Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 19, 2016

When FloridaPolitics.com asked Jacksonville City Councilman Aaron Bowman why he introduced a bill to bring slots to Jacksonville via the politically connected bestbet, Bowman’s answer was pragmatic. “It’s about jobs” and the city’s “financial well being,” Bowman said, noting that jobs are created on both the operations side and the maintenance side for the machines. The city will get […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 2, 2016

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Though the majority of the Jacksonville political establishment has cast its lot with Marco Rubio for President, Ted Cruz backers remain on the Christian right. The “Ted Cruz Faith and Values Coalition” released a list of 43 prominent supporters. The majority of them will be best known to the faith-based community. Some, however, are known by a more […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

One of the principal opponents of the Jacksonville HRO expansion: Gene Youngblood of the First Conservative Baptist Church. Youngblood, who posts provocative, politically messaged signs in front of his church, signs routinely lambasting Muslims, homosexuals, and others who run afoul of his interpretation of the Good Book, had another this week. “Did Jacksonville City Council members […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 3, 2015

Someone in the Mayor’s Office likes sequels. Roger Gannam doesn’t live in Jacksonville anymore. He moved to the Orlando area to work for the Liberty Counsel, defined by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-gay hate group. In that capacity, he represented serial divorcee and Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis when she faced legal issues for not honoring […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

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Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, meet the culture warriors on your right. Last week, FloridaPolitics.com reported on the Rev. Gene Youngblood and his attempts to undermine the upcoming “community conversations” that start 6 p.m. Tuesday at the FSCJ Downtown Campus Advanced Technology Center, 401 W. State St., on expanding the Human Rights Ordinance to LGBT people. Contending […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2015

In a letter dated November 6, Reverend Gene Youngblood, best known for scuttling his son’s City Council campaign with a sign that read “homosexuals must repent or go to hell” outside his church, expressed some concerns about the “community conversations” scheduled to start next week on the subject of the Human Rights Ordinance expansion to LGBT […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 20, 2015

The always interesting race for the Duval County Republican Party Chair took a couple of turns in recent days. The campaign against Jack Webb started in earnest this past weekend, with a prominent member of the Jacksonville Christian right going in hard on the former Councilman. Breaking news, meanwhile: in the Duval GOP, not everybody […]

Melissa RossMay 11, 2015

The Rev. Gene Youngblood, father of Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 3 candidate Geoff Youngblood, says a message posted on the marquee outside his First Conservative Baptist Church is “reacting to current events” and corresponds to Scripture. The sign reads “Homosexuals must repent or go to Hell.” It has sparked a petition response at the website […]

Tag: Gene Youngblood

Jacksonville pols grapple with slots referendum legislation

Former City Council Prez leads Jax Ted Cruz supporters

Gene Youngblood dodges questions about latest inflammatory anti-HRO sign

Liberty Counsel’s Roger Gannam back from Orlando for 2nd Jax HRO “community conversation”

Ahead of first HRO “community conversation,” Raymond Johnson seeks to frame debate

Reverend Gene Youngblood gives Lenny Curry advice on HRO community conversations

The Christian right aims for Duval GOP Chair candidate Jack Webb

Minister, father of Jax City Council candidate, defends “homophobic” sign