Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 3, 2016

In the 2015 May election, Tommy Hazouri was the leading citywide vote getter. The former mayor was buoyed by an interesting coalition: voters who remembered his tenure as mayor with fondness, along with young people energized by his proactive stance on Human Rights Ordinance expansion. His appeal crossed party lines; his messaging hit the same […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

The Jax City Council ban on the use of cellphones during meeting is under siege, with a threat from Bill Gulliford that boiled down to pass my bill fixing it or face a rules challenge. The Bill Gulliford bill included a measure prohibiting “electronic communications” from or to Council members related to legislation on the agenda […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

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An interesting development out of Jacksonville’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety committee: Reggie Brown going off on the Public Service Grants council criteria, and then (more interestingly) addressing the removal of people from volunteer boards, which was a big part of the early days of the Lenny Curry administration as he removed Alvin Brown appointees and […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

With two HRO expansion bills in public hearing at the end of the meeting, Jacksonville’s City Council steeled itself for another extended round of public comment. The legislative agenda? Light. But even the agenda meeting had allusions to the conflict to come, such as Bill Gulliford‘s quip about a city employee moving to the Beach, saying […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

The Jacksonville Vehicles for Hire subcommittee met Tuesday for the latest skirmish between the Uber/Lyft rideshare side and traditional taxicab companies. The agenda included “a discussion of the state legislation, a look at ordinances in other cities, a discussion on enforcement of city ordinances, and an open discussion on the issue.” The big takeaway was potentially […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council VP race continued on Tuesday, with Matt Schellenberg courting supporters. Schellenberg’s meetings: with Scott Wilson, who hadn’t already committed, and Jim Love, who had pledged to frontrunner John Crescimbeni. Wilson, chair of Land Use and Zoning and previously an aide for Don Redman, would be a key pickup. Schellenberg noted that “I don’t know if we’re compatible” […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

As of Sunday night, Rules Chairman Matt Schellenberg had three meetings scheduled Monday to engage support for his Jax City Council VP bid. Anna Brosche was his first. Schellenberg, a second term Republican representing Mandarin and Beauclerc, had introduced at-large candidate Brosche to voters in his Mandarin district last year during the campaign, as he did Sam Newby, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 20, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee had an active agenda on Tuesday, highlighted by term limits, texting, and other hot button issues. The most interesting thing on the agenda: a bill they all voted against. Rules came together and downed a measure to increase the statute of limitations on ethics complaints from 2 years to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 19, 2016

In a packed conference room, Jax City Council members, media, and activists convened to discuss the Committee of the Whole process Tuesday. Council President Greg Anderson, by necessity, reiterated much of what he’s said already on the subject, saying that the process would encompass the current bills, in addition to anything that may be coming from […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 19, 2016

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On Tuesday morning, Doyle Carter joined John Crescimbeni, Aaron Bowman, and Matt Schellenberg in the Jacksonville City Council vice president race. The public notice meeting he called to this effect had plenty of room for whomever, though. No one showed except the councilman, his assistant, a staffer from the mayor’s office, and this reporter. During the half hour meeting, Carter […]

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Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Tommy Hazouri contemplates leadership, legacy, and the HRO

Cellphone ban vexes Bill Gulliford, yet Rules defers his bill

Reggie Brown attacks removal of people from Jacksonville volunteer boards

HRO testimony rocks Jax City Council yet again

Jax Vehicles for Hire panel considers stiffer penalties for rogue operators

Jax Council VP candidate Matt Schellenberg hustles for votes Tuesday

Jax Council VP candidate Matt Schellenberg questions Aaron Bowman’s independence from Chamber

Jax Council Rules Committee spikes ethics proposal

Jax HRO Committee of the Whole discussed

In empty room, Doyle Carter launches Jax Council VP campaign