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Florida House of Representatives

Brace for higher costs, Pasco school board member says

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Pasco County Schools should prepare to pay more for insurance, as it prepares its plans for the next budget year, said Allen Altman, a school board member who serves on the board’s insurance committee.

He recently attended a meeting of a statewide insurance trust that represents 400 public entities, including Pasco County Schools.

The news at that meeting about upcoming insurance costs wasn’t good, Altman said.

“The property market in Florida right now —  to say it is in chaos, is an understatement.

“Many, many carriers are shut down completely or are bleeding so much money they’re leaving the state,” Altman told his colleagues during the Pasco County School Board’s Feb. 15 meeting.

“On the commercial side, which is what we are, the rate indications from the re-insurers so far, are running from 20% to 35% (higher),” he said.

Pasco expects to face rate increases in the 10% to 15% range, he said.

He told the board the reason Pasco is expected to face lower cost increases is because it has excellent data regarding its buildings and values.

He said he was told that out of all of the entities represented in the group, Pasco County Schools has the best data.

Still, the district will face increases and it needs to plan for that, he said.

It also will pay more because it is adding coverage for millions of dollars of new facilities that were finished in the past year, Altman said.

Another issue that is expected to result in higher costs involves a proposed change in state legislation, the board member said.

Under current law, under the auspices of sovereign immunity, government entities are liable for a maximum of $200,000 on a claim, unless a claims bill goes to the Legislature and gets approved, Altman said.

But a proposed change by the Florida Senate would increase that limit to $300,000 and a proposed change by the Florida House of Representatives would bump the limit to $1 million, Altman said.

At the moment, it looks like the Senate is accepting the House version, he added.

The proposed increase could be a “significant hit on a budget,” Altman said, especially since the school district has a large number of employees who operate vehicles.

Another issue demanding heightened awareness involves cybersecurity, Altman said. Government agencies are increasingly being targeted and some have fallen victim to successful Ransomware attacks.

While Altman raised issues about increasing costs, Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, again urged the board to stand with the union to support a ballot initiative aimed at increasing funding to improve wages.

“We are now, the only district in an eight- or nine-district region without a significant secondary source of income for salaries and personnel.

“Again, I am asking this board to take a stand. Investigate the possibility of a referendum for the sake of the students.

“We cannot continue to be the lowest paid district in our region,” Peace said.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said efforts are being made to make state lawmakers aware of the impact their policies have on general funds, which are the source of pay raises for employees.

School board member Megan Harding wants district leadership to do more.

“I’ve said this before, but I’m going to have to say it again: We need to do better,” Harding said.

Exit interviews indicate that 24% of those leaving the district are doing so because of pay and benefits, she said.

“Burnout is very real, and our teachers and staff need to see action as to how much we appreciate them,” Harding added.

“I am sure there tools in our toolbox that we are not using, and I want to use every tool that we have to get our teacher and staff pay up to be competitive in our region.

“Other districts around us are making it work. Other districts around us are asking their community for help,” Harding said.

Published March 02, 2022

Correcting an error that’s gone unnoticed for 60 years

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In one of downtown Dade City’s most visible places, there’s a historic plaque commemorating the establishment of Pasco County.

The problem is — that celebrated memorial, located in courthouse square — contains an inaccurate date.

“Pasco County was created from Hernando County on May 12, 1887,” the sign reads.

Some errors can go a long time before anyone notices. In this case, the historic marker erected 60 years ago reports an incorrect date for the formation of Pasco County. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

On the face of it, that seems like an important thing to remember.

However, the historic sign perpetuates the wrong date.

It turns out that the separation of the counties was signed into law by then Gov. Edward A. Perry on June 2, 1887.

The document he signed was titled, “A Bill to Divide the County of Hernando and make therefrom the Counties of Citrus and Pasco.”

In a way though, it’s almost fitting that the marker is wrong because it serves as a reminder of the many challenges that arose, during the naming of Pasco County.

It took much compromise to arrive at that name, according to Jefferson Alexis “J.A.” Hendley.

Hendley wrote about the efforts in a work published in 1943 that chronicles a gathering of residents of southern Hernando County, who met in May 1887, with the purpose of forming a new county.

“We agreed in convention assembled to make an effort to get away from Brooksville,” Hendley writes, in an account he dedicated to the schoolteachers of Pasco County.

J.A. Hendley, shown here, and Richard C. Bankston lobbied in Tallahassee for the formation of Pasco County. Hendley later wrote that it took Gov. Edwin A. Perry only a few hours to approve the new county. (Courtesy of Jeff Miller/fivay.org)

Forming counties in Florida during the 1800s was nothing new.

Hernando County, itself, was part of Hillsborough County before it was separated, and became its own entity, on Feb. 27, 1843.

Writing in a letter on Nov. 25, 1927, Dr. Richard C. Bankston, recalled that at the time of Pasco County’s creation, there was “unanimous sentiment” to support it.

“We all were weary of traveling the sand trails of Brooksville, the county seat, to attend court, or transact other business of varied nature,” he wrote.

Bankston and Hendley were selected to lobby for the change, in Tallahassee.

Bankston was a member of the Florida Legislature, from Tampa; Hendley was a Blanton lawyer and a member of the Florida Constitutional Convention of 1885.

Hendley knew it was not going to be easy based on his own experience in west Texas, where he helped to organize Mitchell County.

Plus, both men had already read “a very discouraging letter,” from James Latham, a Florida House of Representatives member, from Hernando County.

