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Jeff Greene Tells Florida Mayors He Wants Home Rule

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on Florida governor candidates speaking to the state’s mayor Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jeff Greene told the state’s mayors that he supports local rule and increasing state funding for school security. Something he hopes will help him gain their support.

Greene told the Florida League of Mayors on Wednesday that “the best decisions are made at the city level.” He said the Legislature and governor should stop restricting cities’ powers and give them and school districts enough money to fund the school security program imposed after February’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre.

Greene is a billionaire developer from Palm Beach. He has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump during his campaign but is also a member of the president’s Mar-a-Lago Club.

Three other Democratic candidates are speaking Wednesday: former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine. Democrat Chris King and Republicans Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis had scheduling conflicts.

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5:30 a.m.

Four Democratic candidates for Florida governor are scheduled to speak at a state convention for mayors.

The Florida League of Mayors is hosting a town hall Wednesday in Hollywood. The group says it invited all seven major Republican and Democratic candidates and four accepted as of Tuesday. They are former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and businessman Jeff Greene. Each will be given 15 minutes to speak to the mayors and then take questions.

A spokesman for Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis said the candidate has a scheduling conflict. The campaigns of Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Democratic businessman Chris King did not respond to inquiries on Tuesday.