Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 2, 2016

It’s no surprise that Jacksonville is a leading tourism and convention destination. From beaches to golfing to its numerous parks and rivers, Jacksonville has a lot to offer its 10 million tourists a year. Along those lines, Jacksonville is a Top 50 destination for meetings, with 800 conventions the last three years hosting 500,000 room nights. […]

Melissa RossApril 19, 2016

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Whether it’s the always-interesting 2016 election, Jacksonville’s pension fund issues, or the sudden congressional seat vacancy in the city, interest in politics is high on the First Coast at the moment. In fact, it’s driving a huge RSVP response to the monthly Beaches Democratic Club meeting tonight in Neptune Beach, with a featured speech by Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 13, 2016

The expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance is on the backburner to LGBT people, but the First Coast Tea Party sent Mayor Lenny Curry a recent letter opposing HRO expansion. “We encourage the City Council to NOT create a new protected class,” says the letter, which notes that “Jacksonville’s business community is thriving/growing.” The First Coast Tea […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2016

Given that many proponents of expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance were disappointed that the most recent push toward HRO expansion ended up short of that goal, it’s interesting that the official position of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality has been to laud the positive policy outcome from the debate: the Mayoral Directive, issued in […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

Melissa RossMarch 7, 2016

Activists fighting the decades-long struggle for LGBT equality in America have long been skilled at the long game. From the 1969 Stonewall riots to the 2015 nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage, this is a patient movement, one that has nudged the culture inexorably over a half-century toward greater acceptance and inclusion. To that end, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality […]

Melissa RossFebruary 24, 2016

Vowing to reintroduce it “in two months,” Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri says he’ll keep bringing back HRO legislation because it’s “simple and to the point.” “We have a human rights ordinance that covers everybody but the LGBT community, and all we’re wanting to do is include them,” he told WJCT’s First Coast Connect. “It’s […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

At an event celebrating the Jacksonville office of MacQuarie, which will create 125 jobs by the end of next year, Gov. Rick Scott and Mayor Lenny Curry took questions on subjects that were just a bit more contentious than job creation, including the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill making its way through Tallahassee, and the stalled […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2016

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Despite Tommy Hazouri choosing to withdraw the HRO expansion bill (and taking the slings and arrows of character assassination from HRO expansion advocates in the process), the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality remains steadfast in its commitment to a fully inclusive bill. A long statement from the JCE had a couple of interesting sentences. One of them: “We […]

Melissa RossFebruary 10, 2016

JAX Chamber Chairwoman Audrey Moran has made it clear she’s comfortable with diverging from City Hall on the issue of the the city’s human rights ordinance. Moran, herself a former mayoral candidate, says “she really doesn’t understand the motives” behind recent moves to table two competing pieces of legislation looking at covering Jacksonville’s LGBT residents […]

Tag: HRO
(L-R) Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Cpl. Luis Paez and Deputy Ralph "Butch" Waller died Thursday after being struck by an SUV on Southern Boulevard in Loxahatchee. Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz was struck as well and remained in critical condition Friday. Images via Palm Beach Sheriff's Office.

Will a lack of an HRO affect Jacksonville’s tourism and convention industry?

Heavy RSVPs, pointed questions for Tommy Hazouri ahead of Jax Beaches Dems confab

First Coast Tea Party says HRO expansion advocates herd them “like sheep to the slaughter”

Email insights: Jax Coalition for Equality lauds mayoral non-discrimination directive

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

Jax Coalition for Equality keeps up the HRO pressure

Tommy Hazouri: will reintroduce HRO “in two months,” challenges Bill Gulliford to on-air debate

Lenny Curry, Rick Scott talk pension tax, HRO, 2016 election

On HRO, no compromise for Jax Coalition for Equality

Audrey Moran on Lenny Curry: “I made it clear to him I was disappointed” on HRO