Pasco County is named after Samuel Pasco, who had recently been elected as Florida’s representative to the United States Senate. He was at the height of his popularity when the county was named. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

Latham’s letter said it was too late in the session to accomplish anything.

The subsequent reply from south Hernando County was a political threat to “split the county right in the middle of Brooksville,” if the suggested new county was not formed.

The group also suggested three names for legislators to consider for the new county. They recommended: “Tropic,” “Banner” and “Emanuel.”

Bankston and Hendley preferred the name, “Banner,” for the new county.

That was a problem.

“As we learned that nearly every member thought he came from a banner county,” Bankston wrote.

They knew they’d have to come up with a less-objectionable name.

It so happened that the state’s lawmakers were in joint session that week voting for Florida’s next U.S. Senator.

In those days, senators were elected by state legislatures and the decision was rarely made in a single vote.

It took 89 ballots for Florida’s state Democratic party to choose Judge Samuel Pasco, of Monticello, as their compromise candidate.

It took another 25 ballots for the full legislature to elect Pasco, with a vote of 87-17 on May 19, 1887.

This photograph of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse was taken in 1909. (Courtesy of fivay.org)

Pasco was at the height of his popularity — and, Bankston and Hendley were inspired by these events.

They figured if they wanted their new county, the best way to get it done was to garner the support of the English-born Pasco.

He was a Harvard graduate, a Civil War Hero, a lawyer, a Baptist, and, above all — a Democrat.

“It struck me as an inspiration to call our county ‘Pasco,’” Bankston wrote.

Finding a committee room with a desk, he immediately changed the name on the legislative documents from Banner to Pasco.

Bankston recounts: “We gave the finished bill to Sen. A.S. Man, who at once introduced it in the Senate, and it passed unanimously. It was expedited to the House and sponsored by Frank Saxon, where it passed unanimously. The governor was favorable and signed it. Having accomplished all we proposed, we returned home, able to report the complete success of our mission.”

The governor approved the formation of Pasco County within four hours, according to Bankston’s account.

Nearly 20 years after Hendley’s history of Pasco County was published, the state posted the marker on the west lawn of the county’s red-brick courthouse, with its neoclassical dome and clock tower.

Flash forward to the present.

Even though the historic marker was erected in 1963, the Pasco Historical Society in Dade City and the West Pasco Historical Society in New Port Richey are interested in making a joint request to the Pasco County Commission to put the correct date — June 2, 1887 — on the marker.

Stay tuned, to this column, to see what happens next.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published December 01, 2021

Maggard addresses state budget, new laws

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District 38 state Rep. Randy Maggard has reason to be upbeat.

After all, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a record $101.5 billion state budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 — making it official during a notable June 2 appearance at Zephyrhills City Hall.

The state budget allocates more than $66 million East Pasco projects alone, including:

  • $25 million for new facilities at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Dade City Campus
  • $25 million for a new Florida National Guard armory in Zephyrhills
  • $6.5 million for water and wastewater improvements on Handcart Road
  • $4.6 million for improvements to the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center
  • $3 million for improvements to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport

Maggard — who was born in Dade City and grew up in Zephyrhills — gave a positive account of the  latest legislative session and provided other news, as the featured guest speaker for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce’s June 3 business breakfast meeting at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills.

District 38 state Rep. Randy Maggard, R-Dade City (Courtesy of Florida House of Representatives)

“We have a lot of good things to talk about,” said Maggard, who represents Dade City, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, among other areas, in the Florida House of Representatives.

“Pasco, East Pasco especially, did really well this year,” the state lawmaker said.

Maggard particularly credited the county’s legislative delegation — singling out Senate President Wilton Simpson, a Republican from Trilby and state Sen. Danny Burgess, a Republican from Zephyrhills — for myriad strides made on behalf of East Pasco during the past legislative session.

The legislator otherwise emphasized that the region’s municipalities, businesses and educational institutions have a “prime opportunity” to garner state funding for other future projects and initiatives with the current legislative leadership.

“I can’t say enough about the work the delegation did to help East Pasco,” Maggard said. “This is your time, because you only get these moons and stars to line up so often, when you have people (in the state legislature) from here (in East Pasco).”

Bullish about bills
Maggard detailed several pieces of legislation that he supported, and which ultimately became Florida laws during the recent session.

For instance, he told the audience that the state’s enhanced “right-to-farm” law expands protections for farmers by generally making it more difficult for residents to sue over the impacts of agriculture operations — whether for flooding, burn fields or other reasons.

“You would not believe the lawsuits filed against farmers,” said Maggard. “They get sued more than you’ll ever know.”

The speaker underscored “the pressure” Florida farmers face relating to rapid growth and development — noting the state is now netting about 1,000 new residents per day.

“The farming industry is a lot bigger and we do a lot more than people realize,” Maggard said.

He also talked about a new state law that limits civil liability against businesses for damages related to COVID-19 — creating separate standards and procedures for lawsuits against general businesses and entities versus litigation against healthcare providers.

In other words, the law is designed to protect restaurants, retail shops and other establishments from lawsuits if an individual contracts COVID-19 in those places.

“We had to do something to protect our businesses,” the lawmaker said.

“I can tell you, certain sides were ganging up and getting ready to unload on businesses off of easy and cheap lawsuits, saying, ‘Oh, my constituent got COVID in your establishment,’ and the numbers were startling how they were lining up for that to happen, so I’m particularly proud of that bill that protects the businesses,” he said.

Another bill Maggard helped push through was enhanced civics education programming for public school districts and charter schools, requiring Florida high school students to earn three social studies credits covering U.S. history, world history, economics and U.S. government.

