Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2016

2016-17, the bill repurposing Jacksonville’s Better Jacksonville Plan 1/2 cent sales tax for unfunded liability pension relief, is sponsored by the entire City Council. The bill resolves that relevant Florida statute “should be amended in order to permit counties with an already existing 1/2 penny sales surtax for infrastructure to extend and repurpose such tax for […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 3, 2015

The most notable thing that happened at the Holiday Party thrown by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and the Jacksonville City Council, which included scenes inside the St. James Building and outside in Hemming Plaza, was the least scripted. As Curry began his remarks before throwing the switch to light the tree, an excitable gentleman called out […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 2, 2015

Can Jacksonville’s City Council be bought? When it comes to the Human Rights Ordinance, at least one out-of-state outfit thinks so. As first reported by WJXT, a Dallas outfit called Newstarter.com posits a provocative proposition: “Millionaires buy politicians. Now the PEOPLE can too! Buy City Council votes to pass the Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville,” says […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 23, 2015

The Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County have arrived at a “semi-settlement” of their “Text-ghazi” lawsuit against the Jacksonville City Council members involved in forbidden texting during budget deliberations Sept. 21. Scott Wilson, Tommy Hazouri, Joyce Morgan, and Aaron Bowman agreed to terms. “Four of the nine city council members who were being sued over texting about […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 17, 2015

The campaign between Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry saw the current mayor routinely slandered and libeled by people on his putative left, with labels such as “party boss” and worse thrown his way. A little more than three months after his inauguration, Curry is feeling slings and arrows from a different direction: the right … […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 28, 2015

On Wednesday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Executive Personnel Committee, including Council members Bill Gulliford, Lori Boyer, John Crescimbeni and Chairman Greg Anderson met briefly to discuss increases in salaries for staff and council members. Arguably the four most powerful council members, they almost invariably drive debate and frame narratives. Councilman Matt Schellenberg introduced a bill […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 13, 2015

Jacksonville District 3 City Councilman Aaron Bowman has had a long and illustrious career. A Navy veteran and former pilot who brought his Annapolis training to Florida’s First Coast, where he was in charge of the Mayport base for a time, Bowman knows leadership. He also knows business, with a leadership role in JAXUSA, a division of the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 8, 2015

In a memo to Jacksonville City Council, Council President Greg Anderson addressed the recent controversy involving members texting with Fire Union Chief Randy Wyse before a recent vote that restored salary and promotions for Fire Department members at the expense of the stormwater fund. To sum up, council members are prohibited, going forward, from texting […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2015

A red-hot Friday session of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee budget review included an conversation about Jacksonville Transit Authority revenue that got to the heart of the fractious relationship between City Council and Jacksonville’s independent authorities. Councilwoman Lori Boyer held forth with an extended address about the local option gas tax as part of a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2015

If you’re looking for hot-button issues, you likely won’t find them at Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. As the Finance Committee works through the budget in all-day sessions ahead of the Sept. 21 Council meeting, those on hand in Council Chambers will hear debates on a number of uncontroversial measures. The handful of third-reading […]

Tag: jacksonville city council

Entire Jax City Council co-sponsors Lenny Curry pension tax resolution

Scenes from Jax City Hall holiday celebration

Can Jacksonville’s City Council be bought?

“Semi-settlement” reached on Jacksonville council’s “Text-ghazi”

Ahead of HRO meeting, Lenny Curry and Jax Council attacked from right

Jax City Council looks to boost staff pay, personal compensation

Aaron Bowman on HRO: it’s “part of my fabric”

Greg Anderson drops hammer: no cell phones during Jax City Council meetings

JTA, Jax Council Finance Committee spar over funding, Skyway

Quiet Jacksonville City Council meeting on tap