Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Steve SchaleNovember 6, 2018

To: Fellow Americans Who Don’t Sleep From: Steve Schale, Tired Florida Man Re: You know you are going to miss these. *5 hours until the polls open *17 hours until the first of 23 phone calls between 7 and 7:05 p.m. asking what I think. *19 hours until FSU basketball season tips off against the boys from […]

Steve SchaleNovember 5, 2018

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I greet you on this Monday morning, rejoicing in the fact the Jaguars did not lose yesterday. The pride this brought to the good people of DUVAL County led to the largest early voting day of the cycle, as nearly 20,000 proud residents of old Cowford came to the polls. Really proud of my city. […]

Staff ReportsOctober 5, 2018

This week in City Hall, a time capsule containing artifacts from 1960 was opened. Being it’s the 50-year anniversary of Consolidation, city leaders are (understandably) in a sentimental mode. But 50 years from now? One wonders if such sentimental pulls will prevail. What kind of letters would current City Council members write to those who […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 28, 2018

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Five decades ago, Jacksonville consolidated city and county services. For 50 years since people have been arguing about whether it was a good idea. We saw it last week: a mayoral forum involving Mayor Lenny Curry and his five living predecessors (look for the replay Sunday on This Week in Jacksonville). Curry, seeking re-election, sounded […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 21, 2018

Inside seven weeks until Election Day, and it’s just a few weeks from the start of vote by mail. What that means: It’s getting late. It’s getting late for statewide candidates who come to Jacksonville and try to define themselves, struggling for attention from an indifferent media. And time is short for some candidates who […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2018

The primaries are now well behind us. The parties have unified. Ops for losing candidates have moved into other campaigns (or endeavors). If you pay attention, there is — at times — a crispness in the morning air. And while that coolness may be fleeting, it’s an augury of the inevitable march of time. The […]

Staff ReportsAugust 24, 2018

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Those of a certain age will recall the Semisonic earworm “Closing Time.” It is also where we stand in primary season. We already know what races we are tracking election night. In some, there is enough confidence in the results to have a sense of what […]

Staff ReportsAugust 17, 2018

Wishful thinking predicates much of election season. Aspirational ads for Democrats; appeals targeting nonexistent issues (hello, “sanctuary cities”) for Republicans. Ultimately, these moves — whether pulled by a winning or losing campaign — are strategic. How a Republican is to eliminate sanctuary cities or how a Democrat is by force of will to create Medicare […]

Staff ReportsAugust 10, 2018

We’ve hit the stretch of the primary season; where the money is being spent, not raised. Where ads are cut, and voters engaged. And where candidates know if they are still in the game. No one comes out and says “well, it looks over.” But losing candidates seem different. We saw it with Adam Putnam, […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2018

For political watchers, August offers an embarrassment of riches in this market. A number of competitive and contested primaries, including one open Democratic primary and a citywide race for tax collector. Not to mention the state races, including one competitive primary for governor and one that appears to be all but decided. For those keeping […]

Tag: Blake Bortles

Steve Schale: Like the Jaguars season, the election is nearly over.

Steve Schale: One day left to go

Jacksonville Bold for 10.5.18 — Time in a bottle

Jacksonville Bold for 9.28.18 — A good idea?

Jacksonville Bold for 9.21.18 — It’s getting late

Jacksonville Bold for 9.14.18 — Time marches on

Jacksonville Bold for 8.24.18 — Closing time

Jacksonville Bold for 8.17.18 — Sizzle, and steak

Jacksonville Bold for 8.10.18 — Contenders, pretenders

Jacksonville Bold for 8.3.18 — Home stretch