The last dash

By Michael Moline | Editor in Chief

Candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties have been barnstorming the state as early voting began in enough counties to represent about half of the state. The GOP’s Ashley Moody campaigned with Bryron Donald, the party’s gubernatorial nominee, accusing Democrat Angie Nixon of pursuing a social agenda that would destroy the state. Nixon had Bernie Sander in tow during Florida appearances. She noted Moody’s role in the Hope Florida situation. “She works for the corrupt and the powerful to advance herself and put millions in her own pocket. But I know who I work for. I work for you. I fight for you. And when I get to the United States Senate, working people will have a senator focused on putting more in your pocket, not lining their own pockets.”

Members of the Escambia County School Board, who once subjected schoolchildren to depositions in the case, now must answer questions, the 11th Circuit said in a split decision. The question was whether they acted in a legislative capacity — setting policy from a lofty platform — or merely as administrators. “Our decision today is a narrow one. We do not address whether other privileges or discovery rules may warrant quashing these subpoenas, curtailing the depositions, or the like,” the majority wrote.

As of Oct. 15, 46,509 claims had been filed with insurance companies for residential, commercial, auto, and other losses worth nearly $582 million in damage from the storm. Most claims came from the state’s three westernmost counties in the Panhandle: 22,894 in Santa Rosa County, 13,677 in Escambia, and 4,334 in Okaloosa. About 87% of the residential claims remained open and no payment had been made as of Oct. 15.

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