Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannOctober 25, 2018

its-go-time-start-begin-clock-ticking-words-3d-animation_rbqwk89c_thumbnail-full08.png

Duval County is now a few days into early in-person voting, with the first of two Souls to the Polls weekends about to commence. Do Democrats feel lucky? It depends on who you ask. The Blue Wave that offered so much potential early on may or may not be a tsunami at this point. The […]

Staff ReportsOctober 19, 2018

Jacksonville’s political class, with a Republican Mayor and Sheriff, is betting on red this year, all in for Ron DeSantis for Governor. And if he wins, it will be another case of “Jax on the Rise.” Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams endorsed DeSantis before the August primary, as did Duval-adjacent legislators like Sen. […]

Staff ReportsOctober 12, 2018

As poet, novelist and pop culture icon William S. Burroughs once noted: “Control needs control to control.” That observation holds in all hierarchical structures, especially politics, and particularly after voting begins. In a typically Republican area like Northeast Florida, recent history shows it’s been rare to see so many competitive races as we are seeing […]

Staff ReportsOctober 5, 2018

This week in City Hall, a time capsule containing artifacts from 1960 was opened. Being it’s the 50-year anniversary of Consolidation, city leaders are (understandably) in a sentimental mode. But 50 years from now? One wonders if such sentimental pulls will prevail. What kind of letters would current City Council members write to those who […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 28, 2018

businessman-touching-idea-light-bulbcreative-communication-technology-concept_ez49w6_dl__F0014.png

Five decades ago, Jacksonville consolidated city and county services. For 50 years since people have been arguing about whether it was a good idea. We saw it last week: a mayoral forum involving Mayor Lenny Curry and his five living predecessors (look for the replay Sunday on This Week in Jacksonville). Curry, seeking re-election, sounded […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 22, 2018

Brian Pitts, a perennial presence in the halls of the Legislature, has readied 11 bill proposals ahead of the 2019 Legislative Session. They cover a wide range of topics: Education, ethics, civil and criminal justice, and judicial reform. Pitts’ nonprofit Justice-2-Jesus this year is taking on a “controversial and aggressive bill package,” according to his website. The […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 21, 2018

Inside seven weeks until Election Day, and it’s just a few weeks from the start of vote by mail. What that means: It’s getting late. It’s getting late for statewide candidates who come to Jacksonville and try to define themselves, struggling for attention from an indifferent media. And time is short for some candidates who […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2018

The primaries are now well behind us. The parties have unified. Ops for losing candidates have moved into other campaigns (or endeavors). If you pay attention, there is — at times — a crispness in the morning air. And while that coolness may be fleeting, it’s an augury of the inevitable march of time. The […]

Staff ReportsAugust 24, 2018

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Those of a certain age will recall the Semisonic earworm “Closing Time.” It is also where we stand in primary season. We already know what races we are tracking election night. In some, there is enough confidence in the results to have a sense of what […]

Staff ReportsAugust 17, 2018

Wishful thinking predicates much of election season. Aspirational ads for Democrats; appeals targeting nonexistent issues (hello, “sanctuary cities”) for Republicans. Ultimately, these moves — whether pulled by a winning or losing campaign — are strategic. How a Republican is to eliminate sanctuary cities or how a Democrat is by force of will to create Medicare […]

Tag: Duval County
Uloma Ekpete Kama. Image via campaign site.

Jacksonville Bold for 10.26.18 — It’s go time

Jacksonville Bold for 10.19.18 — Betting on red

Jacksonville Bold for 10.12.18 — Control needing control

Jacksonville Bold for 10.5.18 — Time in a bottle

Jacksonville Bold for 9.28.18 — A good idea?

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Signs of Session

Jacksonville Bold for 9.21.18 — It’s getting late

Jacksonville Bold for 9.14.18 — Time marches on

Jacksonville Bold for 8.24.18 — Closing time

Jacksonville Bold for 8.17.18 — Sizzle, and steak