Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsDecember 20, 2018

As our own A.G. Gancarski suggested in his predictions at the beginning of 2018, the year was bound to be filled with excitement. He even got some of his predictions right. He knew the JEA privatization debate was going to be ugly. He also knew that no matter how many murders happened on Jacksonville streets, […]

Staff ReportsDecember 14, 2018

Those close to the political operation of Mayor Lenny Curry are calling this a “momentum week.” And why not? Curry is essentially alone still in the mayoral field. Yes, there are filed opponents. No, you haven’t heard of them. And won’t, given their fundraising. Curry is on television with an ad buy. He’s talking smack. […]

Staff ReportsDecember 6, 2018

Wrap it up The year, in terms of Jacksonville city government, is nearing an end. Next Tuesday sees the final City Council meeting of 2018. For those interested in getting autographs, a Holiday themed meet-and-greet will also be held Wednesday afternoon. Hors-d’oeuvres will be served at the latter event. Reminder: keep gifts under $100 in […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

On Thursday, a Jacksonville City Council subcommittee continued what is billed as a “comprehensive crime reduction inventory.” However, crime reduction may not be the only law enforcement concern for the legislative panel: A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report this week revealed that Duval County ranks 66th in terms of crimes solved. Its clearance rate hovers […]

Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2018

Baseball terminology may be out of season, but no matter: this week’s developments show that all the work Northeast Florida lawmakers have done in recent months has paid off. For the second straight year, Fleming Island Republican Rob Bradley will helm Senate Appropriations. This year, a close ally is also handling the House budget. Gov. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2018

Earlier this year, a suspect shot and killed Fang, a 3-year-old Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9. The German Shepherd chased the suspect into the woods, and that was his last chase. A 9 mm handgun saw to that. JSO and the larger community grieved. And now, via area state Sen. Aaron Bean, a legislative remedy: A bill […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 12, 2018

Jacksonville’s body camera program, launched in pilot phase last summer, is now on pause. The issue currently: procurement. The open question: how long the process takes. The Florida Times-Union reported Thursday that 200 officers will get cameras in 2019. “Once the procurement process is complete, JSO will use the awarded funds to acquire and deploy […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2018

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, a first-term Republican up for re-election in 2019, widened in May his cash lead over his sole challenger. The sheriff brought in $14,550 off 38 contributions last month. All of that money went into his campaign account, as he had no committee fundraising. All told, Williams has $192,000 in his political […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 30, 2018

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and State Attorney Melissa Nelson on Wednesday rolled out the ‘KEYS 2 Drive’ (Knowledge Empowers Your Success) diversion program. The program will help those facing primary charges of driving without valid licenses, or suspended or revoked licenses, to get valid drivers’ licenses. Of the 12,000 people faced with that fate last year, estimates are […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags at half-staff to honor Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Police Officer Lance C. Whitaker, a 17-year veteran. Scott ordered the U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, City Hall in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville, and the Capitol in Tallahassee, from sunrise […]

Tag: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Jacksonville Bold for 12.20.18 — The year that was.

Jacksonville Bold for 12.14.18 — Momentum week

Jacksonville Bold for 12.6.18 — Wrap it up

Jacksonville Council members won’t blame Sheriff for low crime clearance rates

Jacksonville Bold for 11.29.18 — Payoff pitch

Fang death inspires Aaron Bean to protect police K-9s, horses

Body cameras to be back on Jacksonville police sooner than expected

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams widens cash lead in re-election bid

Duval County rolls out drivers license restoration program

Flags at half-staff for JSO officer killed in wreck