It also requires the Florida Department of Education to develop or approve integrated civic education curriculum that meets certain requirements, including “a comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential toward the founding principles of the Unites States,” according to the bill’s text.

The lawmaker said the legislation is needed to educate youth on the perils of communism and socialism beyond “what the world paints, that it’s a little rosy picture.”

“We forget what we have. We forget these freedoms,” said Maggard. “If we don’t teach it, maybe it’s our fault.”

The state representative also addressed the governor’s signing HB1, the so-called “anti-riot” bill, which increases penalties for bad actors who turn otherwise peaceful and constitutional protests into violent assemblies where law enforcement officers are attacked and public and private property is destroyed.

The bill signed into law in mid-April came in the wake of civil unrest throughout the country over the last couple years.

Maggard observed of the highly-publicized legislation: “(It’s) basically saying, you’re not going to defund your police department, and if you want to protest, it’s fine to protest, you have that right, but you’re not going to burn down the Golden Corral to do it, you’re not going to burn down the bank across the street to do it.

“There’s a lot of ways you can (protest) in this country, freely. You can walk up and down this road, but you’re not going to burn anything down. That’s not freedom of speech, that’s called rioting. Rioting’s against the law. We all work hard for this. we all work hard for what we do every day, and I think it’s a great bill, actually. It’s sad that we even have to have a bill like this.”

Maggard also shared his viewpoint on the controversial law prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in female sports, dubbed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.”

Signed by DeSantis on June 1, the law specifies an athletic team or sport that is designated for females, women, or girls may not be open to students of the male sex, based on the student’s biological sex listed on the student’s official birth certificate at the time of birth.

The bill applies the requirements to interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a public secondary school, high school, public college, or university institution.

Maggard said the law “doesn’t allow boys and men to play in girls’ sports,” a comment which a drew rounds of applause from Zephyrhills Chamber members in attendance.

The lawmaker acknowledged the transgender community’s perspective, but also remarked, “How about the other 99.5% of folks? My granddaughter, I’m thinking of her during these conversations.”

The entire measure brought about what Maggard labeled as “interesting testimony” from all involved parties.

“That was a bill we got a lot flak over, but it’s just right,” he said.

“You would not believe the hate e-mails and phone calls we got from that. It was quite interesting,” he said.

Maggard elsewhere described being “most proud of” of a pair of other bills, one related to reclaimed water reuse technology requirements for utility companies; another related to auditing requirements and increased scrutiny of independent special taxing districts.

Meanwhile, Maggard said DeSantis deserves “big credit” for keeping the Sunshine State open and restrictions relaxed amid the coronavirus crisis.

“Not everybody liked it, not everybody was for it,” said Maggard, “but I can tell you, at the end of the day, ask the rest of the nation, when we talk to all of them, they want to be Florida. “People want to go back to work, people didn’t want to quit working, and the kids wanted to go back to school.

“I think we need to thank our governor for standing up, because I’ll tell you what, he took a lot of criticism, a lot of hit from that,” Maggard said.

Published June 16, 2021

Tampa prepares for Super Bowl

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For Will Weatherford, co-chairman of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV Host Committee, this has been familiar territory.

With the NFL’s big game headed to Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7, it seems like Weatherford has spent a lifetime preparing for this moment.

Will Weatherford is co-chairman of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV Host Committee. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will become the first team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl at its home stadium, when the Bucs take on the Kansas City Chiefs. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee)

After all, he’s primarily a football guy.

The effort has required an intricate game plan — with plenty of adjustments. Preparation has been paramount. It has demanded toughness, resilience and loyalty. In the end, a winning formula will be assured by teamwork.

“We have a gritty culture in our area,’’ Weatherford said. “We have faced lots and lots of challenges. But, we are very excited that our area will stage the best possible Super Bowl, a historic Super Bowl, and it’s going to provide a real lift for our entire nation.’’

Weatherford, 41, is part of a luminous Pasco County family, one with six football-playing brothers, all who competed at Land O’Lakes High School before heading off to various levels of college football.

Weatherford, a linebacker, played at Jacksonville University. He entered politics as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006-2014, serving as House Speaker during his final term. He then founded Weatherford Capital, a private equity firm, with his brothers, Sam and Drew.

“But, my heart for public service didn’t go away,’’ Weatherford said. “I always tried to find ways to serve. What way can you have a bigger impact on the community than showcasing your city during the Super Bowl? I have watched what past Super Bowls have done for our community and now I am thrilled to be part of this process.’’

Weatherford was recruited to the position by Rob Higgins, the Host Committee president/CEO who also is executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. Weatherford’s fellow co-chairman is Pro Football Hall of Famer and legendary former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks.

“I was a linebacker in high school and college, and Derrick was my hero,’’ Weatherford said. “I was in middle school, he was at Florida State and he was my hero, and that continued to the NFL. To co-chair something significant with a childhood hero, I don’t have the words to describe what that means.

“Yes, he’s a Hall of Famer, but he’s a better person. The legacy he’s leaving in this community goes way beyond football. He’s always on point. His actions is where his leadership comes from. He leads a life of excellence in all things.’’

Brooks returned the compliment.

“We are very fortunate to be working with Will on this Super Bowl,’’ Brooks said. “He brings so much to the table. He’s so knowledgeable and he’s great at building relationships. Being part of this with him has really been a great experience.’’

The experience, of course, has been much different than what Weatherford and Brooks could have anticipated.

It’s the Pandemic Super Bowl.

COVID-19 has changed almost everything — from the lead-up activities to the events (some will disappear, some will go virtual) to the game itself (only a small percentage of fans is expected inside the stadium).

