Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

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I remember the first time I interviewed former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney. It was 2008, and I wanted to know why it was that the Duval County power structure fell in behind the Presidential bid of Mitt Romney. The University of North Florida President gave me something that is all too rare in politics: a forthright answer […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

Updated 2:10 p.m. with comment from Lenny Curry team: On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court made gay marriage legal nationwide. Of course, it’s been legal in Florida for the last six months. In response to it being made legal, Duval County Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell made the decision to stop courthouse weddings. The decision, we […]

Mitch PerryJune 26, 2015

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family … [Challengers] ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.” — Supreme Court of the United States. Legal same-sex marriages must be recognized throughout the United States, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

Two weeks ago, I wrote a piece arguing that these Lenny Curry Transition Team budget reviews should not be open to the media. Once they were made open, however, I endeavored to cover all of them that I could. They were supposed to run for three days; in fact, they ran for seven. Despite that, […]

Bob SparksJune 25, 2015

The Florida Senate and several communities hoping to receive state money for local projects or programs are unhappy. The public food fight between legislative chambers and the governor was an embarrassment that could have serious ramifications. A governor’s use of line-item veto authority is often likened to a surgeon conducting delicate surgery with a scalpel. […]

Guest AuthorJune 25, 2015

So Jeb! didn’t know. Mr. Wonky, details-oriented, well-briefed, bureaucratic slayer of 500-page white papers just didn’t know. (And that’s reading past the executive summary. Take that, George W., MBA-style prez!) According to The Root, a magazine dedicated to black news and culture, now formally announced candidate for president and dynastic-heir wannabe, Jeb Bush, told the […]

Guest AuthorJune 25, 2015

It would make it easier on all of us if there was not so much shame around being human. – Natasha Lyonne, actress and prison-reform advocate Thanks to social media, a 24-hour news cycle, reality television and millions upon millions of people who’d rather feel than think – public shaming is a growth industry. Instead […]

Phil AmmannJune 25, 2015

State Sen. Joseph Abruzzo is supporting Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay in her bid for Florida’s 18th Congressional District. McKinlay, elected in November, is running for the seat held by Congressman Patrick Murphy, the Jupiter Democrat seeking Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat. If elected, McKinlay will become one of a handful of working single […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

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The final budget review for Lenny Curry‘s transition team involves Information Technology. Usha Mohan is the primary representative of IT. 3:18: A discussion of vacancies. 16 total, with a lot of attrition, and they don’t “pay enough to attract people.” Vacant positions were “not funded at the right levels.” 3:20: Vacancies have ranged, in recent years, from […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

Jason Gabriel has been with the city of Jacksonville’s General Counsel office since 2010. And, at least in the first few months of the Lenny Curry administration, Gabriel, the current General Counsel, will continue. Mayor-elect Curry said Thursday that he has appointed the current Jacksonville general counsel to stay on up to 90 days as […]

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Image via AP.

John Delaney discusses Lenny Curry, Alvin Brown, the mayoral transition, and the HRO

Will Duval County bring back courthouse weddings now?

SCOTUS upholds same-sex marriage nationwide

Final thoughts on Lenny Curry transition team budget reviews

Bob Sparks: 2015 leaves Florida Republicans in a dangerous place for 2016

Chris Timmons: This is typical Jeb Bush tone-deafness on race

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Public shaming is a growth industry

Joe Abruzzo endorses Melissa McKinlay for Congress

Jax transition budget meeting: Information Technology

Lenny Curry picks Jason Gabriel as acting General Counsel