Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 18, 2015

For the second time in the past week, a new state poll of registered Republican Party voters in Florida show Marco Rubio gaining on Jeb Bush. A Quinnipiac survey released Thursday morning shows that Bush maintains a narrow, 2 percentage point lead over the younger U.S. senator, 20-18 percent. Scott Walker is third with 9 percent […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

A writing teacher I had once told me the secret to character development. A character can be good or bad, but as long as he is verifiable, that is the secret to credible characterization. I look at Sam Mousa, Lenny Curry’s new Chief Administrative Officer in that sense. Some have said that he’s “recycled” from a […]

Marc YachtJune 17, 2015

The Florida House’s rejection of Medicaid expansion money affects more than just the poor. A recent Tampa Bay Times editorial outlined 25 reasons to accept the federal money. Because of House members’ rejection, 800,000 low-income Floridians are now shut out of health care coverage. Many working poor who now pay high premiums for Obamacare face […]

Guest AuthorJune 17, 2015

It’s incredibly ironic to me that the University of Central Florida was started in 1963 near the nation’s spaceport to help support the exploration of the universe, and that now we find ourselves in a position as the nation’s second-largest university to exert a lot of influence on our own little piece of that universe. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

The next live blog of Wednesday’s Sam Mousa budget meetings: a discussion of the Mayor’s Office budget. Chris Hand and David DeCamp represent the Mayor’s Office. 4:10 p.m.: Sam Mousa and Chris Hand talk about how well the transition has gone thus far. 4:12 p.m.: Hand: “Ours is a budget made up entirely of people.” Less than 2.5 percent of the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

New Lenny Curry Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa continues with his budget reviews. Next on tap: Jacksonville City Council. 3:26 p.m.: There is no city council revenue. Perhaps they can market trading cards? 3:27 p.m.: A slight increase in travel expenses. Liability insurance down. Not a lot going on in this budget. 3:28 p.m.: The starting salary is […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

New Lenny Curry Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa continues with yet another budget review, of the Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority with Aundra Wallace. To read about Mousa’s appointment, click here. This was a lively session. 2:37 p.m.: A discussion of $14,000 revenue collected. Wallace doesn’t know where that money comes from. Rent from somewhere? Who knows. 2:39 p.m.: Salary […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

Next on Wednesday’s slate of Jacksonville budget reviews by the Lenny Curry transition team: Planning and Development. Sam Mousa, the new Chief Administrative Officer, leads the meeting as ever. 1:30 p.m.: The obligatory review of the high-level revenue and expenses numbers. Fees are up in almost all categories except platting fees. The need for platting has leveled. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

In a move that surprises no one who has been watching the transition period, Jacksonville Mayor-elect Lenny Curry has selected Sam Mousa to be his chief administrative officer. “From the start of our transition process, I have been witness to Sam’s ability to get his arms around the budget challenges and financial disarray our city faces. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 17, 2015

A $1 million ask by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will not be funded in the state’s 2015 budget. The Legislature agreed on an $80 billion budget late Monday night, but it did not include proposed funding for a Bus Rapid Transit study for a Central Avenue route connecting downtown St. Petersburg and the beaches. […]

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Marco Rubio gains more ground on Jeb Bush in new Quinnipiac Florida poll

What Jacksonville can expect from Sam Mousa, Lenny Curry’s new CAO

Marc Yacht: Universal health care access must come to U.S.

Todd Dagenais: When you have a chance to influence the universe …

Jax transition budget meeting: The Mayor’s Office

Jax transition budget meetings: City Council

Jax transition budget meetings: Downtown Investment Authority

Jax transition budget meetings: Planning and Development

Lenny Curry picks Sam Mousa as his chief administrative officer

State won’t fund PSTA’s $1 million BRT study