Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 30, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilmen Jim Love and Matt Schellenberg, both second term Republicans, had expressed different visions for the future of Jacksonville’s public utility. Schellenberg’s 2018-242 would encourage the Mayor and the JEA Board to explore a review of a potential sale; Love’s 2018-248 would represent Council opposition to a sale. Both bills will not see the Council floor, after a […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2018

Candidates for public office in Jacksonville, mindful of endorsements and donations, generally steer clear of commentary on civil liberties issues. However, Kevin Monroe, a Democrat running to replace state Senate candidate Reggie Brown in Northwest Jacksonville’s District 10, deviated from the ongoing trend by directly linking the paradox between the National Football League’s new National Anthem policy […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 23, 2018

Two weeks ago, the Jacksonville City Council passed a resolution at the request of School Board member Ashley Smith-Juarez backing up its position that a change in state concordance testing changes would lower the city’s graduation rate. Per WJCT, the new rules would raise minimum standardized test scores needed for graduation, but Mayor Lenny Curry objected to the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 22, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown is being sued personally by the city of Jacksonville, the fallout from an economic development deal gone bust. Earlier this month, the city filed suit against Brown, a first-term Democratic member of the Finance Committee, for breach of guaranty, relative to a defaulted loan of $380,000 to the Browns’ family business, CoWealth […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 22, 2018

The top job starting July 1 in the Jacksonville City Council will go to current Vice President Aaron Bowman, elected President-Designate Tuesday. There was little surprise: Bowman had 13 of the 19 councilors pledging support to him weeks prior. President-Designate Bowman, a VP for the Jacksonville Chamber‘s business recruitment wing JAXUSA Partnership, will represent a break […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 21, 2018

Former Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Hazouri, running as a Democrat in a Republican year, got more votes than any other citywide candidate in the 2015 City Council election. In addition to being mayor for four years (1987-91), Hazouri has also served as a State Legislator and a member of the Duval County School Board. However, prominence on […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2018

The Jacksonville City Council’s special committee on the future of JEA contemplated a light agenda Thursday, a marked contrast to the pitched pyrotechnics of the panel’s bygone conclaves. One highlight: Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche addressing the panel, just days after JEA Board member Fred Newbill questioned her motivation in inquiring as to the board’s process in […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2018

Time was when Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney seemed vulnerable in his re-election bid. The Democrat, representing a district that sprawls from Downtown toward the airport, has dealt with legal scrapes in the past ranging from his nonprofit’s Medicaid overbilling (an issue in the 2015 campaign) to double dipping on homestead exemption claims (an issue while in […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2018

A reporter from Reuters recently had a row with Jacksonville officials regarding claimed exemptions from disclosure of public records related to informational technology. The city has had its approach to public records disclosure questioned by local media in recent days, via a panel in the city’s “Open Government Task Force” and on Twitter; however, the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2018

The clouded picture in the race for Jacksonville City Council Vice-President cleared up Tuesday, with Sam Newby dropping out to focus on his re-election bid. Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton broke the news on Twitter. Newby, an at-large Councilman, faces one opponent thus far for re-election. The first-term Republican’s exit from the race leaves three candidates […]

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gun silencer. Image via AP.

Jacksonville City Councilors will pull competing JEA privatization resolutions

Jacksonville City Council hopeful sees paradox between NFL anthem stance, NBA player tasing

Concordance discord: Lenny Curry pilloried for not signing education resolution

Lawsuit won’t push Katrina Brown off Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville City Council elects Aaron Bowman to presidency; Scott Wilson VP

Against the odds? Tommy Hazouri chases Jacksonville City Council VP slot

Jacksonville City Council JEA committee talks Aaron Zahn selection, November straw ballot

Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney expands cash lead in re-election bid

Reuters the latest to zing Jacksonville over release of public records

Sam Newby drops bid for Jacksonville City Council VP; three hopefuls remain