Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2017

Corrine Brown had some of the most prominent people in the country writing on her behalf pre-sentencing, amidst dozens of letters of support asking for leniency. As well, prominent locals — including a former Jacksonville mayor, a sitting city councilwoman, and a prominent state senator — likewise appealed for a light sentence for Brown. The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 7, 2017

It was only a matter of time before U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Tallahassee Democrat, drew a primary challenge in Florida’s 5th Congressional District. However, that challenge isn’t coming from former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, at least not yet. Rather, the first primary opponent for Lawson is Rontel Batie, a 29 year-old former Tallahassee lobbyist and former Corrine Brown policy director who […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 26, 2017

“The best is yet to come for Duval — you will see my name on the ballot.” Multiple sources have confirmed that former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown told a crowd of Democrats Wednesday evening that he has at least one more campaign in him. And one source confirms the quote above from the meeting of the […]

Peter SchorschAugust 18, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott pitched his tax-related ballot initiative in Jacksonville this week. By his side was House Speaker Richard Corcoran. That was no coincidence. Corcoran was there to support the plan — but clearly, he was also there to make his presence known to a Jacksonville press corps often obtuse when it comes to statewide […]

Phil AmmannJune 4, 2017

It’s June, finally. And despite the Jacksonville City Council taking a week off, the political scene in Northeast Florida is heating up. One congressional incumbent launched his re-election campaign, while a former Clintonista is mulling her own run in a district just south of Duval County. Sen. Bill Nelson came through the region to talk […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2017

With Jacksonville candidates mulling a challenge to Tallahassee Democrat Rep. Al Lawson in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, Lawson begins his fundraising in earnest June 1 with a fundraiser heavy on big names in the State Capital. Among those names: State Reps. Ramon Alexander and Lorraine Ausley; FSU basketball coach Leonard Hamilton; State Sen. Bill Montford; and Allison Tant, the most recent […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 27, 2017

A Monday “lunch and learn” of the Jacksonville City Council involved members getting educated on the finer points of collective bargaining. Not a moment too soon for that, as the council will have to vote later this spring on whether or not to ratify the latest pension reform package from the mayor’s office via 11 […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 27, 2017

GE-Evolve-LED-Avery-StreetDreams-Post-Top-Fixture-San-Diego-3500x2333.jpg

For those wondering what happened to the “intelligent” street lighting pilot project Jacksonville launched a couple of years back, wonder no longer. Trade publication LEDs Magazine reports that Jacksonville “jilted” the pilot project from GE. In April 2015, then-Mayor Alvin Brown, in campaign mode, exulted over the project which was supposed to put Jacksonville “at the forefront […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 2, 2017

Now that 2017 is all but upon us — after a tumultuous 2016 electorally — what’s next for Northeast Florida politics? One assurance: unlike in 2016, with a massive electoral turnover in the region’s Washington and Tallahassee delegations, as well as in both the state attorney and public defender offices, 2017 won’t see that. With […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2016

Jacksonville politics is like a Southern family reunion: there are characters of all types. The 2017 list points out ten of those members of the #Jaxpol family who are uniquely positioned to be in the headlines for one reason or another. We are hoping that 2016 was an outlier year for scandals, and are not projecting […]

Tag: Alvin Brown
Treasure coins from the 1715 fleet wreck. Image via FWC.

Prominent Corrine Brown supporters fought for her before her sentencing

Corrine Brown alum mounts primary challenge to Al Lawson

Alvin Brown prepares to primary Al Lawson for U.S. House seat

Jacksonville Bold for 8.18.17 — Are we kingmakers?

Jacksonville Bold for 6.2.17 — Summer Slam

Al Lawson draws on Tallahassee base for first re-election fundraiser

Ahead of ratifying pension reform, Jacksonville City Council looks backward

Report: Jacksonville ‘jilts’ intelligent street lights

A.G. Gancarski’s 10 predictions for Jacksonville politics in 2017

10 people to watch in 2017 in Jacksonville politics