Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2017

A bill that passed the House 107-0 Thursday would provide shelter for Florida principals who had a questionable foreign court issue a cash judgement against them. HB 623, filed by Northeast Florida Republican Cord Byrd and co-sponsored by Rep. Frank White, offers additional circumstances in which an out-of-country foreign judgment need not be recognized. White, a candidate for Attorney General, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 16, 2017

Jacksonville Republicans are preparing to celebrate the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump this Friday evening. The Republican Party of Duval County plans an event at the Adam Herbert Center at the University of North Florida, scheduled from 7 p.m. to Midnight. Among the attractions: dinner and dancing with the Chris Thomas Band; a Presidential champagne toast; and […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 7, 2017

Florida Statute defines “breach of the peace” with language from a bygone era, describing it as “acts … of a nature to corrupt the public morals, or outrage the sense of public decency, or affect the peace and quiet of persons who may witness them.” Rep. Cord Byrd, a Jacksonville Beach Republican and 2nd Amendment purist, filed […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 27, 2016

When 2016 kicked off, the world was different, and our political prognoses reflected those false assurances. We didn’t imagine President Donald Trump on a national level. We figured Hillary Clinton would end up taking on Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio in the general election. And we expected the rhetoric would sound like the previous two or three campaigns. Regarding #jaxpol, we had a pretty good […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 12, 2016

Committee assignments are out for the Florida House. And in terms of leadership positions, the Duval Delegation is left out in the cold. The Duval County Legislative Delegation may have its time atop committees yet, but 2017 won’t be that time. With all but one member of the House delegation being a rookie, it follows […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 9, 2016

Add Frank Artiles to the list of lawmakers running for re-election in 2018. State elections records show more than 50 members of the House and Senate have already filed to run for re-election in two years. While many of those are incumbents who faced little-to-no opposition in 2016, some came off hard-fought battles to secure […]

Michael MolineDecember 7, 2016

The first blow landed Wednesday in an anticipated legislative battle over workers’ compensation, when state House member Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach filed legislation to make participation in the system optional. The bill also would take on attorney fees, a major bone of contention for business leaders in the state. It would allow lawyers to […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2016

The Duval County Legislative Delegation selected a new chair and a new vice-chair on Wednesday, during a meeting in Jacksonville. Stepping down from the chair: Mia Jones, who reminded the new members that “home is where the rubber meets the road,” and to not fall into the trap of putting state issues over local concerns. Selected […]

Tag: Cord Byrd

UNF capital improvements among appropriations asks by northeast Florida lawmakers

Duval Delegation talks local bills, hears from Melissa Nelson

Cord Byrd bill nixing questionable foreign court money judgments clears House

‘First Coast inaugural celebration ball’ set for Friday in Jacksonville

‘Breach of the peace’ may be a relic of the past under new legislation

A.G. Gancarski surveys the wreckage of his 2016 predictions

Duval Delegation left out of committee leadership in Florida House

Frank Artiles files to run for re-election in 2018

House freshman’s workers’ comp bill would render system voluntary

Duval Delegation elects Jay Fant new chair, Aaron Bean vice-chair