Jax

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 4, 2016

Incumbent Mark Hulsey is under investigation for racist and sexist remarks (which he denies) by the Judicial Qualifications Panel. Nonetheless, he won the latest recount over challenger Gerald Wilkerson in the race for circuit judge in Group 25 of the 4th Circuit. Hulsey won by 753 votes, 96,663 to 95,910. No word yet on whether a manual recount […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 2, 2016

The city of Jacksonville requires pre-employment drug screenings for everyone but elected officials. How are those going? On the bright side, 98 percent of those tested passed, according to the most recent statistics. On the down side, those who fail: roughly 2 percent of those tested, according to Director of Employee Services Kelli O’Leary. “For the […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 2, 2016

Now that County Referendum 1 is in the books and secured financing for the city’s unfunded pension liability assured after collective bargaining, there is a reason for optimism on the Jacksonville City Hall fourth floor. A review of city emails shows that those outside the St. James Building feel the same way. A hallmark of […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 2, 2016

On April 15, the feds came for House District 13 incumbent Reggie Fullwood. Tax Day saw 14 federal indictments — ten for wire fraud (related to the personal use of campaign funds) and four for failure to file tax returns for those funds. Fullwood was left for dead. The broadcast media in the Jacksonville market stalked […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 2, 2016

The House District 12 Republican primary race had a familiar trajectory for most of it. Former Jacksonville City Council President Clay Yarborough was ahead in polls (one we saw had him up by 20 points a few weeks out from Election Day). He was also ahead in fundraising. Then, in the end, it got interesting. A […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2016

One of the most compelling races in Northeast Florida this summer was the race for the House District 16 GOP nomination between Jason Fischer and Dick Kravitz. Fischer vs. Kravitz: a battle of closed fists and brass knuckles; charges and countercharges; character assassination, and social media excoriation. In other words, it was good politics and great theater. And […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2016

On Thursday, it became official. Melissa Nelson is now the state attorney-elect in the 4th Judicial Circuit. Kenny Leigh, the write-in who had filed, on Wednesday told The Florida Times-Union he intended to withdraw. On Thursday, the Division of Elections accepted Leigh’s withdrawal. Nelson, who won with 64 percent of the vote, now has one less obstacle ahead of […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2016

Something had to give. And it did. Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, citing the pressures of running a business outside of the council with serving on three standing committees, cut his workload last month by resigning from one of those committees. The casualty: his position on a new standing committee, Neighborhoods, Community Investment, and Services. The Mandarin […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2016

Wednesday afternoon, we ran a piece: Winners and Losers in the NE Florida primaries. The piece was intended to document who won and who lost on primary night, going beyond the results to look at whose bets paid off and whose calculations did not. For those listed as winners, the read was lauded … even as […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2016

Whether it’s the tropical weather or the fact that his boss and co-defendant is slated to have a hearing on her own situation with counsel, the hearing scheduled for Elias “Ronnie” Simmons (chief of staff for Rep. Corrine Brown) has been pushed back from Thursday to Sept. 7. Brown’s hearing, regarding her own lack of counsel and […]

Jax

Mark Hulsey wins recount over Gerald Wilkerson in judicial race

City of Jacksonville drug screens show failure rate of only 2 percent

Financial sector reassured by Jacksonville resolving pension problem

The political redemption of Reggie Fullwood

Clay Yarborough discusses his victory in HD 12, outlines path forward

Jason Fischer discusses his HD 16 GOP primary win

Melissa Nelson now officially State Attorney-elect

Matt Schellenberg leaves Jax Council NCIS committee

Audrey Gibson: ‘Standing up for what you believe in is brave’

Corrine Brown chief of staff’s hearing on his legal counsel pushed back to Sept. 7