But, for television viewers in 180 countries, it’s still the Super Bowl. It’s still Tampa Bay’s vistas and attractions being front and center for an event that has become an unofficial American holiday.

The virus will severely limit the economic impact and hotel occupancy. But, the area will receive a huge boost from the $2 million “Forever 55’’ social legacy initiative ($1 million in corporate donations was matched by the NFL). It focused on local programs to aid the stated pillars of early childhood education, food insecurity, families, health and wellness, sustainability and systemic justice.

“Florida has been hit exceedingly hard by the virus and economic factors, but we’ve always found a way to rise up,’’ Weatherford said. “I don’t think this will be any different. Hopefully, people will visit us and see how much the Tampa Bay area has changed since our last Super Bowl.

“None of this happens without businesses and the community and the public sector getting on board. We’ve had five Super Bowls, absolutely amazing (only Miami, New Orleans and Los Angeles have had more). The NFL knows when they come to Tampa Bay that we’re going to give it our all and put on a great show. Of course, there have been challenges. But, I’m confident that when it’s all done, we’re going to look back and be very proud of what our community has done. I’m so happy to be part of it.’’

Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s
NFL’s interactive football theme park will return to Tampa for Super Bowl LV from Jan. 29 through Jan. 31, and from Feb. 2 through Feb. 6, along the Tampa Riverwalk.

The Super Bowl Experience will offer fans the opportunity to virtually meet-and-greet with current NFL players and Legends, participate in games, and shop merchandise from the NFL Shop presented by Visa.

The Experience also will feature photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, a 40-yard dash and vertical jump against NFL players on LED screens, and a Super Bowl rings display showcasing all 54 Super Bowl rings.

Fans can attend the Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s free, every day.

To attend, fans must register for the NFL OnePass app and book a session time. Fans also should bring their favorite face covering and prepare to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others.

To reserve your session time, download the NFL OnePass app at NFL.com/OnePass. If the session date/time that you are looking for is not available, there will be a standby queue available for walk-up fans at Julian B. Lane, but fans will still need OnePass to access.

There is limited capacity to the Super Bowl Experience, so entry is not guaranteed.

For fans without a smartphone, Technology Managers will be at the exterior of Julian B. Lane to assist.

Hours of Operation:
​Jan. 29: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Jan. 30: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Jan. 31: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Feb. 3: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Feb. 4: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Feb. 5: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Feb. 6: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Additional information about health guidance and prohibited security items can be found at NFL.com.
Source: nfl.com

‘No Drone Zone’ during Super Bowl LV
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is a “No Drone Zone” for Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, and drones also are prohibited around the Tampa Riverwalk for the NFL Super Bowl Experience during the days leading up to the event.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it will establish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) on game day that will prohibit drones within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude. The TFR will be in place from 5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., EST.

Drones also are prohibited for 1 nautical mile around Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. until the TFR for the game takes effect.

The FAA will restrict drone flights for roughly 2 nautical miles around Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feet from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6, during event hours.

Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission could face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones in the TFR.

Detailed information for general aviation and drone pilots is available on the FAA’s Super Bowl LV web page.

Drone pilots should check the FAA’s B4UFly app to determine when and where they may fly.

By Joey Johnston

Published January 27, 2021

Political Agenda 10/07/2020

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Republican women’s group endorses Trump
The Florida Federation of Republican Women has announced its support for the reelection of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the 2020 Presidential Election. The women’s political group also endorsed that ticket during the 2016 presidential election, according to a news release from the organization.

Randy Maggard endorsements
Randy Maggard is running for reelection in District 38 of the Florida House of Representatives. His campaign has announced the following endorsements:

  • The West Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Police Benevolent Association
  • Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning
  • Richard Corcoran, former speaker of the Florida House and current state education commissioner

East Pasco Democrat Club
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet remotely, via Zoom, at Oct. 19, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will feature supporting the Democratic candidates locally and nationally. All members and friends of the Democratic Party are invited to attend. Email , or call (813) 383-8315 for details. Socializing begins at 6 p.m., followed by the meeting.

Democrat Club meeting set
The Central Pasco Democratic Club will meet Oct. 21 at 6:45 p.m., remotely on Zoom. The meeting will feature supporting the Democratic candidates locally and nationally. All members and friends of the Democratic Party are invited to attend. Email , or call (813) 383-8315 for details. Socializing begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting.

Kathy Lewis endorsements
Kathy Lewis is running for the District 20 seat in the State Senate. She has received these endorsements, according to her campaign:

  • Tracey Kagan, Democratic candidate for the Florida House
  • Florida State Sen. Victor “Vic” M. Torres, Jr.

Polling place changes in Pasco
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley announced the following polling place changes for precincts 15 and 55, for the 2020 General Election.

New locations
• Precinct 15: Cornerstone Community Church, 5708 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, 34652
• Precinct 55: Zephyr Shores Estates POA Clubhouse, 35143 State Road 54 W., Zephyrhills, Florida 33541

Former locations
• Precinct 15: Ashbury United Methodist Church, 4204 Thys Road, New Port Richey
• Precinct 55: Crystal Lakes Clubhouse, Zephyrhills, Florida 33541

Sample ballots
Pasco County will mail sample ballots to voters on Oct. 9. Voters who have requested vote-by-mail do not receive sample ballots.

