Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2017

The best political theater in this state so far this year: arguably, Gov. Rick Scott‘s “Fighting for Florida Jobs” roundtables. Jacksonville gets its version of the roadshow Monday morning at Harbinger Signs in Mandarin. Scott started off March in Rep. Travis Cummings‘ district, where he repeatedly jabbed at Cummings and Rep. Paul Renner for opposing Enterprise Florida and […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017

Jacksonville may be Ground Zero for the debate about economic incentives. Local leaders want them, but the local Florida House delegation does not. This week, yet another prominent person in Jacksonville’s City Hall sounded the alarm for state incentives via Enterprise Florida. The Jacksonville Daily Record reports that local OED head Kirk Wendland made the case for […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

No Northeast Florida incumbents face competitive races in 2018. Yet the fundraising continues anyway, as February evidenced. Notable for performance: two Northeast Florida political committees that cleared the $100K threshold for February money. And one Clay County legislator who had a strong month. ____ One of the PACs that hit six figures: “Build Something That […]

Staff ReportsMarch 5, 2017

Think of it as the last hurrah before the 2017 Legislative Session. Members of the House and Senate can’t raise money while the Legislature is session, putting a 60-day pause on fundraising each year. And while that may be good news for their most loyal contributors’ pocketbooks, it does mean you can expect a mad […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 3, 2017

February fundraising reports are starting to trickle in already from Northeast Florida Republicans. The two earliest filers: HD 11 Rep. Cord Byrd, who represents eastern Duval and Nassau counties, and HD 17 Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, of St. Johns County. Neither looks likely to face a remotely serious challenge in 2018, yet even safe incumbents can, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 27, 2017

Rep. Cord Byrd was elected last year to serve eastern Duval County and all of Nassau. Headed into his first session, the bills he sponsors reflects a mixture of local priorities and the issues that motivated him to run in the first place. Among them: public safety issues and gun rights. On Monday, Rep. Byrd […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2017

Three Jacksonville Republicans who are in their first terms in the Florida Legislature have already begun fundraising for 2018. Though Representatives Jason Fischer, Clay Yarborough, and Cord Byrd aren’t likely to face any credible opposition in running for re-election, their early attention to fundraising indicates the reality of the perpetual campaign. Of the three listed, Fischer made the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2017

A priority of the city of Jacksonville during the Lenny Curry era: increasing police presence on its most dangerous streets. One vehicle to do just that: COPS Grants. The city is pursuing state money for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Matching Grant. The vehicle in the 2017 session of the Florida Legislature: HB 2781, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

As legislators begin filing appropriations bills in Tallahassee, we are starting to get an idea what success (or failure) will look like for Northeast Florida this Session. Two of the more compelling requests last week came from Jacksonville Rep. Clay Yarborough, who filed a pair of bills totaling $10 million for the University of North Florida. House […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

There are three local bills that the Duval County Legislative Delegation have to carry this session. Two of them involve relaxed restrictions for drinking. Rep. Tracie Davis will sponsor those. And one involves governance of the Duval County School Board, a subject that inspires drinking. Rep. Jason Fischer, an alumnus of the school board, will sponsor […]

Tag: Cord Byrd
Image via the Associated Press.

Rick Scott comes to Jacksonville Monday with message for Duval Delegation

Jacksonville leaders’ arguments for state incentives fall on deaf ears in Tallahassee

Lenny Curry, Rob Bradley committees and Travis Cummings pace Northeast Florida February fundraising

Final push for fundraising before 2017 Session kicks off

Cord Byrd, Cyndi Stevenson report February fundraising

Cord Byrd offers an ambitious slate of bills for his first session in Florida House

Jacksonville freshman legislators are already fundraising for 2018

Cord Byrd sponsors bill for Jacksonville ‘COPS’ grant

UNF capital improvements among appropriations asks by northeast Florida lawmakers

Duval Delegation talks local bills, hears from Melissa Nelson