Local

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

“This has to pass.” On Tuesday, in the atrium of Jacksonville’s City Hall, Mayor Lenny Curry held the first of 10 town hall meetings with city employees over the next couple of months, with the aim of selling the pension tax referendum, which he called “one of the most important votes Jacksonville has faced in its consolidated […]

Ryan RayJune 7, 2016

A group of trucker owner-operators briefly held up traffic in Tallahassee’s busiest downtown thoroughfare to protest what they call the “deterioration” of the trucking industry. The group convoyed from Miami, with around a dozen semi trucks bringing traffic at the intersection of Monroe and Tennessee streets — about three blocks from the Florida Capitol — to […]

Drew WilsonJune 7, 2016

Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith has crossed the six-figure fundraising mark in his campaign for the open House District 49 seat. Smith, the one-time Chief of Staff for former HD 49 Rep. Joe Saunders, raised $15,325 in May for a campaign total of $108,355. After expenditures, he entered June with just under $80,000 on hand. Most of the May […]

Drew WilsonJune 7, 2016

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Republican House District 25 candidate Thomas Leek has crossed the $100,000 mark in the race to replace Rep. Fred Costello in the Volusia County seat. According to newly filed campaign finance data, Leek raised $26,300 last month and spent just $2,676, leaving him with just over $110,000 in his campaign account after four months in the race. Among […]

Drew WilsonJune 7, 2016

A group opposing All Aboard Florida announced Tuesday they would issue “report cards” measuring where candidates for public office stand on the railroad project connecting Orlando to Miami. The Coalition Against Rail Expansion in Florida, or CARE FL, sent a 12-question survey to candidates in districts affected by All Aboard Florida with instructions to send […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2016

Democratic state Sen. Darren Soto has received another congressional endorsement in his bid to be elected in Florida’s 9th Congressional District, this time from U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas of California. Vargas, the son of Mexican immigrants who grew up on a California chicken ranch, said he sees in Soto someone who understand immigrant families. “Darren […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

On an otherwise quiet Tuesday in the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee, the panel moved to remove the provision that the inspector general shall not have been employed by city government or any other governmental entity within two years before before being selected, unless the appointment was in the IG’s office. The bill, moved on an […]

Peter SchorschJune 7, 2016

Andrew Korge, a first-time Democratic candidate for Senate District 39, has raised more than $200,000 during the last two months on the campaign trail. Korge announced Monday that he brought in roughly $102,000 in May. That’s on the heels of more than $100,000 raised in April. “Voters in District 39 are responding to our 21st century […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

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In May, former Duval County chief judge Charles Cofer began spending in earnest in his GOP primary bid to unseat 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk. The 4th Circuit encompasses Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. Cofer raised just over $11,000 in May, including two key max contributions: one from Gate Petroleum, the company of former Jacksonville Mayor John […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

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The May numbers for “First Coast Values,” a political committee associated with 4th Circuit State Attorney Republican challenger Melissa Nelson, augur well for her campaign. The political committee’s first month of fundraising brought in $108,500, of which $50,103 was spent. Of that money, $80,000 came from three donors, all attorneys. Ellen Fitzsimmons, general counsel for railroad […]

Local

Lenny Curry at first pension tax townhall: ‘We’ve got one shot at this’

Truckers block downtown Tallahassee traffic to protest ‘deterioration’ of industry

Carlos Smith maintains fundraising lead in HD 49, adds $15K in May

Thomas Leek tops $100K mark in HD 25 campaign

All Aboard Florida opponents to offer candidate ‘report card’ on rail expansion

California U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas endorses Darren Soto in CD 9

Jax Council Rules committee relaxes inspector general ‘2-year rule’

Andrew Korge has raised more than $200K during last two months on campaign trail

4th Circuit Public Defender candidate Charles Cofer spends big in May

Six-figure haul for Melissa Nelson’s ‘First Coast Values’ political committee