Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 7, 2018

The money chase in the Jacksonville City Council at-large group 2 race continues to go Republican Ron Salem‘s way. February saw Salem clear $150,000 cash on hand between hard money and lucre in his “Moving Jacksonville Forward” political committee. Salem brought in $6,800 in new money to his campaign account in February, despite a $1,000 refund […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 1, 2018

Darren Mason, a former assistant to Jacksonville City Councilwoman Joyce Morgan, is the first Democrat to jump into the 2019 At Large Group 2 race for City Council. He said he would file on March 1; we interviewed him ahead of time. Unlike what is the case with some fields in Council races, Mason comes […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2018

Local Jacksonville candidates continue fundraising for the 2019 elections, and a leit motif is the relative uncompetitiveness of cash dashes thus far. The carnage starts in the race for Sheriff, where new entry Tony Cummings sputtered in his first campaign finance report, bringing in an anemic $525. That’s a car payment, but not nearly enough to […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 12, 2017

November fundraising in 2019 Jacksonville local races saw resource gaps widen between candidates in competitive races. — Believe in Bill?: In At Large Group 2, where Republican Ron Salem faces fellow Republican, former Mayoral hopeful and two-term Councilman Bill Bishop, Salem’s lead grew last month. Salem raised $9,350 in his ninth month in the race, with donations from […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2017

When the Jacksonville media finally begins paying attention to 2019 City Council races, bet that the at-large contest between Bill Bishop and Ron Salem will feature. It has to. Though media turnover on the television side necessarily dictates many TV reporters won’t remember Bishop’s audacious play for mayor in 2015 (an underfunded run that nonetheless garnered 17 […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2017

Two recently-filed Republican candidates for Jacksonville City Council seats set the pace for the growing field of hopefuls in October. ____ The biggest haul: District 5 hopeful LeAnna Cumber, who brought in $101,775 last month in her bid to succeed termed-out Lori Boyer. While $12,000 of Cumber’s receipts came from a personal loan, Cumber’s support came from […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 16, 2017

At Large District 2: the most compelling 2019 Jacksonville City Council race — at least, thus far — sees two veterans of Jacksonville Republican politics squaring off. Earlier this month, former two-term district Councilman Bill Bishop filed to run for Council. Bishop joined another candidate in the race: Ron Salem. Salem, a 61 year old […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 10, 2017

In September, Jacksonville City Council candidate Randy DeFoor launched her 2019 campaign. Shortly thereafter, DeFoor, a Republican running to replace termed-out Jim Love in District 14. rolled out an all-star roster for a fundraiser. In October, we have an idea of what that fundraiser did; predictably, it brought in big money — $51,850 to be exact. Among those […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2017

Former Jacksonville Mayoral candidate Bill Bishop is back in the game — running to serve on the City Council on which he served two terms. WJCT was first to report this. Bishop, a Republican, is running to replace John Crescimbeni, who is termed out in At Large Group 2. His only filed opponent, Republican Ron Salem, has over […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Republican Ron Salem, running to replace termed-out John Crescimbeni in the Jacksonville City Council’s At-Large District 2, cleared $30,000 in February. Salem, an establishment favorite, had the kind of donations typically associated with that status. Among the $1,000 donors: local land use lawyer and lobbyist Steve Diebenow, whose wife hosted a Salem “meet and greet”; the Driver, McAfee, Peek […]

Tag: bill bishop

Ron Salem clears $150K on hand in Jacksonville Council race

Darren Mason launches Jacksonville City Council run

Lopsided money races continue in Jacksonville city campaigns

In Jacksonville local races, fundraising gaps widened in November

Will money decide the Bill Bishop Vs. Ron Salem race for Jax City Council?

LeAnna Cumber, Rory Diamond pace October fundraising in Jax City Council races

Ron Salem gears up for Jacksonville City Council race against Bill Bishop

Randy DeFoor’s September surge paces Jax Council candidate fundraising

Bill Bishop running for Jacksonville City Council

Ron Salem clears $30K in first month of Jacksonville council candidacy