Local

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

Drew WilsonMarch 28, 2016

Orlando Democrat Vic Torres will face a primary challenger in his campaign to move from the House to the newly redrawn Senate District 15 seat. Bob Healy Jr. filed for the seat at the end of February and is so far the only candidate challenging Torres for the Democratic-leaning seat. Healy is a former board […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2016

Former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary has endorsed Bill Moore for Orange County Commissioner in District 3. “I sincerely believe that Bill Moore is the candidate best suited to understand the issues facing Orange County, chief among them, supporting public safety,” Beary stated in a news release issued by Moore’s campaign. “Bill Moore is the […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2016

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, Property Appraiser Rick Singh and Tax Collector Scott Randolph cannot, as elected officials, sue Orange County over an election that changes the natures of their offices, a judge ruled Monday. However, Singh and Randolph can continue to challenge the election results as individuals, Circuit Court Judge Keith White ruled in Orange […]

Drew WilsonMarch 28, 2016

A Republican candidate has filed for the Florida House seat held by incumbent Pensacola Beach Republican Mike Hill, which may signal the freshman representative’s intent to run for Greg Evers’ Senate seat. This past Wednesday, Frank White filed for House District 2, becoming the only other Republican running in the GOP stronghold, which has been […]

Drew WilsonMarch 28, 2016

Extended warranty company SquareTrade will add 60 jobs and make more than $500,000 in investments in the Orlando area as part of an economic incentives deal with the state, Gov. Rick Scott said Monday. “SquareTrade’s decision to expand and grow in Orlando is tremendous news for all Floridians. This growth demonstrates that cutting taxes and […]

Phil AmmannMarch 28, 2016

Quorum, the occasional not-too-political happy hour, returns to St. Petersburg Friday, April 15. As one of Tampa Bay’s premier casual networking events, Quorum features candidates, operatives, media and political enthusiasts of all stripes. The get-together will start with 5 p.m. hors d’oeuvres at its customary location: Cassis American Brasserie on Beach Drive. Sponsors of the […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2016

State Rep. Randolph Bracy is throwing his support behind state Sen. Darren Soto of Orlando in the Democrats’ Congressional nomination race in Congressional District 9. Bracy, an Orlando Democrat, cited his work with Soto in the Florida Legislature, particularly for their joint effort to pass a bill to make it easier for undocumented youth to […]

Associated PressMarch 28, 2016

Some residents of the Florida Panhandle who sustained damage during two tornadoes that touched down in February will not receive individual assistance through FEMA. The Pensacola News Journal reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied the state’s request for individual assistance for residents, including low-interest loans, grants and temporary housing assistance. Florida officials have […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2016

Good news: Rick Scott signed the “pension tax” bill, allowing a referendum on extending the 1/2 cent BJP tax until 2060 to deal with the unfunded pension liability. Now, the question: how to sell it to the people? Selling a sales tax referendum has been done in Jacksonville before. In fact, selling a ½ cent sales […]

Local

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

Orlando Democrat Vic Torres draws primary challenge in SD 15 contest

Bill Moore gets endorsement of former Orange Sheriff Kevin Beary

Judge boots Orange County officers from lawsuit, but Scott Randolph, Rick Singh stay

Frank White files in GOP-heavy HD 2

SquareTrade expansion to add 60 jobs, $500K investment in Orlando

Quorum — Tampa Bay’s not-too-political happy hour — returns Friday, April 15

Randolph Bracy endorses Darren Soto in CD 9 race

Panhandle residents denied FEMA assistance

How to sell a sales tax referendum in Jacksonville