Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 22, 2017

On the eve of a vote for the next Jacksonville City Council President, a reliable source notes that three councilors — including one candidate for President — had breakfast together Saturday at a Metro Diner location. Councilwoman Anna Brosche and Councilmen Matt Schellenberg and Doyle Carter (two committed Brosche backers) were among the participants in a group breakfast, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2017

February ended with Jacksonville City Council VP John Crescimbeni storming out of the gate in the race for the council presidency. A group of councilmen — Gulliford, Crescimbeni, Greg Anderson, Jim Love, and Tommy Hazouri — signed on very quickly, giving Crescimbeni a real leg up. Rhetoric was pitched in the councilmen’s conclave: lots of talk about “council tradition” dictating […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

10005948_10201917126917829_8889603274810716391_o-1024x1024.jpg

2016’s race for Jacksonville City Council VP was full of twists and turns and betrayals. John Crescimbeni pulled it out, after a pledge for opponent Doyle Carter flipped. On Tuesday, 2017’s race for the slot — a prerequisite for the presidency — started in earnest, with Southside Republican Scott Wilson declaring his candidacy. In his letter to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

On Tuesday morning, a Jacksonville City Council committee mulled the impact of auto repair shops, internet cafes, nightclubs, and liquor stores in certain neighborhoods. Such questionable businesses exacerbate the city’s pervasive blight issues, legislators agree. The fix, it turns out, may be in zoning. But there is no clear consensus on what that fix may […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 3, 2017

Tuesday morning saw the Jacksonville City Council Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services committee greenlight a bill that frustrated it in December. The bill would increase city-imposed ticket surcharges for the Veterans Memorial Arena, the Baseball Grounds of Jax, and the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, while adding surcharges for events at the under construction amphitheater and […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

Jacksonville has changed a lot since the late 1970s. But the city’s tourist development plan remains as it was when originally implemented almost 40 years ago. With that in mind, Council President Lori Boyer brought forth a bill Monday morning to the Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services Committee with some revisions to charter language regarding the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 19, 2016

For a second time this fall, Tuesday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council’s Land Use and Zoning committee voted in favor of allowing a microbrewery to open in Springfield at 1636 N. Main St. The vote was 4-1 in favor this time, with Doyle Carter the sole opponent. But it took a long, long time to get there. […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 27, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council passed a $1.18 billion budget that will add more and better-equipped police officers to city streets. However, the big talkers were swimming lessons, travel budgets, and special events allocations … adding up to a picayune $115,000 out of the council contingency budget. And another big talker: a failed but audacious […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 19, 2016

In the Jacksonville City Council Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services Committee Monday, a measure was approved to rename a local park as a memorial to the El Faro victims. The renaming of the Dames Point Park was described by bill sponsor Al Ferraro as “so much more than the renaming of a park.” Tote Maritime […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 3, 2016

Running the risk of courting controversy with the local press, and perhaps some friction with Democrats and independents ahead of the Aug. 30 pension tax referendum, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry served as master of ceremonies at the Donald Trump rally Wednesday in front of a crowd of roughly 8,000 Trump supporters, which filled out further after his portion […]

Tag: Doyle Carter
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Unnoticed meeting of Jax Councilors, including Presidential candidate, draws notice

Crunchtime for John Crescimbeni in Jax Council President race

Scott Wilson launches run for Jacksonville City Council VP

Jacksonville council panel weighs blight impacts of sketchy businesses

Ticket surcharge hike, school board governance bills clear Jacksonville council panel

Jacksonville council panel OKs revision of tourist development plan

Beer drinkers down Bible thumpers in Jacksonville microbrewery debate

Jacksonville City Council passes big budget after robust discussion of small details

Jax poised to re-dedicate Dames Point Park to honor El Faro crew

Lenny Curry serves as master of ceremonies on the Trump Train