Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 29, 2015

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Over the course of this campaign, I’ve had my share of conversations with Lenny Curry. A recurrent motif, when it comes to him describing the campaign process, is that it’s gradual, rooted in the personal appeal, the one-on-one conversation, the handshake. That’s how Curry has lifted himself from no name recognition and polling worse than almost […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 29, 2015

Violent crime has spiked in Jacksonville. Sheriff John Rutherford announced a reinstatement of the Operation Ceasefire plan late Tuesday to combat the menace, even as camps of black preachers have issued their own recommendations in recent days. Where does the Mayor stand on this issue? At the Legends Center on Soutel Drive on Jacksonville’s Northside on […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 28, 2015

When pastors come together for a media event, know that it’s going to start off with prayer. And that prayer gives an idea as to the interpretive bias of the person speaking. The prayer starting off the latest in a series of events with faith leaders offering solutions to Jacksonville’s epidemic of violent crime offered […]

Melissa RossApril 28, 2015

As the U.S. Supreme Court hears historic oral arguments on same-sex marriage, Jacksonville’s LGBT activists are growing increasingly vocal in pressing their case for full legal protections. “The change around this issue has happened so quickly,” says Dan Merkan, chairman of the Jax Coalition for Equality. Merkan says the Coalition will continue to advocate for […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 28, 2015

To quote Hillary Clinton and The Smiths both: “What difference does it make?” Whether WalletHub ranks Jacksonville as the No. 1 city to start a business in, as the site did in 2014, a ranking used when Mayor Alvin Brown trumpeted the site in his TV ads for re-election, or the No. 58 city, as is the case […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 28, 2015

One of the more interesting narratives of the last couple of weeks in the Jacksonville mayoral race has been Alvin Brown tacking to the left, and Republicans pouncing on that rhetorical evolution to prove that the mayor of Jacksonville has been a “liberal Democrat” all along. The latest evidence of such: an email from the Duval […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 28, 2015

In a new television ad, the first he has had since the First Election in March, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown asks, “Who’s on your side?” Spoiler alert: According to the 30-second spot, it is not his opponent in the May 19 runoff, Lenny Curry. The ad, which is infused with a “fighting liberal” ethos that was absent from […]

Melissa RossApril 27, 2015

Calls from the Jacksonville faith community to impose a 9 p.m. curfew in the city’s high-crime areas are getting pushback from activists on the ground in the Northwest quadrant. “In studies of dozens of U.S. cities, our research shows overall, youth curfews have had ‘no effect’ … in other words they just don’t work!” writes […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 27, 2015

It’s been interesting to watch the evolution and the dissemination of memes in the Jacksonville mayoral race. Just days after Mayor Alvin Brown made rhetorical overtures to his party’s left flank on issues such as discrimination legislation, a minimum wage hike, and the necessity of funding our local Safety Net hospital, UF Health, the Republican […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2015

This month, the Alvin Brown campaign gave a 2011 campaign donation made by Zakee Fur’qan to a local charity, finally bringing an end to the saga that began with Fur’qan being trumpeted in March as one of the “job creators and business leaders” who backed the Mayor’s reelection bid. Once the Brown campaign was made aware of Fur’qan’s […]

Tag: Alvin Brown

Lenny Curry stumps to Southside businessmen

Alvin Brown oratorically channels Obama, wants DOJ help with crime

Jax ministers trade potshots over violent crime, solutions

Jax equality coalition: “Hearts and minds” changing rapidly

WalletHub tumble means what?

Email insights: Duval GOP says “Alvin Brown drops the disguise”

Alvin Brown asks “Who’s on your side?” in new TV attack ad

Curfew controversy latest flap in Jax public safety concerns

RPOF: “We can’t afford liberal Mayor Alvin Brown”

Alvin Brown gives Zakee Fur’qan donation to local charity