Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossAugust 12, 2015

The political newcomer challenging incumbent Maria Mark for an Atlantic Beach City Commission seat says he got into the race after an emotional debate over the 2014 passage of a comprehensive human rights ordinance in the coastal community. Mark led that charge, but her opponent John Stinson on Wednesday called the ordinance “poorly written and poorly […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 12, 2015

During the 2015 Jacksonville campaign, District 7 Councilman Reggie Gaffney was identified by the Florida Family Action PAC as opposing the Human Rights Ordinance applying to LGBT people. Turns out the PAC got it wrong. “On the issue of the HRO Councilman Gaffney believes in equality,” Gaffney posted to his Facebook page on Monday. “The mailer […]

Melissa RossAugust 10, 2015

The North Florida politician known for being the first in the area to lead on passing a comprehensive HRO stands by her record as she gears up for re-election. “It was the right thing to do,” says Atlantic Beach City Commissioner Maria Mark. Mark, the Executive Director at the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation, faces off […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 31, 2015

11201182_660481747422486_2446576573855531870_n-1024x1024.jpg

In a conference room in the suite of offices for Jacksonville’s City Council members, there is a distinctive picture of President Andrew Jackson that I had seen many times, yet I didn’t know any background about until I interviewed Councilman Tommy Hazouri on Friday. Hazouri casually remarked that he had been interning for former Jacksonville mayor Lou Ritter […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 28, 2015

If Jacksonville’s score on the Human Rights Campaign’s municipal equality index were a dated slang term, it would be 23 Skidoo. But 23 isn’t just Michael Jordan’s old number; rather, it is the score Jacksonville got on a draft version of the MEI, I reckon there are cities that do worse on this metric. Nairobi, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

11053582_1039259299422275_7515458863071550036_n-1024x1024.jpg

I remember the first time I interviewed former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney. It was 2008, and I wanted to know why it was that the Duval County power structure fell in behind the Presidential bid of Mitt Romney. The University of North Florida President gave me something that is all too rare in politics: a forthright answer […]

Melissa RossMay 19, 2015

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Kimberly Daniels is no stranger to controversy, but you can’t argue with her ability to spark discussion. Case in point: Daniels has taken to posting pictures of her dirty feet on Facebook as she pounds the pavement in her run for re-election. The word “Selah” is Hebrew and loosely translated, means “pause and […]

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 […]

Melissa RossMay 4, 2015

As early voting gets under way in Duval County, the Orlando-based Florida Family Action PAC has sent out a voter guide advising socially conservative residents as they to go the polls to choose a new Jacksonville City Council. “These City Council candidates OPPOSE granting special rights based on ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ and SUPPORT […]

Melissa RossMay 1, 2015

Former Jacksonville mayoral candidate Audrey Moran used her time at the podium accepting a OneJax Humanitarian Award to call out Mayor Alvin Brown and his challenger Lenny Curry, both in the audience, on the city’s Human Right Ordinance. Moran, now vice president of corporate and social responsibility for Baptist Health, challenged Brown and Curry to issue a […]

Tag: HRO

Political newcomer John Stinson takes on incumbent Maria Mark in Atlantic Beach

Reggie Gaffney declares support for Jax HRO

Maria Mark: HRO “the right thing to do”

Tommy Hazouri talks Jax City Council, HRO, Alvin Brown’s loss, and more

How Jacksonville could solve its HRO problem

John Delaney discusses Lenny Curry, Alvin Brown, the mayoral transition, and the HRO

Kimberly Daniels gets dirty feet on the campaign trail

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

Florida Family Action PAC urges Jax voters to support anti-HRO candidates

Audrey Moran calls out Alvin Brown, Lenny Curry on HRO