Jax

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Chaussee Gibson may not be a household name in the Jacksonville area. But Gibson, a native of Jacksonville who preaches at the St. Johns Baptist Church on Jacksonville’s Eastside, has name identification in Jacksonville City Council District 7. And he filed this week to run for the seat, currently held by first-term Democrat Reggie Gaffney … giving […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

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In Jacksonville, friendships aren’t meant to last forever. But in the case of Friends of Hemming Park, they are renewable in six-month terms. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry wrote senior staff this week with the news that the once-controversial FOHP contract would be re-upped through the end of September. “Based on our discussions with Bill Prescott, it is […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Republican Ron Salem, running to replace termed-out John Crescimbeni in the Jacksonville City Council’s At-Large District 2, cleared $30,000 in February. Salem, an establishment favorite, had the kind of donations typically associated with that status. Among the $1,000 donors: local land use lawyer and lobbyist Steve Diebenow, whose wife hosted a Salem “meet and greet”; the Driver, McAfee, Peek […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

On Monday morning, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri will meet with representatives from the State Attorney’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and others with an aim toward eliminating the scourge of human trafficking. Hazouri, who was successful in a push to get a law through in 2016 (2016-130), which mandated awareness signs to be posted at […]

Peter SchorschMarch 10, 2017

First Coast Delegation dials down expectations Earlier this week (and last week), we detailed a few reasons Northeast Florida legislators may not have the best Session in 2017; among them, inexperience and lack of stroke. In the Florida Times-Union, Tia Mitchell offered some more examples of diminished expectations this week. Much of this you read […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

The numbers are stark for those who care about public policy in Jacksonville. And the need for solutions is urgent. Overdoses, at last count, end four times as many lives as homicides in Duval County, with 2016’s count of 464 casualties more than doubling 2015’s count of 201. Caucasians represent 86 percent of the deaths, […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2017

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State Rep. Jay Fant says he will not vote for a bill, backed by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, that seeks to abolish the Enterprise Florida economic development organization. After Thursday’s floor session, he told FloridaPolitics.com he doesn’t “like going against leadership on a vote, and I stick with them on just about everything, but this […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

No Northeast Florida incumbents face competitive races in 2018. Yet the fundraising continues anyway, as February evidenced. Notable for performance: two Northeast Florida political committees that cleared the $100K threshold for February money. And one Clay County legislator who had a strong month. ____ One of the PACs that hit six figures: “Build Something That […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

The city of Jacksonville has thus far been frustrated by its dealings with CoWealth, LLC, the family business of Councilwoman Katrina Brown. Frustrations continue this week, with a curious legal filing from CoWealth on Wednesday that led to a sharp response from the city on Thursday. CoWealth LLC, one of the Brown family’s group of nebulously named […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

Former State Rep. Charles McBurney opened a campaign account Mar. 1 to start his race for a judgeship in Florida’s 4th Circuit. Currently, McBurney is unopposed for the 2018 election. Of course, last time the Jacksonville Republican was up for a judgeship (via gubernatorial appointment), by appointment in 2016, he faced an opponent more powerful than any […]

Jax

Pastor challenges ‘missing in action’ Reggie Gaffney for Jacksonville City Council seat

Jacksonville re-ups Friends of Hemming Park contract for 6 months, $415K

Ron Salem clears $30K in first month of Jacksonville council candidacy

Jacksonville to redouble efforts against human trafficking

Jacksonville Bold for 3.10.17 — Dialing down expectations

Opioid overdose crisis becomes top priority for Jacksonville policy makers

Jay Fant is down on bill that would end Enterprise Florida

Lenny Curry, Rob Bradley committees and Travis Cummings pace Northeast Florida February fundraising

Jax councilor’s family business, Jacksonville spar over eco dev default

Charles McBurney files for 4th circuit judgeship