Jax

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

FloridaPolitics.com obtained a draft copy of the Human Rights Campaign’s municipal scorecard, and year-over-year there has been some improvement. The preliminary number this year is 31 out of 100 — an unimpressive showing by the standards of most major cities, but up from 23 in 2015, and 20 in 2014. The final number, meanwhile, could be […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

The office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry issued a press release Monday afternoon noting positive trends between the city and bond ratings agencies. “In announcing numerous credit upgrades since Mayor Curry took office, Fitch and S&P acknowledged ‘prudent management,’ while Moody’s applauded the city’s ‘strong management with good financial policies and practices.’ However, even in the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

On Monday, South Carolina’s Rep. James Clyburn hosted a “call to action” conversation in Jacksonville with supporters of Hillary Clinton. Clyburn was last in Jacksonville in 2015, campaigning for a protege — former Mayor Alvin Brown — in a campaign that saw the mayor’s re-election thwarted by an enthusiasm gap in the base. Clyburn is conscious of similar gaps for Clinton, which he […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli suspended Reggie Fullwood Monday in a terse one-paragraph letter, bringing an ignominious end to his political career. “As you are guilty of a felony,” Crisafulli writes, “you are suspended immediately.” Fullwood is not entitled to pay for the rest of his term. He also has to close his intraoffice expense account and return funds […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

A space in Jacksonville’s Murray Hill neighborhood once notorious for hip hop parties and the occasional shoot ’em up may meet its end by city demolition soon. The “Fat Kat Lounge” at 1187 Edgewood Ave. closed operations in March 2014, after five people were shot inside the month before. A woman associated with the neighboring Jones College […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

A bill in the Jacksonville City Council to tighten up the penalties on false reports from burglar alarms will be heard for a second time by a committee Monday. The Neighborhood, Community Investment and Services [NCIS] Committee will consider 2016-562 Monday morning, after deferring it in September. Of the 45,000 alarms in Jacksonville yearly, a […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 30, 2016

In the classic tradition of politics in Florida, some big news developed during Happy Hour on Friday. A day after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges, Reggie Fullwood filed a letter Friday with Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner saying he is no longer a candidate in House District 13. Fullwood’s withdrawal, said the letter, was “effective immediately,” to “permit […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 30, 2016

Though it’s somewhat under the radar since Corrine Brown lost the primary, there is a competitive election in Florida’s 5th Congressional District this year. Tallahassee Democrat Al Lawson takes on Jacksonville Republican Glo Smith. As compared to the primary, when candidates hustled around the east-west district to forums, joint candidate appearances are few and far between thus far […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 30, 2016

Reggie-Fullwood-after-casting-his-vote.-phote-credit-Jeff-Branch-1024x1024.jpg

When State Rep. Reggie Fullwood pleaded guilty to two felony counts in his wire fraud trial Thursday, there were some in Jacksonville who might have been surprised by the Democratic stalwart’s fate. Clearly, those observers didn’t know Jacksonville. Fullwood’s guilty plea was more notable for being in the midst of his re-election campaign than it […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 30, 2016

On Thursday, House District 13’s state Representative, Reggie Fullwood, pleaded guilty to two counts in his federal fraud trial. This leaves the Duval County Democratic Party with one problem: how to go forward in replacing the fallen candidate. There is a relevant statute (100.111.3): “In the event that death, resignation, withdrawal, or removal should cause a party […]

Jax

Jacksonville makes strides in LGBT protections, claims Human Rights Campaign

Financial sector upgrades Jacksonville for fiscal management, pension reform

James Clyburn sees enthusiasm and generational gaps plaguing Hillary Clinton campaign

After being suspended from State House, Reggie Fullwood resigns

Notorious Jacksonville nightclub may meet the wrecking ball

Burglar alarm bill to get second pass with Jacksonville City Council panel Monday

Resigning from House, Reggie Fullwood withdraws from HD 13 race

Rick Mullaney on moderating the upcoming Al Lawson/Glo Smith debate

Why Duval Democrats may retain Reggie Fullwood’s seat despite his guilty plea

Why the smart money is on Tracie Davis to be the HD 13 Democratic nominee