Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 26, 2017

As the old saw goes, victory has many fathers, but defeat is an orphan. In that context, a decision to postpone a decision — such as that made by the Jacksonville City Council during yet another attempt to push through a referendum that could scuttle current term limits (changing limits from two consecutive terms to […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 26, 2017

In the context of mounting controversy and phone calls to legislators, the Jacksonville City Council was faced with a vote Tuesday evening regarding a referendum to change term limits that have been in place for a quarter century. As is this council’s wont when facing a controversial issue, the body punted rather than make a […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 25, 2017

Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche released charges last week for three special committees that will convene over the next year. Brosche previewed these committees during her inauguration speech last month. The Special Committee on Parks will deal with a continued decline of Jacksonville’s park system. “The Trust for Public Land recently ranked Jacksonville’s park system […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 18, 2017

At a time when some constituents of Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg are hopping mad at him over a zoning issue, a bill authorizing a referendum seems like an interesting play. And yet, that’s what Schellenberg seeks — with a bill in committees on Tuesday (Rules and Finance), a measure which would allow a third term, […]

Phil AmmannJuly 14, 2017

As the Jacksonville City Council wraps up its two-week break, Councilmembers will get a first peek at Mayor Lenny Curry’s budget Monday. They already know at least some of what to expect: a $100 million capital improvement budget and $8.4 million for Edward Waters College. Now the question is: Will everyone play ball? A.G. Gancarski […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 20, 2017

Term limits were imposed by voter plebiscite on the Jacksonville City Council decades back, yet Councilman Matt Schellenberg believes that institutional knowledge outweighs voter predilection. To that end, he introduced — for the second time in just over a year — legislation to repeal two-term limits. This would be for councilors, School Board members, and Constitutional […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 19, 2017

Jacksonville City Council President-Designate Anna Brosche announced new committee assignments starting in July, when she takes over. [2017-2018 Council Committee Assignments Letter ] Some interesting takeaways abound. One of which: veteran Republican Bill Gulliford is not on any standing committees, with Brosche apparently calling a bluff Gulliford made in the pledge process when he vowed not to serve […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 12, 2017

Three bills that had been expected to highlight the Tuesday evening agenda of the Jacksonville City Council won’t. The end result: an anticlimactic meeting, mostly because the committee process weeded out three bills that may have been sound policy, but were inconvenient politics – at best. Extra Pension Payment? No Thanks! Councilman Danny Becton had […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2017

In a meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee Wednesday, Council Auditor Kyle Billy presented a report on the local Police and Fire Pension Fund‘s bank account. That report revealed myriad governance issues with the fund throughout 2016, including dubious purchases and questionable accounting practices. Checks without signature, checks without documentation, delayed check endorsements, questionable […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee mulled a bill that the committee itself introduced on Tuesday, a measure requiring Jacksonville Ethics Commission nominees to be confirmed by the City Council before serving on the commission. Then the committee moved to withdraw its own bill, which itself was the result of a nomination that was pulled. […]

How the Jacksonville City Council effort to scuttle term limits went wrong

Jacksonville City Council defers action on term limits referendum

Charges released for Jacksonville City Council special committees

Third term for Jacksonville City Council? The bill is back

Jacksonville Bold for 7.14.17 — Playtime is over

Jax City Council again mulls removing two-term limit

Seismic change awaits Jacksonville City Council in Anna Brosche Presidency

The bills Jacksonville’s City Council won’t consider this week

Jax Council Auditor spotlights PFPF governance issues

Jax Council panel withdraws its own bill reforming Ethics Commission appointment process