*

"This is a part time appointment and it did not go through a public application process," Northwest Florida State College President Bob Richburg told the St. Petersburg Times today. "It is not required to do that for part-time jobs."

In July, when Sansom is expected to assume full-time duties, the job will shift to what Richburg called a "full-time temporary position." After 12 months, the college will have to advertise the opening or suspend its personnel practices and keep Sansom in place, he added.

Sansom, pictured, will earn about $25,000 more than the man who previously held the job, but his duties have been expanded, according to the college.

Richburg said he offered the job to Sansom only and that the deal was struck on the same day last month that the Destin Republican was sworn in as House Speaker. Richburg said brought the arrangement to the college board of trustees, which met that evening.

The job was not on the agenda but Richburg said it was fully discussed and then a news release was issued. He said he did not want to wait until the next board meeting, in part because Sansom will oversee the college Foundation.

Richburg called Sansom a "very effective legislator" who brought the college millions in funding but denied the job was payback. “His appointment to this college had nothing to do with securing these projects. These projects were in the pipeline."

Beeny thinks Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Rob Turner got the market value wrong on a Tampa Palms home he sold in May. The sale price and what Turner's office says the home is worth are more than $100,000 apart.

But Beeny's petition is unlike the nearly 15,000 other appeals filed in Hillsborough this year: He wants the market value of his old house — and the tax bill — increased.

Beeny is looking to take full advantage of portability, a central plank of the Amendment 1 property tax overhaul approved by voters in January. It allows homeowners to take their tax cap savings under the Save Our Homes program from one home to another. (story here)

*

"I am very proud to be a college administrator," Sansom said this afternoon in a telephone interview with the St. Petersburg Times during his first day on the job. "I hope to be here for the rest of my professional career."

Might that also include taking over as president? "I’ll cross that bridge if and when that opportunity ever comes up," Sansom said, praising current president Bob Richburg.

Despite more questions over his dealings with the school, Sansom again said he is a member of a citizen Legislature and brings experience in education to the table. (He has a master's in education and has worked for the Okaloosa County School Board.)

"Every legislator on Florida has another job. We have doctors. We have lawyers. We have insurance agents. … We are in tune with what’s happening because we’re out in the work force. I would not want to see the state of Florida Legislature turn into California and have full-time legislators. You lose touch with your community and you lose touch with your profession."

Sansom stressed that the construction money for his new employer came from a fund earmarked by law for capital projects and that it could not have gone to other uses, such as teacher salaries.

The public education capital outlay money was used across the state, he added, to build up colleges and stimulate the economy.

"The PECO list is put together by legislators, the House and the Senate, and the governor signs it. Everything is very transparent and very clear. It's a collective decision," Sansom said.

As for turning a $1-million budget allocation into $25.5-million during budget negotiations this spring, Sansom said it was one of 12 projects that legislative leaders and the governor agreed should get accelerated funding "because the money was there this year."

The funds will be used to renovate existing space at the Niceville campus and add a third floor to a building for the college's leadership institute.

"We're doing our job. We're trying to fund projects for colleges across the state. There is a need in St. Petersburg, in Miami and" in North Florida, Sansom said.

*

Woerth, a former Northwest Airlines pilot who headed the pilots union from 1999 to 2006, has discussed the possibility with key congressional leaders, including Rep. Jim Oberstar, the Minnesota Democrat who chairs the House transportation committee. Woerth, who was defeated when he ran for a third term as ALPA president, has been working as an aviation consultant. He is supported by labor unions and some aviation industry groups.

Woerth did not return a phone call Monday.

One hint that he’s on the short list: He has been seen in Washington with Jane Garvey, a former FAA administrator who is advising the Obama transition team on transportation. Garvey has also been mentioned as a possible nominee for transportation secretary.

But Woerth does not have a lock on the job. Other names being mentioned include Robert Herbert, an aide to Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, and Clay Foushee, a senior aide to Oberstar who has also worked as a vice president for Northwest Airlines and as a human factors expert for the FAA.

