the works difficult the transfer. However it’s unclear how such an effort will fare in courtroom. As we’ve talked about, Florida has held these hunts earlier than, and dozens of different states do as properly.
However again to that 2015 hunt — it wanted to be stopped swiftly as tons of of bears have been killed quickly, together with nursing moms. We hope officers are organizing this in a manner that doesn’t result in a repeat.
Publish Views: 0
