Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 28, 2017

Readers have likely noticed our deep-dive coverage of the Corrine Brown trial this week. As the trial moves into its evidentiary phase, it would be easy to forget Wednesday’s opening statements. That would be ill-advised, as those statements represent the crux of the disagreement between the government and Brown. The Feds maintain Brown orchestrated the […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2017

The real work was done over the past weeks and months. But the ceremony, the cameras, the victory lap were all reserved for Monday afternoon, when the Jacksonville City Council officially passed 14 bills that equate to pension reform. The “committee of the whole” vote – held Wednesday – was the dispositive one. In that meeting, […]

Phil AmmannApril 21, 2017

Is there a politician in Florida right now on more of a hot streak than Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry? This issue of Bold tells the tale. Curry’s pension reform appears to be on a glide path toward ratification — a major accomplishment. His moves toward downtown revitalization have a major shot in the arm, with […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 19, 2017

The final Jacksonville City Council vote on Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s pension reform bills is still a few days a way. However, the “Committee of the Whole” meeting to be held Wednesday afternoon stands as an excellent preview of what is to come — a closing argument. The Curry team — especially the political side — […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry isn’t the only candidate from the 904 area code in the mix for CFO. State Sen. Aaron Bean told us Tuesday that he too was being considered for the job … and he gave us some insight into the timing of the process. “My name is in the hat for CFO,” Bean said. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2017

Two major political questions in Florida right now are predicated on the eventual decision of Gov. Rick Scott. But he’s in no rush to provide answers. One such decision: will he, as is widely expected, challenge Sen. Bill Nelson next year. Nelson, already in campaign mode, is telling reporters he’s “scared as a jackrabbit” to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

Whatever public grousing there might have been from Jacksonville politicians about Mayor Lenny Curry‘s pension reform, it will be stifled after a dispositive internal poll from Curry’s political committee. The big number: 71 percent. That represents the number of Duval County residents who support Curry’s plan to close the old “dinosaur” defined benefit pension plans that have bled […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry got a political boost today when his allies at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce endorsed his pension reform package. “This is a collaborative solution that addresses a longstanding issue facing our city finances and balances the interests of taxpayers and our hard-working, dedicated city employees,” JAX Chamber Chair Darnell Smith said. Curry’s […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

The press releases promoting Jacksonville’s celebration of National Community Development Week are similar between 2015 and 2017. Both the 2015 and 2017 versions discuss how much money Duval County has derived from federal Community Development Block Grants. This year’s model says that the city has derived $393M from CDBGs since 1975; the 2015 iteration said it […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 14, 2017

If all goes as scheduled, the Jacksonville City Council will vote on whether to enact Mayor Lenny Curry‘s pension reform package later this month. Curry’s political committee wants to ensure the affirmative case for Curry’s audacious pension reform is heard. To that end, the first spots in what is expected to be a six-figure ad buy […]

Tag: Lenny Curry

Jacksonville Bold for 4.28.17 — Lyin’, Cheatin’, Stealin’

Jacksonville City Council passes pension reform legislation

Jacksonville Bold for 4.21.17 — Political capital, boldfaced

Jacksonville City Council, Lenny Curry prep for pivotal pension vote

Aaron Bean: ‘My name is in the hat for CFO’

Rick Scott still mulls Senate race, CFO choice

Shock poll: Pension reform, Lenny Curry both top 70 percent with Jax voters

Jax Chamber backs Lenny Curry’s pension reform

With federal block grants in question, Lenny Curry admin watches and waits

Lenny Curry political committee makes closing pension argument