Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 11, 2015

The strain of medical marijuana legalized in Florida is Charlotte’s Web: a high-CBD variant of the plant with minimal THC content. For the Legislature, Charlotte’s Web has been more like a Russian novel, with a panoply of twists and turns involving virtually every part of the regulatory framework. In Jacksonville, it’s going to take at […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2015

The big news that came out of Jacksonville’s City Council meeting on Tuesday night is the passage of 2015-304: the Police and Fire Pension Deal, by a 14-4 margin. Those against it (Lori Boyer, John Crescimbeni, Bill Bishop, and Matt Schellenberg) made their arguments. But the fact was that Councilman Bill Gulliford and his impassioned […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 3, 2015

There are, to be sure, a few secrets that are closely guarded in Duval County politics. However, the new Jacksonville City Council president and vice-president were not among them. Councilmembers-elect were confirming even last week that the new president would be Greg Anderson and Lori Boyer would be the next vice-president. So it was written. And […]

Melissa RossApril 29, 2015

He hasn’t even been sworn in yet, but incoming Jacksonville City Council President Greg Anderson is already experiencing the headaches of leadership. Susan Aertker of Americans United for Separation of Church and State has emailed Anderson to ask him to (once again) change the rules about Council meetings and sectarian vs. inclusive prayers during the invocation. Under […]

Kevin MeerschaertApril 21, 2015

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Board of Trustees voted Monday morning to hold off on any appeal of a judge’s ruling that tossed out part of a 30-year agreement it had with the city. Last month, Judge Thomas Beverly stuck down the agreement saying the agreement from 2000 was negotiated in secret, a violation […]

Kevin MeerschaertMarch 26, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council once again rejected a police and fire-pension reform plan championed by Mayor Alvin Brown. The proposal was defeated on a 9-9 vote, falling short of the majority needed to pass. There was a long debate on several amendments that if approved likely would have gotten the legislation approved. One would have […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 11, 2015

A recurrent criticism of Jacksonville City Council President Clay Yarborough is that he has played politics with the Police and Fire Pension deal that Mayor Alvin Brown and his team have been trying to get through. Council keeps delaying discussion of the measure. As our Kevin Meerschaert reported Tuesday night, Yarborough raised concerns about “mortality tables” that show that retirees are […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2015

The big political issue in Jacksonville right now is the Police and Fire Pension Fund. The fund in its current condition is unsustainable and a drain on public resources: virtually every candidate and office holder agrees on that issue. The disagreement is on how to handle it. Mayor Alvin Brown‘s administration has advanced a proposal, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2015

The big political issue in Jacksonville right now is the Police and Fire Pension Fund. The fund in its current condition is unsustainable and a drain on public resources: virtually every candidate and office holder agrees on that issue. The disagreement is on how to handle it. Mayor Alvin Brown‘s administration has advanced a proposal, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2015

By many metrics, the tenure of Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford has been a success. The JSO has not dealt with the scandals it dealt with during previous administrations, and he has built up his political bona fides to the point where it seemed to some observers — such as this writer — that he would […]

Tag: Clay Yarborough
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Medical marijuana distribution in Jacksonville needs more enlightened approach

Bill Gulliford wins: Jacksonville passes police and fire pension deal 14-4

Greg Anderson, Lori Boyer elected as Jax Council officers

Email insights: Sectarian prayer issue flares up again at Jax City Council

Jax Pension Board will not appeal ruling tossing out 30-year agreement

Jax City Council rejects (again) pension reform plan

Bill Scheu: Jax Council President Clay Yarborough needs to step down

Jacksonville’s police, fire pension fuss gets Tallahassee cold shower

Jacksonville's police, fire pension fuss gets Tallahassee cold shower

Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford takes on the ‘culture of death’