Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannOctober 20, 2017

Politics in Northeast Florida — except when hot-button social issues like lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights or Confederate monuments are in play — is often a matter of mechanics. Much of what we see in this week’s Bold: a matter of fundamentals, blocking and tackling. We see it with our region’s two congressmen, raising […]

Phil AmmannOctober 18, 2017

School choice is again under attack, with private schools facing a renewed onslaught of well-worn, tired and inaccurate claims. But the worst bias against Florida’s popular school scholarship programs runs throughout an new Orlando Sentinel series (“Schools Without Rules,” which debuted Wednesday) that seeks to relitigate the questionable case against well-proven private schools: weak oversight, […]

Phil AmmannOctober 13, 2017

Jacksonville Bold is intended to appeal to a discerning audience, particularly to those who see politics for what it truly is — a confluence of money, power and timing. We see evidence of that in every Bold — and this week is no different, as Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s Kids Hope Alliance reform bill advanced through […]

Phil AmmannOctober 11, 2017

Influential Republican lobbyist Ron Pierce is crossing party lines to support Janet Cruz in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission. Cruz, the term-limited Democratic House Leader, is seeking the District 1 seat now held by Republican Sandy Murman, also term-limited from running again. As president and CEO of Tampa-based RSA Consulting, Pierce began his career […]

Phil AmmannOctober 6, 2017

Jacksonville politics are returning to normal after a wild summer that included a newly assertive City Council flexing its muscles over Mayor Lenny Curry’s budget, followed by impacts from Hurricane Irma that are only now receding. Politicians, as you will read below, are still working to pick up the pieces, as photo ops are now replaced […]

Phil AmmannOctober 4, 2017

Ed Hooper, in his bid to return to Tallahassee, picked up a major endorsement Wednesday from Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano. Fasano, a former Republican state lawmaker, has been a longtime political force in West Pasco County. Hooper, who served in the House from 2006 to 2014, is running in Senate District 16, covering […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 29, 2017

What a month for Jacksonville. We survived it all. We survived Hurricane Irma and its floods that turned downtown to a lake and brought the river into some of the finest homes in Avondale and San Marco. Then, we survived the politicians’ photo ops. We saw the Jaguars court opprobrium when some knelt for the […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 27, 2017

Jack Latvala is expanding his appeal as a “hero” with first responders across Florida. On Wednesday, the Clearwater Republican announced firefighters in St. Petersburg, Coral Gables and Indian River County have added their support to his bid to become Florida governor. “You have become a hero among firefighters,” said Indian River County Professional Firefighters and […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 26, 2017

In the Florida House District 116 special election, Republican Daniel Perez defeated Democrat Gabriela Mayaudón. Perez will now replace state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, who resigned the seat to run for state Senate District 40. Perez is an attorney and a first-time candidate. While Mayaudón is also a novice legislative candidate in Florida, she had […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 25, 2017

As part of its recovery efforts, AT&T has set up a new website to help family members of those in Puerto Rico connect with loved ones after Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Starting Saturday, the company staged relief flights with a variety of restoration equipment — generators and humanitarian supplies – to offer aid to Puerto […]

Phil Ammann
Image via AP

Jacksonville Bold for 10.20.17 — Winning is everything

In latest attack on private schools, Orlando Sentinel works ‘without rules’

Jacksonville Bold for 10.13.17 — Power, money and timing

Prominent GOP lobbyist Ron Pierce backing Democrat Janet Cruz in Hillsborough race

Jacksonville Bold for 10.6.17 — After the storm

Ed Hooper nabs Mike Fasano endorsement for SD 16

Jacksonville Bold for 9.29.17 — Wake me up when September ends

Florida firefighters, first responders continue lining up behind Jack Latvala

HD 116 stays Republican, as Daniel Perez defeats Gabriela Mayaudón

AT&T working overtime to help connect with friends, family in Puerto Rico