Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 26, 2017

Another year is mercifully almost in the books, and with that comes another chance for this writer to offer self-recrimination for yearly predictions that looked good in January. — Prediction 1 [TRUE]: The Duval Delegation will struggle to deliver. On this one, I have to consider what the Mayor told me was the key priorities. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 5, 2017

Rep. Jay Fant, a Jacksonville Republican who is running for Attorney General, filed what he calls the “Free Enterprise Protection Act” on Tuesday. HB 871 would prevent “discriminatory action” by any governmental entity in the state against businesses. The bill, per a press release from Fant’s AG campaign, is timed to coincide with the U.S. Supreme Court […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 28, 2017

FloridaPolitics.com obtained a confidential copy of a draft version of the Human Rights Campaign’s municipal equality index. And Jacksonville is better positioned than ever before, scoring a 67 out of a potential 100 — a clear consequence of the city adding LGBT citizens to its Human Rights Ordinance this year. The leadership gets 4 out […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2017

“Empower Jacksonville,” a coalition of Jacksonville Christian conservatives looking to challenge the city’s Human Rights Ordinance and other so-called “unjust laws,” is now street-legal, with committee paperwork officially filed with the Duval County Supervisor of Elections. Empower Jacksonville seeks to have two ballot items voted on in August 2018. The first: a referendum to change […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 28, 2017

Jacksonville City Council President Lori Boyer gaveled out her last meeting Tuesday, one with its share of contentious moments on a couple of bills, contention that reflected the aftermath of a power struggle on Council related to the race to replace her. However, before all of that, Boyer had quite a year. On her watch, the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

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2016’s race for Jacksonville City Council VP was full of twists and turns and betrayals. John Crescimbeni pulled it out, after a pledge for opponent Doyle Carter flipped. On Tuesday, 2017’s race for the slot — a prerequisite for the presidency — started in earnest, with Southside Republican Scott Wilson declaring his candidacy. In his letter to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

Monday morning saw the first of three Jacksonville City Council committees approve the latest attempt to expand the Human Rights Ordinance. The vote was 4-2. The measure would extend protections in housing, public accommodations, and employment on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. As well, the bill offered in its original form […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 27, 2017

Jacksonville Bold is back with a new format. Here we will offer our take on 10 of Northeast Florida’s biggest stories — beyond the blow-by-blow — explaining, as ever, why something is happening. And why it’s important. This edition will take readers inside issues related to the city’s legislative priorities, the Human Rights Ordinance debate, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2017

The year 2017 has started off with people trying to pressure Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry into positions he thus far has resisted. Social liberals want the mayor to offer the kind of full-throated support of expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance that thus far has proven elusive. And the city’s unions, especially police and fire, want […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2017

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Council members and community leaders met in a packed conference room in city hall. The subject: expanding Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to include members of the city’s LGBT community. The bill is expected to be filed by 3 p.m. January 4, with an eye toward committees and a full council vote […]

Tag: Human Rights Ordinance

Behold, the wreckage: A look at A.G. Gancarski’s 2017 predictions

Jay Fant bill targets governmental ‘discriminatory actions’ against businesses

Human Rights Campaign: Jacksonville makes strong gains in LGBT rights

Anti-LGBT rights political committee ramps up in Jacksonville

Lori Boyer looks back on a consequential Jax Council Presidency

Scott Wilson launches run for Jacksonville City Council VP

Amended HRO expansion bill clears first Jacksonville City Council committee

Jacksonville Bold for 01.27.17 – Back in business

Lenny Curry previews 2017 agenda at Meninak meeting

Jacksonville human rights ordinance expansion push begins … again