Jax

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

The simmering tensions between Duval County School Board member Connie Hall and Superintendent Nikolai Vitti boiled over last week, after months of deterioration. As Melissa Ross wrote last week: Records of emails and texts of Hall and two other Duval School Board members were first requested by a Miami law firm. WJCT obtained a copy of those documents and […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

Barring an unforeseen development at Thursday’s special meeting, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri will table his HRO expansion bill at least through May. However, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality plans on mobilizing its base Thursday nonetheless. After the Council meeting, the JCE will hold a “Yes to Equality” rally in front of the main library on […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

With four Jacksonville Democrats in the HD 14 race to succeed Mia Jones, a lot of variables are in play still. However, as of the end of January, HD 14 so far looks like a two person money race between Leslie Jean-Bart and former State Representative Terry Fields. Jean-Bart had the best fundraising month of the two; her […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

January saw a slight closing of the fundraising gap between Janet Adkins and her major opponent in the race for Nassau County School Superintendent, Kathy Burns. Adkins raised no January money, though December saw her getting money from JEA Board Chair Tom Petway, former Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp, and the PAC of Jason Fischer, a current State House candidate from Jacksonville. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

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Months back, FloridaPolitics.com asked Dick Kravitz how he would counteract the fundraising advantage of Jason Fischer in House District 16. Kravitz was unconcerned, saying the money he needed would be there when he needed it. January, for the fourth straight month, has proven that the Jacksonville political veteran was right. $11,800 of new money in January pushed Kravitz […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 14, 2016

In an email, Jacksonville’s CAO, Sam Mousa, told one of those A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Next Level stories about the Alvin Brown administration. This one affects the Bob Hayes Track Meet. “It came to our attention via the Council Auditor this week that the Brown administration did not have a contract executed before […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 14, 2016

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The Human Rights Ordinance expansion may be going away from Jacksonville in the short term, but LGBT equality advocates are not, as a march is planned Thursday at high noon. The march, just hours before Tommy Hazouri is expected to withdraw his legislation at the Thursday afternoon Committee of the Whole (in light of a seeming […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2016

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Despite Tommy Hazouri choosing to withdraw the HRO expansion bill (and taking the slings and arrows of character assassination from HRO expansion advocates in the process), the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality remains steadfast in its commitment to a fully inclusive bill. A long statement from the JCE had a couple of interesting sentences. One of them: “We […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2016

A temporary setback for the movement to expand the Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville was revealed Saturday, when Tommy Hazouri announced his decision to withdraw his bill… for now. Hazouri confirmed, in a conversation Saturday, that the bill will be back sooner than later. Hazouri’s decision, according to those familiar with his thinking, was driven by […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 12, 2016

On Friday, Sheriff Mike Williams and his predecessor, John Rutherford, endorsed State Attorney Angela Corey for re-election. For both men, it was an easy decision, and a validation of the long-range vision underpinning law enforcement and the administration of justice in Jacksonville. Rutherford used familiar language, referring to the “three-legged stool” of prevention, intervention, and enforcement, and saying […]

Jax
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Jason Fischer says Connie Hall should “immediately” resign Duval School Board seat

Jax Coalition for Equality to rally Thursday after City Council meeting

HD 14 money race a two person contest thus far

Janet Adkins maintains money lead in Nassau County school sup. race

HD 16 fundraising race getting tighter by the month

Sam Mousa drops another amusing Alvin Brown administration anecdote

March for Equality planned in Jacksonville for Thursday

On HRO, no compromise for Jax Coalition for Equality

Tommy Hazouri to withdraw HRO bill

2 Jax sheriffs endorse Angela Corey for re-election