Some vote-by-mail reminders
The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections’ Office provides these Vote By Mail reminders, on its website:

  • Don’t forget to sign your Vote By Mail envelope before returning it.
  • Make sure you have a current signature on file with your Supervisor of Elections Office. You can update your signature by completing a printed or online voter registration application. (An online application will add your most recent Florida Driver License or Florida State ID signature to your voter record.)
  • Be consistent when signing your mail ballot return envelope. Signatures are compared to those on file with the elections office.
  • You may mail your ballot back or drop it off at your local elections offices or Early Voting sites (during Early Voting).
  • Check with your local elections office for more information on drop-off locations.
  • If you mail the ballot back, make sure to allow plenty of time for it to be received. It’s a good idea that you allow at least a week for your mailed ballot to reach your elections office. If your ballot isn’t in your county’s elections office by 7 p.m., Election Day, it will not be counted.

Lawmaker talks state budget cuts, COVID-19

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State Rep. Randy Maggard made a special appearance at a Zephyrhills City Council meeting last month — updating constituents on issues that included state budget cuts, the COVID-19 pandemic, return-to-school plans and more.

During his talk, Maggard, who represents District 38 in the Florida House of Representatives, bluntly said East Pasco was fortunate to secure state funding for two projects.

Randy Maggard represents District 38 in the State House of Representatives. He spoke on a number of issues, during a special appearance last month at a Zephyrhills City Council meeting. (Courtesy of Florida House of Representatives)

Those projects survived, while other projects fell by the wayside as a result of $1 billion in budget cuts, achieved through line-item vetoes by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The governor made those cuts because state revenues were lower than expected, due to the economic impacts of COVID-19.

The approved $92.2 billion budget, however, does include about $5.5 million for the Lacoochee industrial area right of way improvements and about $2.3 million for intersection improvements at U.S. 301/Pretty Pond and Medical Arts Court.

“We’re just happy to get what we did,” Maggard said. “At the end of the day, we felt we fared well compared to most (other districts).”

Other budget wins in Maggard’s book included the $500 million to increase teacher salaries across the state and the approval of the most comprehensive water bill in Florida history. That water bill includes: $322 million for Everglades Restoration; $50 million for springs restoration; $160 million for targeted water quality improvements; $40 million for alternative water supply; and, $25 million to combat harmful algal blooms and red tide.

Maggard said he hopes the state doesn’t need to undergo yet another round of budget cuts due to COVID-19, hurricane season or some other setback. Luckily, state reserves could help withstand some expected shortfalls, he said.

Maggard said the Legislature’s foresight to build up a reserve in the past has come in handy now.

He added: “What we’re praying is that we don’t have a bad hurricane season. Just having another knockout punch would not be good for our economy, and that’s what we’re concerned about, at the time.”

On the COVID-19 front, Maggard acknowledged the pandemic “just seems to be dragging on,” but noted a sliver of a silver lining.

The positivity rates for COVID-19 through Florida have hovered in the 10% range to 12% range, while experiencing marked decreases is some instances.

Maggard said Florida made headlines across the country when it recorded nearly 15,300 new coronavirus cases on July 12. That set a national record for any one-day period.

What media outlets failed to mention, Maggard said, is about 142,900 people were tested — representing a positivity rate of about 10.7%.

A few days before that, the state had reported 11,343 positive COVID-19 cases among 93,500 tests — correlating with a higher positivity rate of 12.1%, he said.

“It was a big number that dropped, but we’re testing more,” Maggard said, regarding the July 12 report.

“If you look at just the pure numbers, you would think, ‘Wow, this thing is spreading worse, and we’re in trouble,’” he said.

But, when “you look at it percentage-wise,” he said, “it’s not growing like the numbers sometimes show.”

And, that, he said, represents “a little bit of good news.”

The freshman lawmaker added the “largest spread” of the coronavirus comes from Florida bars and small breweries, so temporarily closing down those institutions was “just something that had to be done,” he said.

He also acknowledged the economic impact the decision had.

“It is affecting small business, and we understand that,” he said.

Maggard also emphasized  the importance of mask wearing and social distancing: “If you talk to your doctor, they will tell you. If we can just keep that practice, we can get over this hurdle, we really can just get it to stop. I think we can get out of this mess, and then we just need to pray for a shot like we do for the flu, then I’ll think a lot of this will just go away.”

On the much-debated topic of return-to-school plans, Maggard assured state leaders are studying “the smartest way” to handle an ever-changing situation, adding decisions are “based on science and numbers, and not emotion.”

However, he added there’s been “overwhelming” support to reopen brick-and-mortar school campuses for the 2020-2021 school year, particularly among Florida high schoolers.

“It’s funny, the majority of high school students we’ve reached out to are like, ‘Yeah, we want to go back to school,’” Maggard said. “Maybe staying at home with parents is not as fun as it used to be at the time; high school students are definitely for it.”

He also addressed one of the more well-documented issues that surfaced early in the wake of COVID-19: the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s difficulty in managing the massive volume of unemployment benefit claims.

Many of those problems have been resolved, Maggard said.

“There’s some people out there we’re still dealing with, but overall that number’s dropping, which has been good for us,” he said.

Published August 05, 2020

Coronavirus could ‘decimate’ state appropriations

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The recently passed $93 billon Florida state budget included some big wins for East Pasco, but District 38 state Rep. Randy Maggard isn’t ready to celebrate or take a victory lap just yet.

That’s because the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will force state lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session sometime this summer — and likely result in major spending cuts for budgeted programs and projects due to a shortfall in sales tax revenues.

“This virus, it’s just going to decimate our budget,” Maggard said, during an East Pasco Networking Group virtual conference meeting on April 13.

