Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 19, 2015

When it comes to the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension, nothing is easy. Not even a 4-1 vote by the Police and Fire Pension Board to approve 2015-304, the agreement passed by Jacksonville’s City Council by a 14-4 margin at last week’s meeting. A lot of passions were stirred; passions about making sure the first […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 11, 2015

A piece widely circulated Thursday from The Florida Times-Union makes the not-so-shocking statement that “not all of Lenny Curry‘s transition team meetings will be open to the public.” No surprise there. Curry met with Mayor Alvin Brown not too long ago, and it was not open to the public. Should the meetings this week have been in […]

Melissa RossMay 19, 2015

Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford has been a vocal critic of Mayor Alvin Brown and a supporter of his hand-picked successor Mike Williams in the Jacksonville mayor and sheriff’s races. Tuesday morning though, Rutherford turned an eye toward the next election cycle, revealing for the first time his next move as he leaves the Jacksonville […]

Melissa RossMay 18, 2015

Public safety has emerged as a major issue in Jacksonville’s superclose mayor’s race, with incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown defending his approach to this core function of government, while challenger Lenny Curry has hammered Brown’s administration on the issue of violent crime. A recent school bus shooting incident reinforced the narrative. In particular, the Curry campaign has […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2015

11058325_10106905029267811_9012938806204604609_n-1024x1024.jpg

On Thursday, an incident happened in Jacksonville’s Westside that shocked the collective conscience of the city. Two girls, riding home from school, shot in their heads. It was in broad daylight on their school bus, and they were shot by two teenage assailants who got onto the bus and wreaked their havoc. Mayor Alvin Brown […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 5, 2015

In a move that can only be construed as a rejection of Alvin Brown by Jacksonville’s right-of-center establishment, The Florida Times-Union on Tuesday afternoon endorsed Lenny Curry for mayor. The Brown campaign, though, said it doesn’t think it matters all that much that the T-U endorsed the “party boss.” “The endorsements that will always matter most are […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2015

Lies, damned lies, and statistics. You will find all three in the Thursday editorial by the Florida Times-Union offering full-throated support of red light cameras. It uses fragmentary data to draw sweeping conclusions about the efficacy of those revenue generating devices, contradicting its own earlier reporting, which links Jacksonville’s red-light camera vendor, RedFlex, to a web […]

Kevin MeerschaertMarch 11, 2015

A vote on a plan to pay off Jacksonville’s Police and Fire pension debt will have to wait at least another two weeks. Citing concerns recently raised regarding mortality tables Council President Clay Yarbrough on Tuesday sent the bill back to its three committees. The bill was expected to be voted upon at the meeting. […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 21, 2015

State Rep. Doc Renuart has some big shoes to fill in Tallahassee, says the Florida Times-Union. Renuart, who vacated House District 17, has his own large loafers to fill, running for John Thrasher’s Senate District 6 seat. Impressing the Times-Union Editorial Board was longtime St. Johns County Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson, who provided questionnaire answers that […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 16, 2015

Filling John Thrasher’s large and impressive shoes will be a challenge, one with an ensuing clash between two political veterans: state Reps. Ronald “Doc” Renuart and Travis Hutson. Regardless, there will be only one winner. The best person for that, in the opinion of the Florida Times-Union editorial board, is Renuart. Thrasher left the Florida […]

Tag: Florida Times-Union

Emotions run high as Jax Police and Fire Pension Board OKs deal

Should all Lenny Curry transition team meetings be open to public?

Sheriff John Rutherford confirms he’s running for Ron DeSantis seat

Public safety accusations fly on Election Eve in Jacksonville

Florida Times-Union: Tone deaf on reality of gun violence

Florida Times-Union excoriates Alvin Brown in Lenny Curry endorsement

Florida Times-Union sells out for red-light cameras

Jax City Council delays police, fire pension debt decision

Florida Times-Union endorses Cyndi Stevenson for HD 17

Florida Times-Union calls Doc Renuart best choice to succeed John Thrasher