"Hidden agenda" behind block of Swiftmud boss?

Somebody in Tallahassee doesn’t like Dave Moore. This week, the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee confirmed the appointment of the executive directors of four of the state’s five water management districts. But the fifth one -- Dave Moore of the Southwest Florida Water Management District -- didn’t even make it on the agenda.

--Craig Pittman

Ron Paul supporters bullied -- again!

An ongoing spat between supporters of Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Ron Paul flared again Thursday, when pro-Paul dissidents were kicked out of a Pasco County GOP Executive Committee meeting.

Sofie Lefebvre, a Paul supporter, said a sheriff’s deputy escorted her and her husband out of the Land O’Lakes Senior Center, where the meeting was held.

“It’s this little nasty game going on,” Lefebvre said. “This isn’t America where you don’t let your own people into meetings. This is absolute fascism.”

Ambler to run for Florida Senate in 2010

State Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Lutz, wants to win re-election this year, but he also filed today to run for state Senate seat of Victor Crist, R-Tampa. Ambler said he wanted to clear anybody's doubts about his future political ambitions by being the first to file for the 2010 race. Crist is term-limited out in 2010 for the district that includes parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

"We expect our legislators to plan for the budgets of the future. ... Why shouldn't I be upfront and forward about showing that I have an intent in continuing in public service?" asked Ambler, whose only 2008 challenger so far is Adam Phinney of Citrus Park, who has no party affiliation.

See you in court! Maybe not

In the first showdown over Florida's budget woes, state courts are planning to all but shut down this spring. Read more here.

Tampa Bay turning bluer

Nowadays, Democrats are energized all over Tampa Bay, their leaders say. Voter registrations tend to verify that. People who registered as Democrats last year outnumbered their Republican counterparts in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties.

Story here

Thompson names Tampa Bay organizers

Republican Fred Thompson rolled out his local grassroots organizers for the Tampa Bay area. These folks -- including a number of big names -- are leading the charge as chairman for their respective counties:

In Pinellas, County Commission Chairman Ronnie Duncan; in Hillsborough, Sandy Murman, former House Speaker Pro Tem and state committeeman A.J. Matthews; in Pasco, the trifeca of Zephyrhills Councilman Danny Burgess, Dade City Mayor Pro Tem Steve Van Gorden and Property Appraiser Mike Wells; in Hernando, Commission Chairman Jeff Stabins; and in Manatee, Bradenton Vice Mayor Gene Gallo and Bradenton Councilman Patrick Roff.

For a full list of local organizers keep reading below.

Kerik's Pasco getaway

WESLEY CHAPEL - If embattled former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik needs a quiet getaway, he already has the perfect site - four undeveloped lots in a semirural area of Pasco County. Kerik, onetime business partner of presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, paid $485,431 cash in February 2005 for 17 acres in Westwood Estates, records show. So far Kerik and his wife, Hala, have done nothing with the property, but the seller said he heard talk of grand plans. More here.

Tampa Bay's GOP straw poll

Tampa Bay's Republican party leaders are teaming up to stage a "Have your say in Tampa Bay" straw poll and debate watch rally Nov. 28 2007 at St Petersburg’s Vinoy Park for the CNN YouTube debate.

Every Republican Presidential Campaign has been invited to address the crowd.  Each $20 ticket (contact your local party to buy em) entitles the holder to a BBQ dinner, bottled water and 1 vote. A giant screen television is being set up in Vinoy Park to watch the debate which begins at 8 P.M. Straw poll results will be announced before the debate begins.

“Only one time since 1964 has the candidate that carried Florida not won the White House. You can’t win Florida without winning Tampa Bay. This straw poll is being held in the epicenter of 2008 Presidential politics. Presidential campaigns will be using this straw poll as a measure of their ground game and overall support in Tampa Bay,”  said Manatee Republican chair Kathleen King.