Randy Maggard represents District 38 in the State House of Representatives (Courtesy of Florida House of Representatives)

The Dade City Republican helped secure a total of $16.6 million in appropriations to be used in projects by Zephyrhills, Lacoochee, Pasco County and Saint Leo University. These projects include intersection improvements, establishing a new robotics program, and septic to sewage for a fast-growing part of our county.

But, the freshman lawmaker admitted he isn’t sure which, if any, of those projects could be on the chopping block a few months from now.

“The problem we’re in, we all don’t know what’s going to change on us,” Maggard said. “All the good things we accomplished may not last, so that’s what we are dealing with at the moment and just watching, because It’s unchartered waters for all of us.”

Aside from budgetary impacts, Maggard outlined other issues that have or could become the result of COVID-19.

One of the more well-documented issues surfaced is the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) having trouble managing the massive volume of people filing for unemployment benefit claims.

Maggard mostly defended the DEO — pointing out the system was never designed or could’ve anticipated such unemployment levels in a state with historically low unemployment.

The lawmaker explained the DEO would typically file more than 10,000 unemployment claims in a month. Now, the department is getting as many or more in a single day.

“I think you’ve gotta put it in perspective a little bit,” Maggard said. “Nobody expected this to happen and where it’s going. Nobody expected it in our unemployment part and in our small businesses and our restaurant businesses. I just feel so bad for them, because it’s devastating…so we’re working tirelessly to try to do the right things to get us through this as quick as possible.”

He added “99% of what I do daily now is trying to help people get unemployment claims and fight it through the system.”

Maggard touched on some other unintended consequences resulting from COVID-19.

He explained statewide stay-at-home orders have led to a rise in domestic violence, and strains on waste management, while consumer stockpiling has exposed a truck driver shortage and product supply chains.

Maggard also raised concerns of the risk of utility and electric companies being overwhelmed as “everybody’s staying home under A/C, 24/7…and we haven’t even hit the summer hot time yet.

“This virus has really compounded a lot of problems and shows us a lot of weaknesses and some of the things we thought we had set up and were foolproof,” he said, “but, the good thing is we’re learning from it, we’re going to get through it…and there’s a light at the end of the end of the tunnel.”

Maggard reflects on first year in office
Voters selected Maggard in a special election last June to become their next representative in District 38 of the Florida House of Representatives — filling the vacancy created by former Rep. Danny Burgess, who accepted an offer from Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Participating in his first 60-day regular legislative session “was absolutely one of the biggest honors of my life,” Maggard said, adding, “to be able to walk out on that chamber floor and realize you’re one of 2,700 people that ever stepped there, it gives you chills.”

Maggard spent 30 years as vice president of Sonny’s Discount Appliances in Dade City. He is a Pasco County native, attended Zephyrhills High School and holds an Associate of Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando Community College (now known as Pasco-Hernando State College).

He underscored the significance of his new role.

“Every time we press a button, we affect 21 million people’s lives,” Maggard said, “and I take that very seriously.”

With that, stopping a bill is oftentimes more important than passing a bill, Maggard said, “because every time something is passed, something is taken away, there’s some kind of freedom affected.”

“I quickly learned that my job up there was to stop things — bad policies — more than it was trying to make good policy, so I did a lot of arguing, debating over that,” he said.

For Maggard, the job overall has been “like drinking from a fire hose”  — in terms of the volume of tasks and issues that come across his desk regularly.

“When you’re running for office, you can’t really get prepared for all the amount of information that you need to use, and the people you need to see, and the work you have to do to be able to vote the right way for your citizens in Pasco,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maggard commended fellow state lawmakers for working together and across the aisle, as both the House and Senate unanimously approved the $93 billion state budget in March.

He highlighted the procurement of $690 million for water protection and restoration of the Everglades; $1.7 billion dollars for hurricane response; and, $17 billion for PreK-12 education funding, including $500 million for teachers pay raises, among others.

“The Republicans and Dems, we do have some differences,” he said, “but, we can sit down and have a breakfast, both sides, and talk and work something out, and I think that’s what good government’s supposed to be.

“We were called not to be politicians, but to be statesmen. I’m arguing for East Pasco, but somewhere in the middle there, we’ve gotta do what’s best for 21 million people.”

Published April 22, 2020

Pandemic keeps students home from school

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Florida’s elementary and secondary campuses will not reopen this school year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on April 18.

Instead, students and teachers will continue with the distance learning model, which began in March. That approach began as a way to limit the potential spread of coronavirus disease-2019. (COVID-19).

The national death toll for the pandemic reached 37,202 as of April 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The economic meltdown has resulted in the loss of more than 22 million American jobs, according to national reports.

In explaining why he decided to close school campuses, DeSantis said “We spoke with a lot of folks throughout the state.

“There was some differing opinions. Some parents were not interested in their kids going back. Some others — it’s been tough around the house, they would have liked to have seen them go back,” the governor said, during a news conference that was carried live on WTSP 10 News.

“We’ve got pretty good momentum for distance learning. It’s obviously not the ideal situation, but given where we are in the school year, we felt that was the best decision to go forward,” he said.

DeSantis said he asked if there would be a huge academic benefit of reopening schools, but most people didn’t think so.

“I think the last thing you want to do is force everyone in school and have half the kids not show up, because the parents didn’t want (it) — their teachers didn’t want to do it.

“It was an easier decision for me to make, knowing that we’ve done so well with the distance learning,” DeSantis said.

In a YouTube video posted on the Pasco County Schools’ website, Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district’s campuses will remain closed, but that distance learning will continue through May 27.

Browning said he agreed with DeSantis regarding the closure of campuses.

