• One of President Bush’s top advisors, Karl Rove, will be here March 23 to speak at the local Republican Party’s Lincoln Day dinner.
• Compass Bank President Bob White is chair-elect of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. He’ll be the second local in the past decade: Leerie Jenkins of RS&H also headed the state Chamber.
• Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings is slipping in a little campaigning during her visit here this week but it’s all low-key. Gov. Jeb Bush asked her to lay low until the legislative session ends — she can’t even open a campaign account — but you know what she means when she refers to “something we’re going to do later” — i.e., run for governor.
• Jennings also pointed out an oddity in her speech Thursday to the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee — that Florida’s two U.S. senators, Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, live in the same Orlando subdivision.
• No more roaming reporters in the mayor’s office. Reporters used to have pretty much free reign to knock on office doors to the mayor’s staff, but not any more. All visitors must now be cleared by the front desk.
• The Jacksonville Waterways Commission brought in an expert to talk about the effects of underwater dredging noise on manatees, but ran into some problems with his presentation. Dr. Edmund Gerstein of Florida Atlantic University had prepared a presentation featuring recordings of different types of underwater noise, but his City-provided laptop computer didn’t have a sound card. “I don’t think it went over too well,” said Gerstein. “I’ve never had to use a computer without a sound card before.” Gerstein said dredging noise makes it difficult for manatees to hear approaching boats.
• Baptist Medical Center doesn’t want the wreckage of the Fuller Warren Bridge turned into a fishing pier if it’s going to increase traffic in the area, but the center’s administration has some other ideas for how to use the land. “If the property was offered for parking we wouldn’t turn it down,” said Andy Sikes, director of safety security and parking.