Mayor says DeSantis took the campaign "completely in the gutter"

During the eight years under the administration of Gov. Rick Scott, state employees lost the equivalent of six weeks salary.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum has promised a salary increase for state employees if he is elected to succeed Scott, a priority being the reduction in the size of the government and its workforce.

On Wednesday, Gillum was a panhandle casualty and during a stopover in Tallahassee, he pledged to "defend" the state employees when he was elected governor.

"They were penalized during the arc of the current administration. As mayor of this city, I know it and I know how important they play in the management of the third largest state in America, "said Gillum, for whom state agents understand of his neighbors.

Gillum is in a close race with Republican opponent Ron DeSantis to occupy the governor's mansion. Asked about the salaries and benefits of state employees, a spokesman for DeSantis said the campaign was only focused on November 6th.

Since 2010, Florida's population has grown by 2.5 million, while the state's workforce has lost 6,000 employees. Tallahassee is home to more than 19,000 state employees. Florida has the lowest-priced and cheapest state labor force in the country – less than half of the national average in both categories per 10,000 population.

And they have steadily lost ground in Scott's eight years.

Inflation alone has engulfed about six weeks of salary for the 97,502 workers of the state personnel system over the past seven years. The average salary has risen to $ 39,910, but measured in constant dollars, an SPS worker now has a lower purchasing power of $ 4,210 than she had in 2011, according to statistics from the US Department of Labor.

Gillum believes that state workers deserve more than any salary increase.

"They have not benefited from quality wage increases for their work," Gillum said. "At the present time, their salaries are kept superficially low so that the governor can run and say that he is running a cheap state."

Governor Scott has recommended a performance-based increase for a selection of workers in each of his budget recommendations in the Legislature. And his office points out that the public pension system is strong.

The last time workers received an autonomous salary increase in 2006.

By Thursday, voters in Florida had already collected 3.7 million votes, about half of the total expected at the close of polls on Tuesday at 19 hours.

Steve Schale, data expert, said that 48 counties had exceeded their pre-vote totals for 2014 with four remaining days of advance voting. Miami-Dade is getting closer to the overall vote of 2014. Republican voters outnumber Democratic voters by 1.7 points so far, with NPA voters accounting for 18% of the total.

"Both parties record a record number of advance votes," Schale said in a note on SteveSchale.com where he was following the 2018 vote.

It's all about numbers, he writes.

"The appearance of the model determines the appearance of a winning calculator. If Republicans have a four-point advantage over voter turnout, the percentage of NPAs required to win (for Democrats) is high. If it's 1 or 2, it's modest. "

The calendars of DeSantis and Gillum place them in their respective fiefs for the last weekend of the campaign. Gillum will meet with former President Barack Obama in Miami on Friday and will remain in southeastern Florida, rich in Democrats, until election day.

DeSantis will campaign mainly along the Gulf Coast. It begins Friday at New Port Richey, switches to Miami Spring and then returns to the west with stops in Tampa and Naples.

On Saturday, DeSantis will meet with President Donald J. Trump in Pensacola.

On Wednesday evening, at a Trump event in Fort Myers, DeSantis launched the slogan: "Lock him up, lock him up" when he said that Gillum had called Trump to be deposed.

"I mean it's a guy who took bribes from an FBI undercover agent. Took the money from a lobbyist, made favors for the lobbyist. Maybe we should dismiss Gillum as mayor of Tallahassee, "said DeSantis as his audience chanted a similar 2016 Trump.

TO CLOSE

President Donald Trump said next week Governor Rick Scott would be a senator and Ron DeSantis would be Florida's next governor.
WTSP, Naples Daily News

Thursday morning on MSNBC Gillum Gillum postponed.

"From day one, he has completely fallen into the hole of this campaign, not talking to voters about what he wants to do, what he wants to achieve," Gillum said of DeSantis. "I have a zero tolerance for corruption. I am not under investigation nor my city either.

More: Andrew Gillum stump in Panhandle, pushes back the jibes of President Trump

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More: "You will never see me commit this kind of mistake again": Andrew Gillum speaks to an FBI agent, trusting

More: Andrew Gillum pledges to cooperate with Trump, the legislature controlled by the GOP

The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum, speaking in front of Florida's A & M campus everlasting flame, before a demonstration in Florida State University's law school Friday, October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Students and community members gather near the eternal flame on the Florida A & M campus on Friday, October 26, 2018 before a march to the College of Law at Florida State University to encourage early voting.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Governor Andrew Gillum greets the Florida A & M High School reunion parade as he arrives at the FAMU campus before a march to the College of Law in Florida. Florida State University on Friday, October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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Tallahassee Mayor and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, arrives on Florida's A & M campus before a march for the Florida State University Law School on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in order to get the job done. encourage early voting.