“Due to the potential health and safety risks, I could not in good conscience direct our students, teachers and staff to return in this environment,” the superintendent said.

In regards to distance learning, Browning said: “Most of our teachers and students have made tremendous progress. They have acclimated to our new normal with creativity and energy.”

He acknowledged that the district continues “to work with a very small number of students who have not yet engaged.”

Browning added that “student feeding days will continue on Tuesdays.”

The numbers are increasing each week, but the district’s food and nutrition staff, and army of volunteers are getting the job done, Browning said.

He also touched on the topics of graduations and proms.

“These are once in a lifetime experiences, and we know how important they are. We remain hopeful, and at the same time, we are weighing our options.

“We still have several weeks to make sure that our seniors have a graduation that is memorable and meaningful,” Browning said.

He added: “We know many students and teachers have a need to retrieve their belongings form school. When we left for Spring Break more than a month ago, I’m sure there were many personal belongings left in lockers and desks and cabinets. We know it’s important that you have an opportunity to retrieve your things, but it must be done safely.

“Your school will inform you about their specific plan, soon,” Browning said.

Hillsborough County public schools announced the extended closure on its website, and noted its eLearning will continue through May 29.

“We know you have many questions about your student’s grades, as well as activities and events planned during the fourth quarter. We will be providing you additional details in the coming days, including information regarding graduation ceremonies,” according to the website.

The district also announced that all May graduations will be canceled, but that it has worked with the Florida State Fairgrounds to secure alternate dates in July.

“We know this is heartbreaking for students. Especially our seniors. All extracurricular activities will be canceled during this timeframe. But, we have worked with select seniors, school-based leaders and district staff to develop multiple options for school graduations.”

In addition to announcing the campus closures, DeSantis also announced that a task force will begin work this week to “develop a three-stage approach to reopening the state: short-term, medium-term and long-term.”

The task force will meet telephonically and is expected to have its recommendations for short-term steps to DeSantis by April 24.

“Then, once we get that in place, they’re going to look to the medium- and long-term strategies,” the governor said, noting the task force will include small business owners, industry representatives and elected officials, including Wilton Simpson, incoming president of the Florida Senate, and Chris Sprowls, incoming speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

DeSantis also gave updates on Florida’s testing efforts, and announced that the state would begin publicly reporting the names of nursing homes and long-term care facilities that have reported cases of COVID-19.

Published April 22, 2020

World War II vet celebrates 100th birthday

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VFW Post 8154, in Zephyrhills, was packed with people to celebrate Edward Bruno’s 100th birthday on Oct. 12.

“I think he will be absolutely stunned to see how many people have come out today to honor him and celebrate his birthday,” said Suzanne Ahmad, his niece.

And, so he was.

Edward Bruno, of Zephyrhills, donned a golden crown as he celebrated his 100th birthday on Oct. 12, with family and friends. (Brian Fernandes)

“It’s a surprise to me,” said Bruno, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, during an event that attracted relatives, devoted friends and dignitaries.

He sat at a long table, in a chair festooned with balloons, donning a birthday crown emblazoned with the number 100.

Like many of his fellow VFW members in the room, he also wore a signature red polo shirt.

Friends and relatives swarmed him, giving him hugs and handshakes, and taking photos of him.

VFW dignitaries took to the stage, offering their birthday wishes, as Bruno relaxed, taking occasional sips of his wine.

Fellow Marine veteran Glenn Shaw, who lives in Zephyrhills, welcomed the crowd.

His eyes welled with tears as he spoke about his friendship with Bruno.

“I go to his house at least once a week. If nobody makes his bed, I make his bed for him. [I] do little things around the house for him. He’s a good man. He’s my buddy,” Shaw said.

State Rep. Randy Maggard was there, too, to help celebrate the day.

“This is a special event and a special time. Truly he has epitomized the spirit of those we call the greatest generation,” said Maggard, who represents District 38 in the Florida House of Representatives.

Bruno’s extended family sat near him during the celebration, including nieces, a younger sister, a grandson and a daughter-in-law.

They celebrated Bruno’s 100 years of life, which began when he was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1919.

He grew up there, in a family of 13 children.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942, at the height of World War II.

The same year, he fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal, and earned a Bronze Medal.

As his military career progressed, he served as a drill sergeant and was stationed in Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Georgia and Cape Gloucester.

“I think he’s always been very proud of his service, his devotion to his family and country,” Ahmad said.

Longevity is a family trait, she added.

However, while enjoying a lengthy life, Bruno has outlived his wife, Barbara, and his only son, Bobby.

There have been challenges, too.

He had to be fitted with a prosthetic leg, after an accident in a factory.

But, he always has made the best of his situations, Ahmad said.

And, his example has been a life lesson for her, she added.

Bruno’s two other nieces, Paulette Kline and Louise Cantwell, also were at the party, reminiscing fondly about their uncle.

“We would have a lot of happy memories of being in his home,” Kline said, “and [he was] always a very gracious host and very loving.”

She said her uncle helped her to develop a sense of gratitude.

Cantwell recalled that at family gatherings, Bruno and her other uncles would talk about growing up during the Great Depression.

She said it reinforced the importance of being there for one another.

“The solidarity is what we get from it. The family solidarity – to be together when we can and help each other when we can,” Cantwell said.

She also noted his upbeat attitude.

“He’s always got a positive outlook,” Cantwell said. “He just kept on being the same happy person.”

Plus, she mentioned, Bruno has been quite a “chick magnet,” and that’s still true today.

“At 100 years old, he can still get the women to come give him attention,” she said, laughing.

