Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 4, 2018

On Monday, Jacksonville City Council’s Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety committee greenlit the ‘District‘ development plan. That said, the bill did not pass without considerable discussion and consternation among myriad members of the panel before the 5-1 vote The bill (2018-313) could transform the Southbank with its radical redevelopment of 30 acres at the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 4, 2018

On Monday, the Jacksonville City Council’s Neighborhoods, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety committee deferred the “Homeless Bill of Rights,” legislation that could codify civil rights for the city’s dispossessed populations. Ordinance 2018-308, filed by currently-suspended Councilwoman Katrina Brown, contends that “the basic rights all people should enjoy must be guaranteed for homeless individuals and families,” […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 4, 2018

On Thursday, Jacksonville City Council members Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown were indicted on a 38-count conspiracy to defraud, after both allegedly misused city and federal funds intended for economic incentive purposes. Friday saw Gov. Rick Scott suspend the two less than a year before elections, leaving the Jacksonville City Council to scramble in terms of figuring out […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 4, 2018

On Friday, first-term Republican Danny Becton made official his interest in a second term on the Jacksonville City Council, filing for re-election. Becton, who represents the Baymeadows area and points south, faced no competition in 2015. The filing comes just weeks after Becton lost a close race for Council VP-designate to Scott Wilson, a loss that saw familiar […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 1, 2018

Jacksonville’s political class is reeling from Thursday’s federal indictment of City Councilors Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown, which saw the two Democrats slammed with a 38-count conspiracy to defraud. Councilwoman Brown was named in 37 counts; Councilman Brown in 32. Per prosecutors, the two misappropriated federal and city money provided to fund an ultimately failed BBQ sauce […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 1, 2018

At Large Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri, a political veteran who has been everything from Mayor to State Rep and School Board member, filed for re-election Friday. Hazouri, who scored more votes than any other citywide candidate in his decisive May 2015 victory over Republican Geoff Youngblood, is running unopposed for the office. If re-elected, […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 30, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilmen Jim Love and Matt Schellenberg, both second term Republicans, had expressed different visions for the future of Jacksonville’s public utility. Schellenberg’s 2018-242 would encourage the Mayor and the JEA Board to explore a review of a potential sale; Love’s 2018-248 would represent Council opposition to a sale. Both bills will not see the Council floor, after a […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2018

Candidates for public office in Jacksonville, mindful of endorsements and donations, generally steer clear of commentary on civil liberties issues. However, Kevin Monroe, a Democrat running to replace state Senate candidate Reggie Brown in Northwest Jacksonville’s District 10, deviated from the ongoing trend by directly linking the paradox between the National Football League’s new National Anthem policy […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 23, 2018

Two weeks ago, the Jacksonville City Council passed a resolution at the request of School Board member Ashley Smith-Juarez backing up its position that a change in state concordance testing changes would lower the city’s graduation rate. Per WJCT, the new rules would raise minimum standardized test scores needed for graduation, but Mayor Lenny Curry objected to the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 22, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown is being sued personally by the city of Jacksonville, the fallout from an economic development deal gone bust. Earlier this month, the city filed suit against Brown, a first-term Democratic member of the Finance Committee, for breach of guaranty, relative to a defaulted loan of $380,000 to the Browns’ family business, CoWealth […]

Tag: jacksonville city council
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Despite hiccups, Jacksonville ‘District’ development clears first City Council panel

Jacksonville Council committee defers ‘bill of rights’ for homeless population

Jacksonville City Council confident in post-indictment path

Danny Becton chases second Jacksonville City Council term

Jacksonville in wait and see mode regarding Rick Scott suspending indicted councilors

Tommy Hazouri files for re-election to Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville City Councilors will pull competing JEA privatization resolutions

Jacksonville City Council hopeful sees paradox between NFL anthem stance, NBA player tasing

Concordance discord: Lenny Curry pilloried for not signing education resolution

Lawsuit won’t push Katrina Brown off Jacksonville City Council