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Supporters gather around Tallahassee's mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum in front of the eternal flame of Florida's A & M campus ahead of a demonstration at Florida State University's Law School on October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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Supporters gather around Tallahassee's mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum in front of the eternal flame of Florida's A & M campus ahead of a demonstration at Florida State University's Law School on October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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Supporters gather around Tallahassee's mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum in front of the eternal flame of Florida's A & M campus ahead of a demonstration at Florida State University's Law School on October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum, speaking in front of Florida's A & M campus everlasting flame, before a demonstration in Florida State University's law school Friday, October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum, speaking in front of Florida's A & M campus everlasting flame, before a demonstration in Florida State University's law school Friday, October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum, speaking in front of Florida's A & M campus everlasting flame, before a demonstration in Florida State University's law school Friday, October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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Supporters gather around Tallahassee's mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum in front of the eternal flame of Florida's A & M campus ahead of a demonstration at Florida State University's Law School on October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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Representative Ramon Alexander speaks in front of the everlasting Flame on the Florida A & M campus before a march to the Florida State University Law College on Friday, October 26, 2018 to encourage early voting.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Darryl Jones fans will march past Florida State University's College of Law from the eternal torch on Florida's A & M campus during a parade to encourage early voting with Tallahassee's mayor and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum, Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Walkers join forces at the beginning of their trip to Florida State University's College of Law since the eternal flame of Florida's A & M campus at an event intended to encourage early voting with the mayor of Tallahassee and candidate Florida Governor Andrew Gillum on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Jabaree Allen sings as supporters march with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum for the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus at Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting, Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Supporters are marching with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum of the eternal flame of the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Jodi Henningham, leader of Florida A & M, left, sings with her supporters while she walks with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, of the Eternal Flame on Florida A & Campus. M at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26th. 2018.

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Cassandra Glover sings with her supporters while she walks with the mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, from the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the College of Law's Florida State University to encourage early voting, Friday, October 26, 2018.

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A & M's Florida Hughes, Kiomi Hughes, appears in a friend's video as supporters march with Tallahassee's mayor and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, for the eternal flame on Florida's campus at the Florida State University College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26th. 2018.

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Tallahassee mayoral candidate Jeremy Matlow accompanies the current mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum from the eternal flame on the Florida A & M campus at the Florida State College of Law. University to encourage early voting, Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum walk with supporters of the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to the Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday October 26, 2018.

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Senator Jodi Henningham of Florida A & M walks with her supporters as she walks with the mayor of Tallahassee and candidate for Florida Governor Andrew Gillum from the eternal flame on the Florida A & M campus to College of Law from Florida State University to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum greets supporters as he arrives at Florida State University's College of Law after leaving the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to encourage voting anticipated on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum greets supporters as he arrives at Florida State University's College of Law after leaving the eternal flame on Florida's A & M campus to encourage voting anticipated on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Fans gather on the lawn in front of Florida State University's College of Law. The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, arrives after the eternal flame march on the Florida A & M campus to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Fans gather on the lawn in front of Florida State University's College of Law. The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, arrives after the eternal flame march on the Florida A & M campus to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Fans gather on the lawn in front of Florida State University's College of Law. The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, arrives after the eternal flame march on the Florida A & M campus to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Robyn Seniors, vice-president of Florida's Florida State Students' Association, speaks at the Florida State University's College of Law after marching in front of Tallahassee's mayor and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum , the eternal flame on the FAMU campus to encourage early voting, on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Members of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity perform a routine, while supporters of the Mayor of Tallahassee and Florida Governor Andrew Gillum's candidate rally after returning from the eternal flame on the A & M campus from Florida to Florida State University's College of Law to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26th. 2018.

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Representative Ramon Alexander speaks at Florida State University's College of Law after marching in front of Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Governor Andrew Gillum, as well as supporters of the eternal flame on the A & M campus from Florida to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Representative Ramon Alexander speaks at Florida State University's College of Law after marching in front of Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Governor Andrew Gillum, as well as supporters of the eternal flame on the A & M campus from Florida to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Representative Ramon Alexander speaks at Florida State University's College of Law after marching in front of Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Governor Andrew Gillum, as well as supporters of the eternal flame on the A & M campus from Florida to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Florida State University College Democrat President Joshua Hanson takes a photo with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum during a march and demonstration to encourage voting anticipated, Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum addresses fans at Florida State University's College of Law after FSU protest and eternal flame on Florida campus A & M University to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum addresses fans at Florida State University's College of Law after FSU protest and eternal flame on Florida campus A & M University to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum addresses fans at Florida State University's College of Law after FSU protest and eternal flame on Florida campus A & M University to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum addresses fans at Florida State University's College of Law after FSU protest and eternal flame on Florida campus A & M University to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum addresses fans at Florida State University's College of Law after FSU protest and eternal flame on Florida campus A & M University to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor Andrew Gillum addresses fans at Florida State University's College of Law after FSU protest and eternal flame on Florida campus A & M University to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Fans gather on the lawn in front of Florida State University's College of Law. The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, arrives after the eternal flame march on the Florida A & M campus to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Fans gather on the lawn in front of Florida State University's College of Law. The mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, arrives after the eternal flame march on the Florida A & M campus to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Supporters take a selfie with the mayor of Tallahassee and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum after a march and rally to encourage early voting at Florida State University's College of Law on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Supporters urge Tallahassee mayor and Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum after a march and rally to encourage early voting at Florida State University's College of Law on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Tallahassee Mayor and Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, gives a nod as he climbs into his country bus after a march and rally to encourage early voting at the College of Law of the United States. Florida State University, Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Electors stand in line for early voting at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center after a rally with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Electors stand in line for early voting at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center after a rally with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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Electors stand in line for early voting at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center after a rally with Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gov. candidate Andrew Gillum to encourage early voting on Friday, October 26, 2018.

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The journalist James Call can be contacted at [email protected].

Read or share this story: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/11/01/andrew-gillum-promises-state-workers-pay-raise/1845464002/