It could be weeks before Obama nominates an FAA chief. Obama is expected to first name his choice for transportation secretary.

*

“Hispanic voters in Florida are an important part of our party’s future success and with this appointment of Belinda Ortiz demonstrates that gaining the confidence and ultimately the Hispanic vote is a top priority,” said Greer. “Our emphasis over the last two years in promoting minority outreach has provided great benefit, and I am honored that Belinda is committed to serving our party as we continue this vital mission.”

Ortiz most recently served as president and chief executive officer for Zitro of Orlando Inc., a public relations and business development firm in Central Florida. She previously served as director of public policy for the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association (CFHLA).

*

John Bertran, a Brevard Republican (who last appeared in the Buzz leading a fight to save Tucker Carlson's job), has sent members of the RPOF executive committee a missive blasting state GOP chairman Jim Greer's spending: You can criticize Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer all you want, but you have to admit he really delivered the English-American vote here in Florida.   

How else can you explain the $45,458.57 expenditures by the Republican a Party of Florida in London, England, during Governor Crist's very successful Florida Trade Mission? Surely, important meetings were held in the Chairman's suite at the 5-star Sheraton Park Hotel in fashionable, Knightsbridge. Only the best restaurants like Mr. Chow (5-stars -Zagat), Toto (5 diamond award), and the Noura Brasserie (4-whisks –Michelin's) were good enough for Chairman Greer's efforts to nail down the English vote. The Chairman never spent less than $800 for a restaurant tab. ... Why is the State GOP paying a $10,000 registration fee for Jim Greer to hob-knob with Governor Charlie Crist and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the government sponsored Climate Control Conference in LA?  This was a non-political event. ...

...This is made all the more tragic by the underfunded effort to help John McCain win Florida. I have to believe that the monies used to augment the Chairman's life-style could have been used to win 3% of the vote to bring McCain-Palin to victory in Florida. As a registered Republican who is damn pissed off about the half-hearted efforts by the Florida Republican leadership for John McCain and Sarah Palin, as a donor, I want a full financial accounting of where State Republican funds have gone.

*

"'Show Us the Details,'" Randolph's press release headlined. It also noted that the Crist plan only affects homeowners facing foreclosure from today (Dec. 1) forward.

*

Florida donors who have given at least $1,000 include: Michael Adler of Miami Beach (Adler Group development), $5,000; Jeremy Alters of Hallandale (trial lawyer), $5,000; Ricky Arriola of Miami (Inktel Direct Corp), $1,000; M. Austin Forman of Davie (American Marketing & Management), $5,000; Robert Mandell of Winter Park (Greater Properties Inc.), $5,000; Brian Norcross of Miami Beach (America's Emergency Network Inc.), $1,000; James G. Pepper of Miami (investor), $1,000; Bruce Selfon (real estate consultant)of Naples, $1,000; Andy Tobias of Miami (financial writer/DNC finance chair) $5,000; Gerald Vento of Palm Beach (Westec Corp.), $5,000; and Margaret Vento of Palm Beach, $5,000.

*

Sporting a black hat, the son of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard Don Black was seated last week in a restaurant off Southern Boulevard. Sitting next to him was one of his supporters: David Duke, former Louisiana state legislator and another former KKK grand wizard.

"We're going to fight," Duke said. "I know Derek Black is going to fight for his constitutional liberties. That's why I'm here, because I want to assist Derek."

Sorry, says county GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein. In the qualifying period in June, Black didn't sign a loyalty oath pledging he would not do anything injurious to the party. And that's not the only problem.

"He participates in white supremacist activities," Dinerstein said. "We're the party of Lincoln. We're the party that says we don't judge anybody by the color of their skin."

*

The initiative is in lieu of Crist's suggestion last week that he may require a 90-day moratorium by executive order to stop foreclosures during the holidays. By persuading bankers to do this voluntarily, he not only has the support of the Florida Bankers Association but apparently just drew attention to the status quo.

"This is a reaffirmation of our past practice and current practice,'' said Alex Sanchez, president of the Florida Bankers Association. He thanked the governor for his "compassionate leadership at this time" and urged anyone having problems with mortgage payments to "please contact your banker right away."

