Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossJanuary 14, 2016

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One of the premier facilities in America treating veterans and NFL players for traumatic brain injury and PTSD has chosen Jacksonville as its location for expansion into the Southeast. The renowned Eisenhower Center, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, settled on North Florida in part because of the region’s international recognition as a medical tourism destination […]

Phil AmmannDecember 30, 2015

In the opening weeks of 2016, Florida’s three professional football stadiums and Daytona International Speedway will each vie for taxpayer funds to help pay for upgrades, many already in progress. Ranking the applicants — Jacksonville Jaguars, Daytona International Speedway (DIS), Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins — will be the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

With capital improvement deals such as Jacksonville’s $90 million package of Capital Improvements for EverBank Field, the devil is in the details. Even as the legislation is passed, a few questions remained (at least from this writer) about certain language in the bill. To that end, we reached out to the office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

Word is that the PAC formed by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry supporters, Build Something That Lasts, had a quiet November in terms of fundraising. With no events, $7,300 was raised, and no Jaguars money was collected ahead of the Jacksonville City Council amphitheater vote, in November. The big donation: $5,000 from Stellar, the company of Curry […]

Phil AmmannDecember 6, 2015

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Four Florida sports teams have come to Tallahassee with the hope of leaving with state money to renovate and improve facilities, a process where the first step is scheduled to begin at month’s end. Each applicant – Daytona International Speedway, the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars – is jostling for a slice […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 3, 2015

A recent Jacksonville politics controversy has been over largesse from the Jaguars to members of Jacksonville’s City Council. The largesse included passes to the owner’s box, distributed outside of approved channels, and the gift of Tiffany champagne flutes. Jaguars lobbyist Paul Harden and city Ethics Officer Carla Miller had exchanged emails on acceptable gifts recently, and so […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 1, 2015

Rules, the third Jacksonville City Council committee deliberating the bill, approved the EverBank Field amphitheater package on Tuesday afternoon without even a moment of committee discussion. The bill allocates $90 million for stadium improvements, including a new amphitheater, a covered practice field, and other enhancements to the Sports Complex. With no discussion at all, Rules […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 1, 2015

The vote, much like the Jaguars’ game against New England this year, was never in doubt. With heavy backing from the Lenny Curry administration throughout the process, Jacksonville City Council’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety Committee unanimously OK’d the city’s $45 million allocation for the improvements to EverBank Field, which include a covered practice […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2015

A delightful #jaxpol subplot has been the continuing controversy over what gifts are acceptable outlays from the Jacksonville Jaguars to Jacksonville’s City Council members and members of the executive branch. Even as Jacksonville public officials wrestle over the seemingly inevitable $45 million capital outlay on the latest round of stadium improvements, with THREE more committees […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2015

A packed Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting Monday included what Chairman Bill Gulliford described as a “dog and pony show” related to Jaguars stadium upgrades and an update on the Police and Fire Pension Fund imbroglio, among other issues. If this were pro wrestling, it would be a supercard. Paul Harden, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ superlobbyist, was on […]

Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars

Amid growing NFL concussion concerns, Mark Brunell to lead Eisenhower Center’s expansion into Jacksonville

Daytona International Speedway a perfect fit for Florida Sports Development Program

One final look at the Jacksonville Sports Complex improvements legislation

Lenny Curry supporters’ PAC spends big in November

Miami Dolphins ask state for stadium funding; short on ROI, long on wishful thinking

The Case of the Tiffany Champagne Flutes, revisited

With no discussion, Jax Rules Committee greenlights Jags stadium improvements

2nd Jax city panel, recreation committee, OKs Jaguars’ amphitheater bill

Jaguars lobbyist Paul Harden mansplains, throws shade at Jax Ethics office

Jax Finance Committee OKs amphitheater deal