Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 12, 2018

On Monday, Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche rolled out a proposal for a task force on civil rights history. Via a draft memo, Brosche advanced a proposal for a 25 person task force, chaired by School Board member Warren Jones and Ju’Coby Pittman. Board members include, but are not limited to, Chris Hand, Hope McMath, Tony Allegretti, Marcus Pollard, Ennis Davis, Isaiah […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2018

As Jacksonville considers the increasingly less hypothetical question of whether or not to sell its public utility, JEA, a bill (2018-101) filed this week would earmark any proceeds. The bill, filed by Republican City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, would set up a restricted reserve account, which would require a two-thirds vote to access funds therein. In a conversation Thursday […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2018

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilmembers struggled, in a meeting in a packed Council chambers, with the idea of a sale of the JEA to a private company. This was the second straight day on which Council members did a deep dive into JEA operations, with Monday offering Council calling for underground power lines. The office […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2018

Jacksonville’s relationship with its municipal utility, JEA, is on shaky ground. The office of Mayor Lenny Curry is, depending on who is telling the story, at least open to the possibility of selling off JEA to a private owner. Jacksonville City Council members have their concerns, which will be discussed in a public meeting on Tuesday […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2018

The Soul Food Bistro is the go-to place on Jacksonville’s Westside for soul food. From fried catfish and collard greens to oxtails and cornbread, it has it all. It is also in the heart of Jacksonville City Council District 9, which is represented by Councilman Garrett Dennis. Dennis, a Democrat who often is alone in a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2018

Last year, outgoing JEA board member Tom Petway floated an audacious proposal: privatize Jacksonville’s public utility. Explorations of that concept apparently have proceeded to the point where Action News Jax reports there are worries of a “mass exodus” from the company. Moreover, an internal letter template suggests pending offers of “continued employment” during possible “acquisition or change of control,” […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 24, 2018

While the Jacksonville City Council presidency next year is all but served up to the Jacksonville Chamber’s Aaron Bowman, the vice presidency is still in play. Pledge meetings kicked off, months ahead of May’s vote, for those taking office in July. All indications show the fight could prove every bit as combative as the fractious presidency […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2018

2017 ended with bodies piling up in Jacksonville’s morgue. 2018 brings something approaching a solution via Ordinance 2018-005. A bill slated to be introduced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting on an emergency basis will offer what Medical Examiner Valerie Rao called last week a “proposed space solution,” which includes “office and refrigerator space”: a walk-in cooler […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 8, 2018

An annual tradition in Jacksonville City Council is beginning anew: the race for Jacksonville City Council VP. Often — but not always — the VP slot is a springboard to the Presidency the next year. The most interesting iteration of this race in recent memory: 2016, when Democrat John Crescimbeni bested Republican Doyle Carter in a cliffhanger 10-9 […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 2, 2018

2018 began for the Jacksonville City Council with some holdover business from 2017: a proposed lessening of residency distance requirements for sexual predators. The bill has been around since September, and is headed toward the graveyard of dead bills. Councilors spiked it by a 2-5 margin Tuesday in the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and […]

Tag: Garrett Dennis

Jacksonville to establish task force on civil rights history

Jacksonville to mull ‘lockbox’ for JEA sale proceeds

Jacksonville City Councilmembers want answers before selling JEA to private investor

Jacksonville Councilors want underground power lines in older neighborhoods

Showdown at the Soul Food Bistro: Garrett Dennis takes on Lenny Curry

Jacksonville City Council, Lenny Curry’s office to clash over JEA privatization?

Knives out early in Jacksonville City Council leadership meetings

Jacksonville City Council mulls morgue money Tuesday

Race for Jacksonville City Council VP begins: Danny Becton, Sam Newby launch runs

Jacksonville Council panel rejects change to sexual predator distance requirements