Local

Bill RuftyFebruary 21, 2016

State Rep. John Wood, a Winter Haven Republican, endorsed U. S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida’s Republican junior senator, for president on Saturday. A recent statewide Florida Southern College opinion poll showed Rubio running second to Donald Trump heading toward Florida’s March Presidential Primary. In the South Carolina Republican Primary, Rubio made a strong showing. Wood, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

In 2015, there was more than a little bit of local drama about the removal of Chairwoman Lisa King from the Jacksonville Planning Commission. King was bounced unceremoniously, and the man who nominated her for chairwoman, Tony Robbins, likewise was removed soon thereafter. By virtue of removing King as a Planning commissioner, she also became ineligible to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

There are mystery candidates. And then there is Mark Black, the latest entrant in the state House District 12 GOP demolition derby of a primary to succeed Lake Ray. He doesn’t have a Facebook page. He doesn’t have a website. Operatives for the other campaigns have never heard of him. FloridaPolitics.com caught up with Black by telephone […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

Sunday morning at the iconic Bethel Baptist Church in downtown Jacksonville, Mayor Lenny Curry will host the first “farm to faith” event. Billed as “an effort to address the health disparities that plague northwest Jacksonville” including “food deserts,” Curry will be helped by the Clara White Mission in this effort. “Farm to Faith” provides fresh produce to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

David Chapman of the Jax Daily Record broke a significant story this week: legislative confirmation of the long-awaited Lenny Curry plan to revive the Neighborhoods department. “The Neighborhoods Department will operate under Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and with a re-established Housing and Community Development Division — the ‘direct link’ to city neighborhoods,” Chapman writes. Chapman’s […]

Melissa RossFebruary 19, 2016

Just as lobbyists for the ride-sharing service Uber made their case for uniform regulations in Tallahassee this week, one of the company’s whiz kids was sharing the secrets of the uber-popular app back in his Florida hometown. “We’ve gone from 3 million trips a month to 3 million trips a day,” Ed Baker, the company’s […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

The next date to watch for the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill (CS/CS/SB 1652), Jacksonville’s attempt to extend its half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan tax through 2060, is Tuesday. The “pension tax” bill, designed to address the city’s Unfunded Pension Liability, has been added to the Special Order Calendar. Worth noting: Tia Mitchell noted in her reporting this […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

Though it wasn’t an agenda item, interesting talk before the meeting outside the board room included some profound skepticism about the mechanics of the Deferred Contribution plan, upon which the Lenny Curry pension tax/reform proposal is predicated. Asked her position before the meeting, Executive Director Beth McCague noted that, since changes can happen in the bill in […]

Scott PowersFebruary 19, 2016

Democratic congressional candidate Val Demings has gained the endorsements of the Service Trades Council group of unions representing Walt Disney World workers and specifically the United Food and Commercial Workers, her campaign announced Friday. Demings, a former Orlando police chief, is running in Orlando-based Congressional District 10, in a Democratic primary field that includes state […]

Scott PowersFebruary 19, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs has appointed Millie Irizarry as her special assistant in the Office of Public Engagement and Hispanic Affairs, her office announced. Irizarry’s responsibilities include building awareness of Orange County services to Hispanic communities throughout the county. Irizarry is also charged with finding how Orange County can best deliver services to its […]

Local

Winter Haven state Rep. John Wood endorses Marco Rubio

Lenny Curry denies Lisa King another volunteer board role

Mark Black, “just a common guy,” files in HD 12 GOP Primary

Jax Mayor Lenny Curry to hold “Farm to Faith” event

Jacksonville’s Neighborhoods Department represents vision, followthrough

Uber VP: “We now reach 95% of Florida’s population”

Jax “pension tax” bill moves to House special order calendar for Tuesday

Jax PFPF pushback on pension tax looms, in context of market turmoil

Food workers union, Disney union group endorse Val Demings in CD 10 race

Orange County mayor appoints special assistant for Hispanic affairs