Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2016

Jacksonville politics is like a Southern family reunion: there are characters of all types. The 2017 list points out ten of those members of the #Jaxpol family who are uniquely positioned to be in the headlines for one reason or another. We are hoping that 2016 was an outlier year for scandals, and are not projecting […]

Joe HendersonNovember 18, 2016

All politicians start out by saying how they want to make a difference. Well, Kevin Beckner did. His now-former colleagues at the Hillsborough County Commission acknowledged that Wednesday during his final meeting as a member of the board. He is leaving because of term limits after serving eight years. Yes, Beckner was the first openly […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 18, 2016

In yet another piece of news coming out of a Tuesday morning media availability involving Jacksonville sporting events, JAXSPORTS Council head Rick Catlett addressed a question regarding LGBT rights in the Northeast Florida city and recruitment of sports events being relocated from North Carolina in the wake of its statewide anti-LGBT “bathroom bill” legislation. Long story short: Catlett […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 14, 2016

Former Jacksonville Mayor and current GATE Petroleum President John Peyton has been selected as the 2018 Jax Chamber chairman. The selection of the chair typically happens more than a year in advance, and Peyton will spend 2017 as the chairman-elect. Peyton, mayor from 2003 to 2011, knows the impacts the good times and the bad times have […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 16, 2016

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Donna Deegan is very much a Jacksonville institution, legendary for her work in a number of different forums. Deegan, a Jacksonville native and an alumna of Bishop Kenny High School, anchored for First Coast News from 1992 to 2016, showing in that role a penchant for hard news and a willingness to dive into challenging stories. While […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 14, 2016

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Anna Brosche ran a textbook campaign to get elected in her at-large race, projecting an image of serene competence in an electoral battle against the then-incumbent, Kimberly Daniels. Brosche, a CPA, won in last May’s election handily, and since getting on the council, has not missed a beat. While some elected to the […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 14, 2016

In every crisis, there is an opportunity. And the City of Jacksonville seeks to exploit the crisis the state of North Carolina faces, after its legislature passed anti-LGBT legislation earlier this year. As First Coast News reports, the NCAA is prepared to move seven championship events — including NCAA basketball tournament action, as well as soccer, lacrosse, […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 13, 2016

Will the third time be the charm for the efforts to expand Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance? In 2012, a fully inclusive bill fell by a margin of 17 to 2. A modified bill lost by a much-smaller margin of 10 to 9, with a councilman — Johnny Gaffney — saying he’d gotten confused when he voted. Gaffney […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 8, 2016

For the third time in less than five years, the Jacksonville City Council will be compelled to consider — again — extension of the city’s Human Rights Ordinance to include the LGBT community. Councilman Tommy Hazouri has been making the media rounds this month to message ahead of the re-introduction of the measure. Hazouri told the Jax […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 27, 2016

Friday’s arrest of rabid anti-LGBT rights Brunswick pastor Ken Adkins on charges of child molestation and aggravated child molestation of a young man represented the end of an era in Jacksonville politics. It was the end of an era for white Republicans, who, going back a decade, saw Adkins as a portal to picking up black […]

Tag: Human Rights Ordinance

10 people to watch in 2017 in Jacksonville politics

Joe Henderson: Kevin Beckner made a difference, which should never be forgotten

JAXSPORTS head talks LGBT rights, sports recruitment, and HRO

John Peyton selected as 2018 Chair of Jax Chamber

Donna Deegan is ready to talk politics. And Jacksonville will listen.

Anna Brosche talks budget, council leadership, and HRO

Could lack of HRO expansion hurt Jacksonville with NCAA? Lenny Curry’s not worried.

Why Jax HRO expansion advocates feel optimistic

Another attempt to expand the HRO is coming to Jacksonville

How hate preacher Ken Adkins became Jacksonville’s problem