Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2018

Local Jacksonville candidates continue fundraising for the 2019 elections, and a leit motif is the relative uncompetitiveness of cash dashes thus far. The carnage starts in the race for Sheriff, where new entry Tony Cummings sputtered in his first campaign finance report, bringing in an anemic $525. That’s a car payment, but not nearly enough to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 12, 2018

A power struggle between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council President Anna Brosche continued Monday. The latest field of battle for the two Republican CPAs: the JEA valuation study that will be finalized Wednesday. Brosche rebuffed JEA Board Chair Alan Howard‘s call for a special Council meeting that day to discuss the study, which will suggest exploring the true […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 12, 2018

On Friday, Jacksonville public utility JEA requested a meeting of the Jacksonville City Council for Wednesday, Feb. 14. On Monday, Council President Anna Brosche said she was “declining the opportunity” to meet. The topic: a draft of the valuation report released last week laying out the benefits of a sale of some or all of the utility’s assets, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2018

As Jacksonville considers the increasingly less hypothetical question of whether or not to sell its public utility, JEA, a bill (2018-101) filed this week would earmark any proceeds. The bill, filed by Republican City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, would set up a restricted reserve account, which would require a two-thirds vote to access funds therein. In a conversation Thursday […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 7, 2018

Public Financial Management is developing a valuation report for JEA, and a draft released to media makes the case that Jacksonville’s utility may have a “new answer to the old question of whether the city should sell JEA.” The most telling paragraph in the 25-page draft of the potential sale comes at its close. “In […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2018

Jacksonville’s relationship with its municipal utility, JEA, is on shaky ground. The office of Mayor Lenny Curry is, depending on who is telling the story, at least open to the possibility of selling off JEA to a private owner. Jacksonville City Council members have their concerns, which will be discussed in a public meeting on Tuesday […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2018

In Tallahassee, Community Redevelopment Agencies are under siege by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who believes they are taxpayer-funded slush funds. However, Jacksonville lawmakers believe there are safeguards put in place to protect taxpayers, and that CRAs provide necessary functions. This week in City Council committees (Monday in Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health & Safety; Tuesday in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2018

Democrat Sunny Gettinger entered the race in Jacksonville City Council District 14 Thursday. Gettinger, a former Chair of Riverside Avondale Preservation, has an impressive résumé. Gettinger, professionally a communications manager for Google Fiber, began working for Google in 2006. Additionally, she served as associate director of press advance and Florida recount media coordinator for the DNC after […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 24, 2018

While the Jacksonville City Council presidency next year is all but served up to the Jacksonville Chamber’s Aaron Bowman, the vice presidency is still in play. Pledge meetings kicked off, months ahead of May’s vote, for those taking office in July. All indications show the fight could prove every bit as combative as the fractious presidency […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2018

‘Project Volt,’ an economic development deal passed Tuesday evening in the Jacksonville City Council, could bring hundreds of jobs into the area, and allowing Jacksonville to enter a new industry that will grow in the coming years. The unnamed company, which makes solar panels at eight locations around the world, is new to America: per […]

Tag: jacksonville city council
Florida Politics' Drew Wilson a few pounds heavier and with a bit more hair next to Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell ... (guess who we're rooting for?).

Lopsided money races continue in Jacksonville city campaigns

Bad blood: Lenny Curry, Anna Brosche clash over potential JEA sale ahead of Wednesday meeting

Jacksonville City Council President spikes special meeting to talk JEA sale

Jacksonville to mull ‘lockbox’ for JEA sale proceeds

JEA draft valuation report lays out benefits of sale

Jacksonville Councilors want underground power lines in older neighborhoods

Jacksonville City Council panel moves bills on King/Soutel CRA

Democrat Sunny Gettinger launches run for Jacksonville City Council

Knives out early in Jacksonville City Council leadership meetings

Solar plant incentives clear Jacksonville City Council; 800 jobs to be created