Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville this weekend, which included one person killed by a domestic terrorist, protesters in Jacksonville renewed calls to remove Confederate monuments in the city. Such calls have increased in intensity in recent weeks, with interesting contretemps at Jacksonville City Council meetings between Confederate enthusiasts and progressives who believe […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 27, 2017

The Thursday meeting of the Duval County Tourist Development Council included a discussion of next fiscal year’s media plan, which will be carried forward by the well-connected Dalton Agency in partnership with Visit Jacksonville. By and large, the discussion would be familiar to anyone who has ever been involved in online marketing. Dalton made a […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 27, 2017

Of all of the politicians in Northeast Florida, Jacksonville City Council VP Aaron Bowman may be best positioned to talk about President Donald Trump‘s Tweets proposing a ban on military service for transgender people. Bowman, former Commander of Naval Station Mayport, drew on his military experience when guiding expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance through Council, saying that […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council Officer Elections have wrapped, and now comes the inevitable post-game analysis…. ____ PROLOGUE A year ago, the Jacksonville City Council – like Jacksonville itself – was in a different place. Pension reform was a concept, ethereal on some distant horizon. And you couldn’t go a week without a thinkpiece on the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2017

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council elected its new President and new Vice-President. For those seeking “Chamber friendly” officials, the vote couldn’t have gone better. Elected President: Anna Brosche. Elected Vice-President: Aaron Bowman. There are those who say the Jax Chamber and former Mayor John Peyton swayed the outcome of the vote. If that was their intention, they […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 22, 2017

Though the lion’s share of attention in Tuesday’s leadership races in the Jacksonville City Council has focused on the race for the Presidency between Anna Brosche and John Crescimbeni, the race for the Vice-Presidency is also wide-open … and poised for a Tuesday afternoon decision. One candidate, Scott Wilson, has two pledges outside of himself: current VP John Crescimbeni […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2017

A Wednesday afternoon meeting of the Jacksonville City Council was intended to facilitate deeper inquiry into Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s ambitious pension reform package. However, the big news was the downward impact of adjustments to payroll growth projections and COLA calculations after Monday’s meeting of the Police and Fire Pension Fund. “We still save a lot. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017

Jacksonville may be Ground Zero for the debate about economic incentives. Local leaders want them, but the local Florida House delegation does not. This week, yet another prominent person in Jacksonville’s City Hall sounded the alarm for state incentives via Enterprise Florida. The Jacksonville Daily Record reports that local OED head Kirk Wendland made the case for […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 13, 2017

As we previewed last week, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri is looking to implement the next phase of the city’s response to human trafficking. In 2016, the city began a response, with awareness signs posted in strip clubs and massage parlors. However, Hazouri believes more can be done — and on Monday, the veteran pol met […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Aaron Bowman continued his push for the vice-presidency of the 19-person legislative body with some success. Bowman solicited pledges from Tommy Hazouri, Greg Anderson, and Sam Newby, in an attempt to break a 3-3 deadlock with his opponent, Scott Wilson. Newby was sold without little prodding, noting that while he and Bowman were on opposite […]

Tag: Aaron Bowman
Image via Rosen Hotels and Resorts.

Jacksonville pols, civic leaders urge Confederate monument removal

For Duval County tourism, it’s Marketing 101 time

Aaron Bowman: Trump ‘trans ban’ tweets leave ‘more questions than answers’

Winners and losers emerging from the 2017 Jax Council leadership elections

Anna Brosche wins Jacksonville City Council President’s race; Aaron Bowman takes VP

Jax Council VP race hinges on unknowns on eve of vote

‘Slight adjustments’ drive City Council pushback to Jax pension reform projections

Jacksonville leaders’ arguments for state incentives fall on deaf ears in Tallahassee

Jacksonville leaders move on human trafficking, an ‘industry without borders’

Aaron Bowman takes lead in Jacksonville City Council VP race