Local

Scott PowersFebruary 3, 2016

Former Orlando police chief Val Demings holds a 20-point edge over her nearest rival in the Democratic race for Orlando-based Congressional District 10, in a poll her campaign commissioned from Public Policy Polling and released Wednesday. The poll, taken Jan. 26-28 of 506 likely Democratic primary voters, finds that Demings has high name recognition, stronger […]

Scott PowersFebruary 3, 2016

Dennis Lemma, retiring Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger’s chief deputy and hand-picked successor, has qualified for the ballot through petition, his campaign announced. Lemma, 44, of Oviedo, is a 23-year veteran of the Seminole sheriff’s force and former U.S. Marine. The Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office certified more than the necessary 2,600 certified voters on […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 3, 2016

If a campaign’s probability of winning can be measured by the fundraising advantage it holds over its opponent, state Rep. Larry Ahern is well on his way to another term in the Florida Legislature. At the close of 2015, the Pinellas Republican had raised nearly $75,000 compared to his opponent’s paltry $305. Ahern is seeking re-election in […]

Scott PowersFebruary 3, 2016

Susannah Randolph has won the endorsement for election in Congressional District 9 of a key congressional figure in the abortion rights community with an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo. DeGette, who has served in Congress since 1997, is co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. Randolph is in a five-way battle for the Democratic nomination in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

They say that First Baptist Church runs Jacksonville. And a good litmus test: the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance debate. They oppose expansion. They issued a call to pastors for a Thursday lunch before the Committee of the Whole meets at Jacksonville’s City Hall, to discuss the “direct threat to their church” posed by HRO expansion. […]

Scott PowersFebruary 2, 2016

As the University of Central Florida struggles to meet state demands before asking Florida for $20 million for a new downtown Orlando campus, the city is offering to show the state its commitment, with contributions it values at $75 million. Orlando City Council will be asked Monday to consider a plan that calls for Orlando to […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 2, 2016

House District 51 got its first Democratic candidate this past week, setting up an Election Day contest for the Brevard County seat held by House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, leaving because of term limits. Cocoa City Councilman Michael Blake joins Republican Cocoa Beach Commissioner Tim Timulty, who filed for the seat this past February, and HD 50 Rep. Tom Goodson, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

The Jax City Council ban on the use of cellphones during meeting is under siege, with a threat from Bill Gulliford that boiled down to pass my bill fixing it or face a rules challenge. The Bill Gulliford bill included a measure prohibiting “electronic communications” from or to Council members related to legislation on the agenda […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

The funding crisis for UF Health, Jacksonville’s only Level 1 trauma hospital and safety net hospital, continues. And Jacksonville is looking to Tallahassee to resolve it. After a meeting to discuss Consolidation Task Force recommendations where much of it focused on UF Health and other public health issues, Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart noted that talks between […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

Votes have consequences. The decision during September’s budget night vote to move $330,799 from stormwater budgets to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department to fund safety officers had big consequences. A lawsuit from the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County resulted in a settlement, which required cure legislation to affirm the budget night decision. The wrinkle in […]

Local

Val Demings’ poll shows her with commanding lead in CD 10 Democrats’ race

Dennis Lemma qualifies for ballot in Seminole sheriff race

Larry Ahern faces broke challenger in re-election bid

Congressional pro-choice caucus co-chair Diana DeGette endorses Susannah Randolph in CD 9 race

Ahead of First Baptist anti-HRO lunch, Mac Brunson speaks on Jax bill

Orlando offering $75 million in assets for UCF-Creative Village concept

Cocoa Democrat joins HD 51 race

Cellphone ban vexes Bill Gulliford, yet Rules defers his bill

Funding talks between UF Health, city of Jax on hiatus

Safety officer cure legislation spurs spirited Jax Council committee budget debate