Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2016

Expectations that a controversial bill on increasing the value of property the city may donate to developers from $25,000 to $50,000, would be discharged for discussion came to pass, at the urging of Councilman Bill Gulliford, during Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. Council had already promised further discussion on 2015-519 in the Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2016

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The Jacksonville City Council vice presidential race got more competitive Monday, as Councilman Aaron Bowman abandoned his bid and threw his support to Doyle Carter. Carter, who had difficulty getting traction early in the race, seems poised for an increase in said traction. Bowman’s backing, coupled with support from a surprising quarter (Democrats from the Minority Access […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2016

Is the Jacksonville City Council vice presidential race John Crescimbeni‘s to lose? Or could an ABC (Anybody But Crescimbeni) coalition emerge? Answers to that question may emerge Monday afternoon in a public notice meeting between Councilmen Doyle Carter and Aaron Bowman, two VP candidates who have yet to get meaningful traction. Monday may change that. Expectations are that […]

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. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2016

In an attempt to put a “stronger focus on neighborhoods” and to impose “cost controls,” the Jacksonville City Council passed 17-0 comprehensive reorganization legislation Tuesday night that created a Neighborhoods Department. The legislation has been a priority of the Curry administration from before the inauguration, and would mitigate the effects of a reorganization in the previous […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 8, 2016

As the pundits debate whether Marco Rubio should get out of the Presidential race before the Florida Primary, the campaign released a block of Northeast Florida Republican leaders joining Congressman Ander Crenshaw and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and supporting the Senator, ahead of his rally in Nocatee Tuesday night that would seem to be a play to the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s big bill involved attempting to finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane with a settlement agreement. Instead, they “postponed indefinitely,” after a long and tortuous process of discussion and amendments. The goal is to get answers to questions and, seemingly, to show Keane […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council met for its Committee of the Whole meeting regarding expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. The expectation going in was that both the Tommy Hazouri and Bill Gulliford iterations of the legislation would be withdrawn. In the hours leading up to the meeting, an intriguing narrative surfaced: whether Hazouri’s withdrawal motion […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Highlighting the Jacksonville City Council agenda on Tuesday was “cure legislation” to address safety officer salary allocations from the September budget. The other looming issue was yet another round of public comment for the Human Rights Ordinance. The agenda meeting addressed both. Regarding the cure legislation, Garrett Dennis and Al Ferraro, during the agenda meeting, expressed concerns […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting lacked a lot of punch when it came to legislation. The big bill of the night, the controversial term limits referendum measure, was said (H/t David Chapman) to be tabled ahead of the meeting. During agenda, Matt Schellenberg confirmed it. Schellenberg, in Tallahassee last week representing the City Council for the Florida […]

Tag: Aaron Bowman

Jacksonville City Council discusses controversial property donation bill, defers action

Doyle Carter makes play for Jax Council VP

Sea change in Jax Council vice presidential race?

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

Jacksonville City Council passes Neighborhoods bill

Ahead of Nocatee rally, NE Florida Republicans back Marco Rubio

Jax Council “postpones indefinitely” John Keane settlement

Both Jax HRO bills withdrawn

Jax Council passes Safety Officer cure legislation

Matt Schellenberg to withdraw term limits bill