Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

The holiday break is officially over at Jacksonville’s City Council. The Monday Finance Committee meeting: highlighted by Jax Mayor Lenny Curry introducing his pension unfunded liability payoff plan, ahead of the Legislative Session in Tallahassee this month. Curry discussed his “proposed solution for funding unfunded pension liabilities,” one he said does not involve a new tax, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

In Jacksonville politics in 2015, the game changed … perhaps for good. Big money went into campaigns: over $10 million, including soft money, in the mayoral race. Close to $2 million in the sheriff’s race. And even some City Council candidates who raised close to a quarter of a million dollars did so in vain. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 21, 2015

In August 2012, after two different Human Rights Ordinance expansion bills failed in Jacksonville’s City Council, the No votes got a victory lap at First Baptist Church. “These are the council members that stood in the gap for us and represented us with their votes,” the minister said. First Baptist Church, thus far, has avoided […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

In the wake of the Community Conversations on the Human Rights Ordinance, Lenny Curry has been in the process of meeting with the business community and the faith community. The latter conclave between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and local ministers on Friday morning was marked as a “private meeting” on Curry’s public schedule. But it dealt with […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

One of the principal opponents of the Jacksonville HRO expansion: Gene Youngblood of the First Conservative Baptist Church. Youngblood, who posts provocative, politically messaged signs in front of his church, signs routinely lambasting Muslims, homosexuals, and others who run afoul of his interpretation of the Good Book, had another this week. “Did Jacksonville City Council members […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality said it was “dismayed” by Bill Gulliford‘s proposed referendum on the HRO (Human Rights Ordinance) expansion. Using rhetoric similar to that employed by former GOP Councilman Jack Webb at Tuesday’s Community Conversation, the JCE wrote that “we can strike a balance between protecting gay and transgender […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2015

In the wake of Councilman Bill Gulliford calling for a referendum on expansion of the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance, one thing is clear. On the HRO, there is no clarity, with business community members, Council members, and the mayor’s office all singing from different hymnals. FloridaPolitics.com caught up with various Jacksonville VIPs today, and notable was […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2015

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Council members Lori Boyer and Bill Gulliford met with members of the Lenny Curry administration, including Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and Chief Financial Officer Mike Weinstein, to discuss issues related to recommendations related to the Task Force on Consolidated Government. At least a few of the reforms discussed may find their way into the 2016 […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 15, 2015

The Block by Block study, first launched to the public in October from the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, offered a “detailed new analysis of Jacksonville’s housing markets designed to help inform decisions about Jacksonville’s future.” On Tuesday morning, with the City Council calendar winding down for the holidays, Jacksonville City Council members Anna Brosche, Garrett Dennis, and Bill Gulliford discussed […]

Tag: Bill Gulliford

Lenny Curry unfunded liability payoff plan highlights Jax Finance committee meeting

A.G. Gancarski’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Jacksonville politics

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

First Baptist Church weighs in on “pansexuals,” Jax HRO expansion: referendum would “probably not pass”

Jax ministers talk HRO referendum with Mayor Lenny Curry

Gene Youngblood dodges questions about latest inflammatory anti-HRO sign

Jax Coalition for Equality: “dismayed” by HRO referendum

Legislative approaches diverge on Jax HRO

Jax Council members, administration members discuss potential government reforms

Jacksonville City Council members discuss vacant house crisis