Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

As promised no later than June 30 by Mayor Alvin Brown, Jacksonville’s General Counsel released his review of anti-discrimination legislation. A quick read of this indicates that there is room to legislate against discrimination, such as in a Human Rights Ordinance, without creating undue enforcement burdens or burdens against religious groups. Should City Council be looking […]

Melissa RossJune 30, 2015

Calling public safety and the city’s stretched finances his top priorities, new Jacksonville City Council president Greg Anderson says the city is heading into “an exciting time” as a new mayor and council are sworn in July 1. “If we can create an environment where the executive and legislative branches are working together, Jacksonville is […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

As we reported on Monday, Denise Lee will be serving in the Lenny Curry administration as Director of Blight Initiatives. After her Blight Committee meeting as part of the Curry transition operation at Jacksonville University, we were able to sit her down for an interview, in which she talked about working with Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa, about where […]

Mitch PerryJune 30, 2015

Among the many local projects that didn’t escape Rick Scott’s veto pen last week was $2 million earmarked for the Tampa Innovation Alliance, the nascent public-private agency charged with redeveloping the University area of North Tampa. But Mark Sharpe, the agency’s Executive Director, insists that it’s not a big deal. He says the organization never envisioned receiving […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

As regular readers of this site know, we have been in attendance for a number of the Lenny Curry Transition Committee meetings at Jacksonville University. Tuesday’s meeting of the Operations, Human Resources, and Productivity Committee is the third we’ve covered involving this group. This is the first, however, after Committee Chair Kerri Stewart was picked as Chief […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

Twenty years ago, former Jacksonville mayors Tommy Hazouri and John Delaney were linked when the lifelong Democrat crossed party lines to endorse Republican Delaney against a fellow Democrat, Jake Godbold. Hazouri paid a price for that. He languished in the political wilderness. But Hazouri, just like Delaney, have been willing to go against the grain of their own […]

Mitch PerryJune 29, 2015

One of the big winners out of last week’s budget signing by Gov. Rick Scott was the University of South Florida. It received $12 million in funding for its Kate Tiedemann College of Business building on its St. Petersburg campus, and for the $17 million it received toward the construction of the Morsani College of Medicine […]

Ryan RayJune 29, 2015

Shelley Vana, the mayor of Florida’s third-largest county, gave the nod on Monday to Melissa McKinlay, a Palm Beach commissioner seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy in Congress. The move is a coup for McKinlay locally: Vana’s endorsement comes as other Democrats, including fellow sitting commissioner Priscilla Taylor, are also seeking to assume the 18th […]

Mitch PerryJune 29, 2015

Hillary Clinton will give a speech within the next three weeks giving her take on how she would deal with Wall Street bankers and the financial industry. That was the one major nugget of news to emanate from Robbie Mook‘s appearance at the Mise en Place restaurant in Tampa on Monday night. Mook is the 35-year-old […]

Shannon NickinsonJune 29, 2015

My America is not the same as yours. It’s not the same America that gay and lesbian sons and daughters of the Midwest experienced. It’s not the same America that black sons and daughters of the Deep South know. But make no mistake, brothers and sisters. It is all our America. We’ve had a chance […]

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Jacksonville General Counsel releases review of anti-discrimination laws

Greg Anderson on new Jax mayor, council: “We’ve got a new day”

Denise Lee talks blight and her new administration role

Despite Rick Scott rejection, Mark Sharpe says Tampa Innovation Alliance is right on course

Kerri Stewart discusses new role as Jax chief of staff

Former Jacksonville mayors move toward 2nd try on HRO

USF campuses in St. Pete, Tampa still celebrating budget wins

Palm Beach County mayor endorses Melissa McKinlay’s congressional bid

Robbie Mook says Hillary Clinton taking primary campaign season seriously

Shannon Nickinson: Bridge our divides, make America stronger