Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2016

In a torpid May in Northeast Florida fundraising, District 7 Sen. Travis Hutson is the exception to the rule, with his strongest month in over a year. Hutson, whose district encompasses Flagler, St. Johns, Putnam and northern Volusia counties, brought in $31,750 in May. Hutson, running unopposed in the Republican primary, has raised $93,225 in total and […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2016

The concept of “grit” has become increasingly popular of late, aided and abetted by the release of a book (“GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance“) by MacArthur Genius Fellow Angela Duckworth. Duckworth, a former consultant who took a job teaching public school in New York City, learned that IQ was not the sole predictor of success […]

Melissa RossMay 19, 2016

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The Northeast Florida donor class is ramping up its efforts to support 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney candidate and trial attorney Melissa Nelson. An appeal went out this week from Jacksonville’s Gary Chartrand, executive chairman of Acosta and a member of the State Board of Education. “This race represents what I have always valued in the […]

Drew WilsonMay 5, 2016

Republican Sen. Travis Hutson will hold a fundraiser for his re-election campaign May 17 at The Fiorentino Group offices in Jacksonville, his campaign announced Thursday. The host committee for the event includes fellow Florida Sens. Rob Bradley and Aaron Bean as well as Jacksonville Jaguars lobbyist Paul Harden, attorney Marty Fiorentino and Acosta CEO Gary […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 11, 2016

4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk faces an unenviable task of battling a well-funded primary opponent, Charles Cofer, who has unimpeachable credibility in Jacksonville. For the second straight month, Cofer scored more than $25,000 in donations. His $25,430 brought his total raised up to $85,385, against only $17,688 spent. Combined with a $7,000 loan earlier this year, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 12, 2016

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In the three-way GOP primary in HD 19, Katherine Van Zant widened her fundraising lead over Bobby Payne and former RPOF Chairwoman Leslie Dougher in January. Van Zant’s money raised is approaching $119,000, leaving her with over $93,000 cash on hand. Interesting donations: Dayspring Village, the Janet and Doug Adkins mental health care facility, ponied up $250. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 7, 2016

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Jacksonville Democrat Terry Fields represented HD 14 for eight years from 2000-2008. He wants his title back. And his December fundraising haul will help. In a district bereft of big dollars, Fields’ first month of fundraising, bringing in $12,750 against just under $400 spent, is a head turner, both because of quantity and, more importantly, […]

Julie DelegalAugust 24, 2015

Former State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand has issued an impassioned plea on behalf of Florida’s 78,000 voucher students. He wants the plaintiffs, namely the Florida Education Association, which represents teachers, to drop its lawsuit opposing the diversion of tax dollars to the voucher program. The FEA lawsuit is now at the appeal stage. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

As children across Northeast Florida start school, Gary Chartrand delivered in Thursday’s Florida Times-Union an article that defends tax credit scholarships while casting aspersions against legal action that threatens them. Chartrand, a former chairman of the Florida Board of Education who still sits on the board as a member, was instrumental to bringing chartered KIPP Schools to Jacksonville. […]

Melissa RossMay 27, 2015

“There are two things that are important in politics,” Mark Hanna, the late GOP U.S. senator from Ohio, once said. “The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.” Most political observers across the state agree Lenny Curry beat Alvin Brown in the recent Jacksonville mayor’s race for several reasons. Topping […]

Tag: Gary Chartrand

$31K May haul for Travis Hutson for SD 7 re-election bid

Richard Corcoran wants you to read ‘Grit’

The fundraising push is ramping up for Melissa Nelson

Travis Hutson to hold re-election fundraiser May 17 in Jacksonville

4th Circuit Public Defender candidate Charles Cofer scores with Jax establishment

Katherine Van Zant widens cash lead in HD 19 in January; Leslie Dougher in trouble

Big donors give HD 14 Dem Terry Fields a December bounce

Julie Delegal: Other ideas follow defense of school vouchers

Gary Chartrand defends tax-credit scholarship program

Marty Fiorentino on Lenny Curry money machine: “We stuck together”