Melissa Ross, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossJanuary 29, 2015

Jacksonville mayoral candidate Lenny Curry has some bayou bigwigs working on his campaign to oust Alvin Brown, with staff who worked on the Bill Cassidy senatorial campaign. That team beat longtime Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu. Turns out there may be some desire for payback, as Brown adviser Dave Beattie has just announced that former Landrieu […]

Melissa RossJanuary 29, 2015

It’s long been viewed as something of an irony in the River City. Jacksonville belies Florida’s reputation as the nation’s haven for gray-haired 70+ snowbirds. Is is actually the youngest city in the state, with a median age of 35. But the Jax millennials, despite their large numbers, haven’t been much of a force, as […]

Melissa RossJanuary 27, 2015

UF Health in Jacksonville is just about to open a satellite hospital on the city’s Northside with 92 beds and cutting-edge specialties sure to be welcomed by underserved neighborhoods far from the nearest ER. The move is seen as not only a boon for the growing Northside, but also a way for UF Health (formerly […]

Melissa RossJanuary 27, 2015

UF Health in Jacksonville is just about to open a satellite hospital on the city’s Northside with 92 beds and cutting-edge specialties sure to be welcomed by underserved neighborhoods far from the nearest ER. The move is seen as not only a boon for the growing Northside, but also a way for UF Health (formerly […]

Melissa RossJanuary 23, 2015

The Jacksonville’s mayor’s race may be getting most of the ink in Northeast Florida right now, but another local contest heading into the March unitary election looks to be a lively one. As outgoing Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford eyes a possible run for the Florida House, the well-funded candidates jockeying to replace him are […]

Melissa RossJanuary 23, 2015

The Jacksonville’s mayor’s race may be getting most of the ink in Northeast Florida right now, but another local contest heading into the March unitary election looks to be a lively one. As outgoing Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford eyes a possible run for the Florida House, the well-funded candidates jockeying to replace him are […]

Melissa RossJanuary 20, 2015

Monday night’s Duval County Republican Party gathering ended with the endorsement of Jacksonville mayoral candidate Lenny Curry (albeit with some complications). But the meeting had another unexpected bit of drama when 26-year-old Jesse Wilson, a former Republican City Council candidate, writer for Void Magazine, and supporter of Republican mayoral candidate Bill Bishop, was kicked out of […]

Melissa RossJanuary 20, 2015

Monday night’s Duval County Republican Party gathering ended with the endorsement of Jacksonville mayoral candidate Lenny Curry (albeit with some complications). But the meeting had another unexpected bit of drama when 26-year-old Jesse Wilson, a former Republican City Council candidate, writer for Void Magazine, and supporter of Republican mayoral candidate Bill Bishop, was kicked out of […]

Melissa RossJanuary 16, 2015

It wasn’t your typical night out at the movies. At a recent Jacksonville screening of the MLK biopic Selma, a who’s who of the city’s African-American business and political elite hobnobbed in the crowd, buying popcorn and snapping selfies with the rest of the moviegoers. Community activist Chevara Orrin, the daughter of the late civil […]

Melissa RossJanuary 16, 2015

It wasn’t your typical night out at the movies. At a recent Jacksonville screening of the MLK biopic Selma, a who’s who of the city’s African-American business and political elite hobnobbed in the crowd, buying popcorn and snapping selfies with the rest of the moviegoers. Community activist Chevara Orrin, the daughter of the late civil […]

Melissa Ross
Image via Fresh Take Florida.

Cajun competition in Jacksonville Mayor's race as Alvin Brown names new communications director

Jax Young Voters Coalition aims to fight apathy among Millennials

As pressure builds to expand Medicaid, state's safety-net hospitals feel the pinch

As pressure builds to expand Medicaid, state’s safety-net hospitals feel the pinch

Big money flowing in the Jacksonville sheriff's race

Big money flowing in the Jacksonville sheriff’s race

Young Jax Republican tossed from meeting bemoans 'divisiveness' of local, national GOP

Young Jax Republican tossed from meeting bemoans ‘divisiveness’ of local, national GOP

Jacksonville’s black Democrats say Alvin Brown carries weight of being ‘first’

Jacksonville's black Democrats say Alvin Brown carries weight of being 'first'