Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 3, 2019

Some good news emerged for Jacksonville budget hawks Thursday, with City Council Auditor Kyle Billy lauding recent budgetary performance. “Everything’s looking real good,” Billy said, presenting the FY 17/18 year end report to the Council Finance Committee. This year-end report will be the last before city elections, which happen in March, with a May runoff if […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 26, 2018

With Christmas celebrations behind us (some trees are already at the curb), 2018 is quickly reaching its terminus. Some Jacksonville political types have had years to forget. Below, some who have had years to remember. ________ Politician of the year: Lenny Curry “To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man,” Ric Flair used to […]

Staff ReportsDecember 20, 2018

As our own A.G. Gancarski suggested in his predictions at the beginning of 2018, the year was bound to be filled with excitement. He even got some of his predictions right. He knew the JEA privatization debate was going to be ugly. He also knew that no matter how many murders happened on Jacksonville streets, […]

Staff ReportsDecember 14, 2018

Those close to the political operation of Mayor Lenny Curry are calling this a “momentum week.” And why not? Curry is essentially alone still in the mayoral field. Yes, there are filed opponents. No, you haven’t heard of them. And won’t, given their fundraising. Curry is on television with an ad buy. He’s talking smack. […]

Staff ReportsDecember 6, 2018

Wrap it up The year, in terms of Jacksonville city government, is nearing an end. Next Tuesday sees the final City Council meeting of 2018. For those interested in getting autographs, a Holiday themed meet-and-greet will also be held Wednesday afternoon. Hors-d’oeuvres will be served at the latter event. Reminder: keep gifts under $100 in […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 3, 2018

Duval’s December begins as most months have begun the last four years: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and his ever-expanding political machine standing strong, even as political enemies recover from their latest rout. Last Tuesday saw a doubleheader: back-to-back events illustrating the futility of, as the phrase once went, raging against the machine. An older phrase […]

Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2018

Baseball terminology may be out of season, but no matter: this week’s developments show that all the work Northeast Florida lawmakers have done in recent months has paid off. For the second straight year, Fleming Island Republican Rob Bradley will helm Senate Appropriations. This year, a close ally is also handling the House budget. Gov. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2018

On Tuesday, the board of Jacksonville public utility JEA voted to make interim CEO Aaron Zahn permanent. Mystery shrouded the process for some observers, leading JEA board chair Alan Howard to decry notions that the board was not independent of the Mayor’s Office. A review of the seven-person board’s scoring matrixes backs up at least part of that […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council approved a bill that would change conditions under which part of the local utility could be sold. All committees voted the bill up without a no vote, pushing the bill onto the consent agenda. Charter previously required City Council approval of any transfer of more than 10 percent of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

Electricity was in the air Tuesday, as the board of Jacksonville municipal utility JEA picked its new CEO. It turned out to be the guy who had been in that role for some time. Some members of the Jacksonville City Council and the media thought it was a done deal well ahead of the meeting, […]

Tag: JEA
Image via Palatka Main Street.

‘Looking real good’: Jacksonville budget picture rosy, despite caveats

Domination: Jacksonville politics’ biggest winners of 2018

Jacksonville Bold for 12.20.18 — The year that was.

Jacksonville Bold for 12.14.18 — Momentum week

Jacksonville Bold for 12.6.18 — Wrap it up

2019 elections a referendum on Jacksonville’s strong mayor government

Jacksonville Bold for 11.29.18 — Payoff pitch

Gravitas, financial acumen, and stakeholder management sealed the JEA CEO vote

Jacksonville City Council imposes further restrictions on JEA sale

Temp to perm: Jax insider Aaron Zahn locks up JEA CEO gig