Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 20, 2017

Tuesday saw a big project for Jacksonville’s transportation future break ground: JTA’s Regional Transportation Center. The JTA center, to be constructed in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood, will accommodate Greyhound, Uber, Megabus, the Skyway, First Coast Flyer and other modes of travel, in what is designed to be a regional focus. Greyhound will go online in January […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 8, 2017

The rules of the Florida Senate are straightforward: no campaign contributions or solicitations thereof during Session. “During any regular legislative session, extended session, or special session, a Senator may not directly or indirectly solicit, cause to be solicited, or accept any contribution on behalf of either the Senator’s own campaign, any organization described under section […]

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 16, 2017

Shots were fired across the bow of the Duval County Legislative Delegation Tuesday by Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg. In the Florida Times-Union, Schellenberg said the “meek and mild” delegation brought home “crumbs … a huge disappointment.” He also said the delegation kowtowed to House leadership rather than bringing home the bacon, taking specific issue with the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2017

Restive SD 6 voters will have a chance to vote for someone other than Sen. Audrey Gibson in 2018, as a write-in has filed. As LobbyTools first noted, write-in candidate Lucretia Fordyce has filed to run against the veteran Democratic Senator and chair of the Duval County Democratic Party. If Gibson survives the 2018 primary, she can look […]

Phil AmmannApril 22, 2017

Marco Rubio has ‘no doubt’ state Sen. Frank Artiles‘ did the right thing by resigning from the Florida Legislature Friday in the wake of a racist and sexist outburst against two lawmakers. Elected officials are rightfully “held to a different standard,” Rubio said. “You hold a public trust, you are a representative of those districts, and you are going […]

Staff ReportsApril 21, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron said former Sen. Frank Artiles made the “right decision” to resign. The Miami-area Republican resigned his seat Friday rather than face a hearing that could have resulted in his explusion from the Senate. “Senator Artiles made the right decision,” ,” said Negron in a statement. “As Senator Artiles has noted, he […]

Jim RosicaApril 21, 2017

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Sen. Audrey Gibson on Thursday publicly responded to fellow Sen. Frank Artiles‘ racially-charged invective aimed at her earlier this week, saying she’s unsure she can be “comfortable” continuing to serve with Artiles in the Senate. Gibson appeared at a press conference with Sen. Perry Thurston and a group of Tallahassee-area pastors at the city’s Bethel Missionary Baptist […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 20, 2017

A lawyer representing a state senator who could be punished for using a racial slur and other vulgarities said Thursday that the remarks — as offensive as they were — are protected by free speech and that other senators have used similar language. Tallahassee attorney Steve Andrews wrote to the Senate lawyer reviewing the case […]

Scott PowersApril 20, 2017

Republican state Sen. David Simmons sharply condemned racist and vulgar comments made earlier this week by state Sen. Frank Artiles. The behavior is nothing new, Simmons said, but he puts his faith in the Senate’s due process to determine a judgment by the body. Simmons, of Altamonte Springs, then suggested that Artiles’ behavior might be […]

Tag: Audrey Gibson
Pam Bondi. Image via AP.

Ground broken on JTA Regional Transportation Center

‘Nothing sinister’ about Audrey Gibson Special Session fundraising email

Winners and losers emerging from the 2017 Jax Council leadership elections

‘Meek and Mild’ legislators dispute Matt Schellenberg’s Duval Delegation diss

Audrey Gibson draws 2018 general election opponent

Marco Rubio: With ‘higher standard’ for lawmakers, Frank Artiles was right to resign

Joe Negron: Frank Artiles ‘made the right decision’

Audrey Gibson responds to Frank Artiles’ ‘horrific’ tirade

Lawyer: Frank Artiles’ racial slurs offensive, but also free speech

David Simmons condemns Frank Artiles comments; calls for due process, suggests PTSD might be factor