Jax

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

Heart, hypertension, and workers’ compensation were talkers in Jacksonville City Council chambers on Friday at the Finance Committee’s budget hearings. About 82 percent of heart and hypertension and worker’s comp claims are coming from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. “In the past, the problem was that JSO and JFRD […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

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Florida Politics has learned that Bill Spann, the spokesman for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, has agreed to be director of the Military Affairs and Veterans Department for the city. A letter from Curry states, regarding Spann, that “from day one, Bill told us his one true passion was to serve our active duty military, Guard and Reserve, veterans, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

After fireworks erupted Friday morning when spirited discussions took place over the capital improvement budgets for the Jacksonville Electric Authority and Jacksonville Transportation Authority, city council members expected the afternoon session would go more smoothly, if only by default. Councilwoman Lori Boyer mentioned that the JTA local option gas tax discussion was especially contentious. Meanwhile, reports […]

Melissa RossAugust 21, 2015

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Florida attorney Roger Gannam, who spoke out against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Atlantic Beach human rights ordinance in 2014, is now involved with the defense of a Kentucky county clerk who has religious objections to marrying same-sex couples. On Monday, U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis to issue […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

Adults, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said, are all “nice and political” when they talk with politicians. However, talking to young men, such as the about 100 graduates of the One City One Jacksonville Leadership Academy Curry spoke with Friday morning in a no-holds-barred Q&A at City Hall, demands more candor and realism. “You know if someone’s BSing you,” […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

On Thursday night, Tim McGraw played Jacksonville. Virtually everyone but this writer seemingly was there. Among those attending: three of the biggest power players in #jaxpol. Jax Chamber President Daniel Davis, Council President Greg Anderson, and, wearing a 10-gallon hat that his childhood idol Dusty Rhodes would have endorsed, Mayor Lenny Curry. Davis has spoken often in public, as recently […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

As children across Northeast Florida start school, Gary Chartrand delivered in Thursday’s Florida Times-Union an article that defends tax credit scholarships while casting aspersions against legal action that threatens them. Chartrand, a former chairman of the Florida Board of Education who still sits on the board as a member, was instrumental to bringing chartered KIPP Schools to Jacksonville. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 20, 2015

Most of those who speak into live microphones in Jacksonville are very careful with their word choice. Jaguars owner Shad Khan is not really an exception to that rule. However, since he is generally used to talking to other captains of industry and policy makers, Khan tends to speak with the sort of nuance that works […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 20, 2015

As the saying goes, Corrine delivers. U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown’s office announced on Thursday a $200,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The federal (DOT) funds are for the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (Ladders of Opportunity Initiative). “The funds will support the area’s public transportation workforce project that will assist in […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 20, 2015

Mike Hightower, who resigned from the Jacksonville Electric Authority Board in December 2014, is back with them in a new capacity. Hightower is JEA’s new top lobbyist. As the Times-Union reported on Thursday, the job pays $199K. Competition for this position was fierce. Word is that former Councilman Richard Clark was interested. With Hightower, JEA gets […]

Jax
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Heart, hypertension, workers’ comp issues of concern in Jax budget process

Bill Spann to be COJ director of Military Affairs; Marsha Oliver new public affairs chief

Jax Finance committee approves JTA and JAA budgets

Florida’s Liberty Counsel reps Kentucky clerk in same-sex marriage standoff

Lenny Curry talks real with 1C1J Leadership Academy grads

Cowboy up: one picture shows the coalescing of Jax power

Gary Chartrand defends tax-credit scholarship program

Shad Khan’s “iconic” comment and the Jax media

Corrine Brown announces $200K DOT grant for JTA

Mike Hightower: JEA’s new top lobbyist