Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2016

June 13 will see Jacksonville’s political elite assembled at the home of Peter Rummell and Lee Ann Rummell for what is being called a “Rutherford Founders’ Roundup” fundraiser. Speaking on behalf of Rutherford is “special guest” Lenny Curry. The Jacksonville mayor was an early supporter of Rutherford’s candidacy for the 4th District Congressional seat. Rutherford’s support was instrumental in Curry’s […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 26, 2016

In emails Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and General Counsel Jason Gabriel issued striking criticisms of the “arrogance and disregard for taxpayers” and “a blatant disregard of public records law” exhibited by the Police and Fire Pension Fund. At issue: the PFPF counsel circumventing the ultimate authority of General Counsel Gabriel by contacting Attorney General Pam Bondi for her opinion on […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 26, 2016

“Our agenda is pretty much set. Our budget is pretty much set for this year,” said W.C. Gentry at the front of the Jax Journey oversight committee meeting Thursday. However, there were still some issues to discuss, including the future of Alternatives to Out of School Suspension (ATOSS) and neighborhood accountability funding next year, the budget […]

Melissa RossMay 26, 2016

Improving Duval County’s dismally low child literacy rates is the mission behind Jacksonville’s Read It Forward Jax Coalition. One of the initiatives that coalition has discussed is looking at ways to get more books into the hands of more kids — particularly low-income children who may not have access to a wide variety of books at home. […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 26, 2016

A familiar figure in Jacksonville’s City Hall is John Winkler. The Riverside lawyer, former Democratic candidate for clerk of courts, and president of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County has a new cause: defeating the Aug. 30 pension tax referendum. And there’s a website to match: Just-Vote-No.com. Winkler won’t be winning any “Webmaster of the Year” awards […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

In the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections, the main event was anticlimactic. Everyone knew current Vice President Lori Boyer would be voted in as president-designate, offering meaningful continuity after the presidency of Greg Anderson. However, the VP-designate race between Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni offered considerably more drama, with both men deadlocked at eight pledges each ahead of the special […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

Though Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry hasn’t said the Jacksonville beach communities would suffer from any aspect of the potential extension of the half-cent sales tax, at least one beach community mayor, Harriet Pruette of Neptune Beach, is in a “trust but verify” mode. A letter from Pruette to Curry wants to know Curry’s “plans to ensure that […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 20, 2016

Another month has gone by, and with it comes another press release from Gov. Rick Scott extolling job creation in Jacksonville. “I am proud to announce today that Jacksonville added nearly 22,000 new jobs over the year. Every new job makes an important difference in someone’s life, and that is why we will continue to work […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 19, 2016

When FloridaPolitics.com asked Jacksonville City Councilman Aaron Bowman why he introduced a bill to bring slots to Jacksonville via the politically connected bestbet, Bowman’s answer was pragmatic. “It’s about jobs” and the city’s “financial well being,” Bowman said, noting that jobs are created on both the operations side and the maintenance side for the machines. The city will get […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2016

At a Town Hall meeting Monday night for Jacksonville City Councilman Scott Wilson, Mayor Lenny Curry was on hand to talk about the pension tax referendum. Curry, who has three months and two weeks to sell the pension tax, should have his pitch refined by now. He’s made it to community groups ranging from the Jacksonville Bar Association […]

Tag: Lenny Curry

John Rutherford ‘Founders’ Roundup’ fundraiser set for June 13

Lenny Curry, Jax General Counsel take aim at pension fund perfidy, subversion of authority

Jax Journey shuffles priorities in new budget; ATOSS to be cut

Molly Curry to help relaunch the JaxKids Book Club

Jax activist John Winkler: ‘Just vote no’ on pension tax

Jax City Council elects Lori Boyer president, John Crescimbeni vice-president

Neptune Beach mayor to Lenny Curry: Pay up

Jax adds 21,600 new jobs in the last year; unemployment is just 4.3%

Jacksonville pols grapple with slots referendum legislation

On Jax’s Southside, Lenny Curry sells the pension tax referendum

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.