Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 4, 2016

The first of three meetings of the Jacksonville City Council Committee of the Whole on two Human Rights Ordinance expansion bills had all the drama you could want. Those paying attention would have noted that the real drama, the procedural drama, was set up hours ahead of this meeting. Even before the three hour meeting […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee had an action-packed Monday meeting, highlighted by unanimous approval of two pension bills, FSCJ downtown housing, and Maxwell House incentives. Meanwhile, the Term Limit referendum proved more controversial. And the Safety Officer cure legislation discussion, as ever, was “delicate.” • • • 2015-422 would allow Police and Fire Pension Fund Board […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2016

The mystery establishment Republican entering the HD 12 GOP primary is no longer a mystery: Terrance Freeman filed on Monday. “This seat is about the future of Florida. I have a burning desire to use my experience in the private sector to serve the people of the 12th District in the Florida House of Representatives,” Freeman […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 29, 2016

I knew something unpopular was about to happen Thursday night when I saw this Facebook post from Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry quoting Harry Truman. “Fame is a vapor, popularity is an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today may curse tomorrow and only one thing endures. Character.” Truman’s motto: the buck stops here. The irony: that […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 28, 2016

Where does Lenny Curry fall on the expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to the LGBT community? The decision, which he pledged to make by the end of January, is imminent, said Kerri Stewart, Curry’s Chief of Staff, Thursday. Stewart added that he has been locked in “discernment,” as Council President Greg Anderson described it earlier this month. However, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 28, 2016

On Thursday morning, Lori Boyer met with Aaron Bowman and current Council President Greg Anderson, soliciting and receiving their support for her Jacksonville City Council presidency bid. The Boyer ascension to the top spot is a foregone conclusion at this point. The utility of these meetings: finding out the priorities of other Council members. Bowman, locked in a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 27, 2016

Councilman Aaron Bowman has leadership credentials that most in public life in Jacksonville don’t. Running the Mayport Naval Base for a couple of years gives you that command presence. Yet after the HRO public hearing in Jacksonville’s City Council Tuesday, Bowman showed leadership of a different type. A type from the heart. “You probably saw me with […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

With two HRO expansion bills in public hearing at the end of the meeting, Jacksonville’s City Council steeled itself for another extended round of public comment. The legislative agenda? Light. But even the agenda meeting had allusions to the conflict to come, such as Bill Gulliford‘s quip about a city employee moving to the Beach, saying […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

Matt Schellenberg spent Monday afternoon courting support for an expected runoff scenario in the Jax Council VP race, including a scheduled meeting with Tommy Hazouri, who had already pledged to Aaron Bowman Schellenberg had already criticized Bowman, a fellow Republican, for a] running too early in his term and b] perhaps not having enough “independence” from the […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

As of Sunday night, Rules Chairman Matt Schellenberg had three meetings scheduled Monday to engage support for his Jax City Council VP bid. Anna Brosche was his first. Schellenberg, a second term Republican representing Mandarin and Beauclerc, had introduced at-large candidate Brosche to voters in his Mandarin district last year during the campaign, as he did Sam Newby, […]

Tag: Aaron Bowman

Lori Boyer’s withdrawal motion highlights Jax HRO Committee of the Whole

Jax Council Finance OKs pension bills, FSCJ downtown housing, term limit expansion

Terrance Freeman files to run in HD 12 GOP primary

Lenny Curry’s HRO punt and the process going forward

“Discernment” continues for Lenny Curry on HRO … but for how long?

Lori Boyer lobbies Aaron Bowman, Greg Anderson for Jax Council prez support

“Tears in my eyes”: Jax Council members talk HRO debate

HRO testimony rocks Jax City Council yet again

Matt Schellenberg asks Tommy Hazouri for VP support

Jax Council VP candidate Matt Schellenberg questions Aaron Bowman’s independence from Chamber