Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

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 […]

Tag: Cord Byrd
Image via St. Pete Catalyst.

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

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