The nieces also agreed that their uncle also has an excellent sense of humor.

Besides offering kind words of congratulations, VFW members also gave Bruno gifts to mark the occasion.

They gave him a framed plaque, a case holding a certificate for his service and a Tervis tumbler cup engraved with his name.

But, Bruno wasn’t the only one celebrating a birthday that day.

Jack Henry Dias was celebrating, too. He shares Bruno’s birthday, and he was turning age 1.

Bruno held little Dias in his lap, while people took photos.

The pictures kept coming, as Bruno was helped outdoors by his grandson, Eric, before partaking in a special meal.

There, Bruno posed with his family and caregivers in front of a big military truck.

They were creating yet another memento, to celebrate Bruno’s century’s worth of life experiences.

Published October 23, 2019

Local teen’s rare disease sparks legislation

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After more than three years of fighting for their medical coverage for their son’s rare disease, a Land O’ Lakes family has seen some progress in their quest.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Patient Saving Act on June 12, which includes language requiring the state insurance plan to provide enteral formula coverage, regardless of age, condition or intake method.

Stephanie Walls, whose son Remington suffers from Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), called the legislative victory “absolutely amazing.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Patient Saving Act in June. Included is language requiring the state insurance plan to provide enteral formula coverage, regardless of age, condition or intake method. Stephanie and Remington Walls stand on the far right. (Courtesy of Stephanie Walls)

The rare EoE disease, which is incurable, causes food to deteriorate in his esophagus.

Remington, who was diagnosed at age 4, has lived a life without regular food or drink.

His only source of nutrition since then has come via a hypoallergenic amino acid-based liquid formula, called Neocate EO28 Splash. He consumes roughly 18 to 22 of the eight-ounce juice boxes per day.

Through it all, 19-year-old Remington has never let his life-threatening food allergy disease block him from pursuing his goals.

He is a former varsity baseball standout at Land O’ Lakes High School.

He’s a published author, and he has earned a volunteer assistant/team manager position at Valdosta State University’s Division I baseball program.

In 2016, his family learned that its insurance no longer covered the liquid formula required for sustenance. Without the insurance, the formula costs about $26,000 per year, Stephanie said.

The alternative was a feeding tube. But, with Remington’s active lifestyle, that was never an option, the family says.

So, Remington and his mom have been pushing for state and federal legislation for enteral formula coverage for medical nutrition — sharing their story with lawmakers and anyone who would listen.

The new law only impacts state employees, but still it is a move in the right direction and will help families like theirs who are struggling, Stephanie says.

“This is just a baby step, to the bigger steps that are going to be taken,” added Stephanie, an eighth grade language arts teacher at Cypress Creek Middle High School in Wesley Chapel.

“We’re still trying to get federal legislation,” she said. “It has to be broader. It has to have a wider span.”

Remington agrees with his mom: “Our goal is to get federal legislation passed, but it’s just a work in progress. We just take it one day, one step at a time.”

He added, “Honestly, our whole goal going into this was, whether it benefits us or not, we want to make a difference. We just knew that if this is happening to us, then it’s happening to other families.”

Getting help and helping others
At the state level, the Walls’ cause was picked during the legislative process by Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Republican from Lakeland, and Rep. Ardian Zika, a Republican from Land O’ Lakes. They sponsored enteral formula legislation, which ultimately led to an amendment to the state health bill.

As it stands now, “it only covers state employees,” Zika said. “My goal is I hope to see federal legislation addressing this issue .. .so we have comprehensive coverage for such a condition.”

He went on, “For me, this was an opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless. When I reflect back on my public service, this is going to be one of the highlights for me.”

Zika learned of Walls’ story before his election in 2018 to represent District 37 in the Florida House of Representatives.

“It was really heartbreaking,” Zika said. “I said, ‘Wow, this is something that I would be very passionate about because it’s life-changing for individuals.’”

The freshman lawmaker added, “Remington has overcome so much adversity. No one should go through what they’ve (the Walls) gone through. I’m just happy to be at the intersection in their life and do my part, but there’s much more work to be done.”

Remington and Stephanie addressed several committees in Tallahassee along the way, including the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, House Market Reform Subcommittee and Government Oversight Committee.

Stephanie acknowledged the work was tiresome, but she said it also was empowering to be a voice for other families who are in the same boat.

“Our belief and our philosophy has always been that we need to help the people that come behind us,” she said. “Regular, everyday people can make a difference, but people have to understand that. It’s just about everybody making that difference.”

Seeing her son pick up the cause made the efforts all the more worthwhile, too.

Stephanie put it like this: “It is so rare to find an 18-year-old, at the time, meeting with legislators. He knew in his heart that this was the right thing that he needed to be doing. A lot of it he was kind of thrust into it, but he chose to continue.”

In November, Remington and Stephanie co-wrote “Homeplate: A True Story of Resilience,” a 118-page book that delves into a foodless life and insights on coping with a rare esophageal disease.

The project gained momentum to the point where Remington and Stephanie were called to speak at multiple events, including the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) Conference in Washington D.C. The Walls also presented to over 200 athletes at an Atlanta-based event organized by ACES Nation and All-In FC (Futbol Club) at Sugar Hill.

Meanwhile, Remington has big plans ahead. The college sophomore plans to try out for the Valdosta State baseball team this fall. He’s also studying communications as he considers a career in public speaking.

He hopes his story can inspire others facing similar challenges.

Determination is important, according to Remington.

“If you set your mind to it, you can do it. The only person that can stop you is you,” he said.

Published August 21, 2019