Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 7, 2016

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Council President Greg Anderson sent a memo signaling that the Jacksonville HRO expansion discussion would be held in a Committee of the Whole on three Thursday afternoon meetings in February and March. On Thursday, Florida Politics spoke with Anderson, and he gave more details about why he chose that approach. Anderson, a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 6, 2016

Tommy Hazouri wanted the Committee of the Whole to consider the fully-inclusive HRO bill he introduced. And Council President Greg Anderson obliged, albeit independently of Hazouri’s stance. On Wednesday afternoon, Anderson sent out a memo. “As President it is my responsibility to make sure we have a fair, civil, and orderly debate as we move to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 6, 2016

The two most high-profile supporters of a fully-inclusive Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) met Wednesday afternoon to talk strategy. Councilmen Tommy Hazouri and Aaron Bowman came together to talk about the bill that Hazouri introduced before the Council’s holiday break. Along with them, Councilmen Sam Newby and Reggie Brown showed up for the discussion, as did Council Vice President […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

Brunswick, Georgia pastor Kenneth Adkins had a busy holiday season, with a lot of time spent attacking Councilman Tommy Hazouri for desiring to expand Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance He started off the New Year calling out four other Council members: Garrett Dennis, Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, and Reggie Gaffney. Adkins’ language was typically florid. “These four African American Jacksonville City Council […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 21, 2015

In August 2012, after two different Human Rights Ordinance expansion bills failed in Jacksonville’s City Council, the No votes got a victory lap at First Baptist Church. “These are the council members that stood in the gap for us and represented us with their votes,” the minister said. First Baptist Church, thus far, has avoided […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

In the wake of the Community Conversations on the Human Rights Ordinance, Lenny Curry has been in the process of meeting with the business community and the faith community. The latter conclave between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and local ministers on Friday morning was marked as a “private meeting” on Curry’s public schedule. But it dealt with […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

On the heels of Bill Gulliford’s bill pushing for an HRO expansion referendum, Councilman Tommy Hazouri filed a bill on Thursday to expand the HRO to cover the LGBT community. The Hazouri bill would expand equal protections under the law, including housing and employment, as well as public accommodations, to people regardless of sexual orientation (real or […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

One of the principal opponents of the Jacksonville HRO expansion: Gene Youngblood of the First Conservative Baptist Church. Youngblood, who posts provocative, politically messaged signs in front of his church, signs routinely lambasting Muslims, homosexuals, and others who run afoul of his interpretation of the Good Book, had another this week. “Did Jacksonville City Council members […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

The “Community Conversations” on the HRO are over. But Lenny Curry’s inbox brims with communiqués from opponents of HRO expansion. The majority of emails received lately oppose legislation and support a referendum. [Note: all grammatical/spelling errors hail from the original documents being quoted.] “I still cannot believe that what is going on is for real… […]

Greg Anderson explains Committee of the Whole approach to Jax HRO

Committee of the Whole to consider Jax HRO legislation

Tommy Hazouri, Aaron Bowman talk HRO expansion bill; Bowman to co-sponsor

Pastor Ken Adkins calls out African-American Jacksonville City Council members

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

First Baptist Church weighs in on “pansexuals,” Jax HRO expansion: referendum would “probably not pass”

Jax ministers talk HRO referendum with Mayor Lenny Curry

Tommy Hazouri files all-inclusive HRO expansion bill

Gene Youngblood dodges questions about latest inflammatory anti-HRO sign

Anti-HRO emails continue to flood Lenny Curry’s inbox