Put her down as a maybe

Democrats in the U.S. House today resurrected debate on the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or S-CHIP, after making a few tweaks designed to win over the dozen or so Republicans needed to dozen or so Republicans needed to override President Bush's veto of the original.

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, has been widely viewed as a popular supporter. But based on her speech on the House floor this afternoon, Buzz wouldn't count her among those who might be turned.

"You can take horse manure and roll it in powdered sugar and it doesn't make it a doughnut. That, ladies and gentlemen, I think is kind of what we have here today."

Hillary who?

TRINITY -- The Pasco County Democrats had a solid crowd, some party notables and a country club ballroom to celebrate their biggest annual fundraiser Friday.

But the "United We Stand" was missing any sign of the Jan. 29 presidential primary, save for a couple of Barack Obama buttons in the crowd.

The Buzz couldn't find a Hillary Clinton pin or campaigns goods for anyone else, which somewhat surprised local party activists, too. Seems that pledge not to publicly campaign in Florida because of the early primary has a flip side.

"I think it's how it's kind of trickled down -- they're not here," Pasco Democratic Party Chairwoman Alison Morano said of the candidates absence in Florida. "This is about our county, state and federal candidates. The presidential candidates are not registering"

The $50 a plate dinner, which brought 175 people to Heritage Springs Country Club, featured State Democratic Chairwoman Karen Thurman, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston and state Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Charlie Justice of St. Pete. While lauding those folks, Morano made no mention of the presidential campaign in her speech to the crowd.

Going green, but not how you think

A political committee controlled by two Republican legislators from Manatee County continues to rake in big-dollar contributions from interesting sources. Citizens for Housing and Urban Growth, run by Sen. Mike Bennett and Rep. Ron Reagan, just logged in a $50,000 check from a Largo company, Angelo's Aggregate Materials. The firm's plan to expand a landfill near Dade City -- which requires approval by the state Department of Environmental Protection -- has stirred environmental concerns as far away as Tampa.

Bennett and Reagan are among about two dozen Florida lawmakers who control fund-raising groups known as CCEs, committees of continuous existence. The committees appeal to lawmakers because they are not subject to the $500 contribution limits that apply to a legislator's own election campaign. CHUG has to date taken in more than $700,000. Under Senate rules, Bennett must maintain a committee website and to promptly post contributions (the House has no similar rule). The committee's biggest recent expenditure is $14,000 to Bill Helmich's Tallahassee consulting firm.

Fred Thompson hearts Pasco

As if Bill McCollum's speech and the drawing for the handguns weren't reason enough to hit the Pasco GOP's Reagan Day dinner. Now the Buzz is that Fred Thompson will be there too next Friday - becoming the first presidential candidate this cycle to hit the fast-growing Tampa Bay bedroom community.

The Democratic bench

Rank speculation here, but when south Florida Democrats show up for Pasco County Democratic functions does that signal statewide ambitions? Hmmmm. State Sen. Dave Aronberg and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz are among the special guests listed for the Pasco Dems' "United We Stand" dinner 10/12.

Shelter gets a name: Fasano

State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, spent the past two legislative sessions bringing home almost $8.5-million to build a combined hurricane shelter and health clinic in Hudson. Now the County Commission has rewarded his effort by naming the building after him. And it was a Democrat who led the way. Read more here.

Counties prepare for tax cuts

As legislators mount PR initiatives and prepare to hammer out competing tax relief proposals, Tampa Bay counties are bracing for a big hit.

Sorry Charlie, she's not applying

LAND O'LAKES - Heather Fiorentino's name was among the first to pop up last month when word came that Florida would need a new education commissioner. But the Pasco superintendent said Tuesday that she isn't interested in the job.

More here.

He's had it with touch screens, too

Secretary of State Kurt Browning is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame in the blogosphere, thanks to a speech he gave in which he said he's "physically and mentally exhausted" from defending the now-discredited touch screen voting systems. See for yourself.