If there has been no mortgage fraud and "you're willing to enter into a repayment plan, you'll find our bankers are willing to work with our customers during this time of need," Sanchez said.

Crist said the goal was not to help businesses, property owners who are in foreclosure on second homes or people "with Lexus' in the driveway.''

Crist also announced that the Department of Community Affairs will soon have $541-million for mortgage assistance and other financial aid to local governments that put together a plan to help homeowners in foreclosure, including $91-million for direct housing assistance. For more information, he urged people to go to the following Web sites: www.floridahousing.org and www.dca.state.fl.us.

*

Sanson has come under tight scrutiny for the $110,000-a-year job and his role in securing tens of millions in extra construction money for the school.

*

“Our objective will be to celebrate the Governor’s fundamental right to marry,” says Impact Florida spokesperson Lorna Bracewell, in an exclusive interview with GaySoFla.com. “The demonstration will be peaceful and respectful,” the singer/songwriter and Tampa Bay native assures the online LGBT magazine. Bracewell believes that the Governor’s wedding provides a unique opportunity to shine a light on the injustice and unfairness of Amendment 2. “Governor Crist, an outspoken proponent of Amendment 2, is getting married. He is exercising the same fundamental right millions of Floridians are now denied because of the passage of Amendment 2,” Bracewell observes.

It's worth noting that Florida law banned same-sex marriage before Amendment 2 passed.

But over the years, records show, B.R.A. has produced information of questionable accuracy:

• In Hillsborough County, B.R.A. reported finding no wildlife habitat on a development site, only to have county officials discover more than 100 acres still being used by wildlife. That part of the property was thus off-limits for development.

• In Miami-Dade County, B.R.A. said mining near Everglades National Park would have no effect on endangered wood storks there. A federal judge called the assessment "patently absurd."

• In Levy County, B.R.A. told state officials that a zoning change for a rock mine had been approved by a unanimous vote of the County Commission. Actually, the commission had not even considered it. (story here)

Every few years, an event would expose weaknesses in Florida's economic system: a recession in 1991, a school overcrowding crisis in 1997, a steep drop in tourism after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. But the growth machine always roared back to life — until now.

With the mortgage crisis, the credit crunch and the flatlining of the population, the twin industries that buffered Florida through two previous recessions, real estate and construction, are weighing down Florida's economy, complicating a recovery and making it likely Florida will be among the last to bounce back.

"This recession is not only going to be bad for us. It's going to be worse than the nation's," said David Denslow, a University of Florida economist. The primary reason: Florida's residential construction boom grew at twice its normal rate and "we got overbuilt." (story here)

Critics cleverly use problems and popular complaints already inherent in today's health care system to discredit and undermine reform policies. First, government will always rely on private companies to ultimately deliver care to patients - the state is the payer, not the provider. We can always do a better job of rooting out fraud, waste and mismanagement, but a government takeover is not the answer, since government interference and mandates are what led to the problems we have today.

More here.

On May 11, 1977, the day the state Senate passed the law, freshman Sen. Don Chamberlin of Clearwater asked his colleagues: "Will we sleep better knowing we have institutionalized shame for those who have already felt shame?

"Is there sufficient justification to deny one child — one parent — the joy of being a family?" he asked.

Other senators praised his courage, but only four voted with him: Betty Castor of Tampa, Jack Gordon, Kenneth Myers and Lori Wilson. Chamberlin could give the same speech to the Senate tomorrow, and the result likely would be the same.

Steve Bousquet's column is here.

ERNEST: When you were first chosen to run, you received a lot of criticism, but you seem to handle it well.

RACHEL: What do you do? It gave me a whole new appreciation for people who do get put in that situation. I had people who said all kinds of things — that I was insidious, that I was an immoral individual, that I had blackmail information. Some people in politics are ugly. I think it discourages people who really want to get involved, and I have to say I really don't care. The only time I cared at all was when someone said I was overweight. (story here.)