Local

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

Passage of 2016-300, which authorizes the referendum to extend the half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax to address the city’s $2.7 billion unfunded pension liability, seemed to be a certainty before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. After public comment, hand wringing from some council members, and tub thumping from others, it was approved 19 to 0 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 10, 2016

Byron Donalds has raised more than $100,000 since jumping into the House District 80 race a little more than a year ago. State records show Donalds raised $7,410 in April. The infusion of cash in the one-month fundraising period brought Donalds’ fundraising totals to $100,528 since March 2015. Donalds’ campaign spent $4,963 in April, and […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 10, 2016

Lavigne Kirkpatrick‘s House District 106 campaign coffers got a boost in April. State records show Kirkpatrick raised $4,480 in the one-month fundraising period. The Naples Republican has raised $10,280 since jumping into the race in February. Kirkpatrick spent $2,590 in the same one-month fundraising period. That sum includes money spent on newspaper and radio advertisements. […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

10841864_388224691382766_4351868135476803859_o-e1447289591829-1024x1024.jpg

In House District 19, it’s all but certain that the Republican primary winner will replace Charles Van Zant in Tallahassee. If a new survey of 582 likely voters is valid, that seat will stay in the family. An internal poll of HD 19 likely primary voters shows Katherine Van Zant, wife of the term-limited incumbent, well ahead of […]

Anne LindbergMay 10, 2016

Pinellas commissioners on Tuesday unanimously granted waivers of some property taxes for ten years on five historic properties in St. Petersburg. Officials estimate the county is foregoing $49,301 in property taxes during the ten years on all properties. St. Petersburg, which also is waiving property taxes earmarked for the city, would be giving up about […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 10, 2016

Kathleen Passidomo posted her best fundraising period to date, but it was bolstered largely by a personal contribution to her campaign. State records show Passidomo raised $126,036 in April. That sum included a $100,000 check the Naples Republican wrote to her campaign. “If I’m asking people to contribute to my campaign, then I have to […]

Mitch PerryMay 10, 2016

Democrat Jennifer Webb, who just entered the House District 69 race last month, announced on Tuesday she had raised more than $20,000 since declaring her candidacy. “I am so proud of the broad level of support our campaign has received from over 100 donors in the first 23 days on the trail and I look forward […]

Jim RosicaMay 10, 2016

11053582_1039259299422275_7515458863071550036_n-1024x1024.jpg

University of North Florida President John Delaney is calling the school’s recent bond downgrade “a blip.” Delaney, a former Jacksonville mayor, spoke at Tuesday’s Florida Cabinet meeting about the slide. “I’d prefer to not even be here,” he said, half-jokingly. But Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam soon questioned the “the lack of notice of the downgrade,” saying “now we’ve got this […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

Build Something That Lasts, Lenny Curry‘s PAC, had a quiet April, taking in just $19,000. But one contributor stood out: Comcast. Comcast donated $5,000 of the total taken in by the PAC in April. Money otherwise came from the usual names — Michael Munz and The Stellar Group among them. Comcast is noteworthy as Google Fiber is still negotiating with Jacksonville to […]

Drew WilsonMay 10, 2016

Republican Peter Vivaldi announced Tuesday that eight Central Florida lawmakers are backing his bid for the District 15 seat in the Florida Senate. “I am very honored and encouraged to have the support of so many members of our area’s delegation,” Vivaldi said. “They are all great conservative leaders, and I look forward to working […]

Local

Jacksonville City Council authorizes August pension tax referendum

Byron Donalds, Joe Davidow boost their campaign coffers in April

Lavigne Kirkpatrick raises more than $4K in HD 106 race

Internal poll shows Katherine Van Zant leading in HD 19 GOP race

Pinellas grants partial property tax exemption to five historical properties in St. Petersburg

Kathleen Passidomo gives her campaign $100K in April

Democratic HD 69 candidate Jennifer Webb reports raising more than $20,000 since entering campaign last month

Governor, Cabinet caught offguard by UNF bond downgrade

Comcast donated to Lenny Curry PAC in April

Central Florida lawmakers back Peter Vivaldi in SD 15 race