Jax

A.G. GancarskiNovember 19, 2018

Only a couple of days of Jacksonville City Council committee meetings stand between the people running local government and the trappings of Thanksgiving. Soon enough, ovens and stoves will be in “go” mode. Yet already heating up: Rhetoric around the mayoral race, qualifying for which begins the week after Epiphany (Jan. 7-11). The Florida Times-Union […]

Staff ReportsNovember 16, 2018

A cottage industry among Northeast Florida political observers this year has revolved around the same question it did in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Did Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry go too far? In 2015, he capsized a popular Mayor. In 2016, he stumped for President Donald Trump and got pension reform through (which ticked off the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2018

Jacksonville will send a new Republican to Tallahassee next session. In the expensive and brutal race in House District 15, Republican Wyman Duggan defeated Democrat Tracye Polson 51 percent to 49 percent. Polson spent heavily in an attempt to flip the seat previously held by Jay Fant, but ultimately fell short. Duggan, a connected land-use lawyer backed by a wide […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, the liaison to local utility JEA, reiterated concerns about the Council’s lack of oversight over the power provider. Schellenberg had told the Florida Times-Union of his frustrations with not being able to get a meeting with interim CEO Aaron Zahn until after the utility decided whether or not to make Zahn permanent. The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council imposed a six-month moratorium on adult arcades. The legislation cleared committees without opposition and landed on the consent agenda, with a majority of the 19-person legislative body listed as sponsors even before Tuesday’s meeting. Ordinance 2018-680 bans any new permitting for so-called internet cafes, a bane to the existence of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

Two new bills introduced to the Jacksonville City Council Tuesday evening could, at least in theory, lead to a grant to the city from the United Arab Emirates being returned. Though if that happens, it’s over the heads of Mayor Lenny Curry and the Council President. Ordinance 2018-813 would give back that $2.775 million grant. And Ordinance 2018-790 would appropriate the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 12, 2018

With Jacksonville’s leading Republican officeholders all in for the Ron DeSantis campaign, October fundraising for their 2019 campaigns was on the back burner. And why not? Though Jacksonville has a Democratic plurality, and statewide candidates Bill Nelson, Andrew Gillum, and Nikki Fried all won here, local Republicans have no reason to doubt their ability to hold serve based on […]

Staff ReportsNovember 9, 2018

Electing Ron DeSantis to the top office in the state (pending recount, that is) is a capital-g “Game Change” moment for Duval. DeSantis’ base is Jacksonville though he lives in Ponte Vedra. Everyone reading this knows that despite a county line, the money easily flows over borders. Pols from both Duval and Clay validated him, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 9, 2018

Florida elections saw in many respects a blue wave, as witnessed by three of the five state-level races on the ballot triggering recounts. However, that 50/50 tendency didn’t extend to every contested race. Exhibit A in that regard: Florida’s 6th Congressional District, the former fiefdom of Governor-elect (?) Ron DeSantis. Republican Mike Waltz, a Trump-endorsed former Green Beret […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 8, 2018

While it can’t be argued that the support of President Donald Trump carried Ron DeSantis to what looks like a victory in the Governor’s race, there’s something no less important. Support from Northeast Florida. DeSantis, a Ponte Vedra Republican, represented the suburbs south of Jacksonville for two terms in Congress (a third term saw his district moved […]

Jax
Milton damage. Image via City of Tampa.

Rhetoric heats up ahead of Jacksonville mayoral race

Jacksonville Bold for 11.16.18 — A very good year.

Long-range vision: Wyman Duggan sees House seat as more than a stepping stone

Jacksonville City Councilmember bristles over lack of JEA oversight

No more games: Jacksonville imposes adult arcade moratorium

’Blood money‘ reconsidered: UAE grant fight heads to Jacksonville City Council

October slump: Governor’s race chills local political fundraising in Jacksonville

Jacksonville Bold for 11.9.18 — Game change

Special forces: How Mike Waltz defeated the national left

Northeast Florida made Ron DeSantis happen, and its payoff is coming