Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2018

Physical violence will be expressly prohibited on city property in Jacksonville if a resolution filed by Councilman Garrett Dennis this week to the City Council passes. Resolution 2018-171 would support policy designating city property “hit free zones.” This would create “areas in which no adult shall hit another adult, no adult shall hit a child, no child […]

Staff ReportsMarch 15, 2018

The 2018 Legislative Session finally wrapped. Now, in front of us, the madcap dash to the 2018 primaries in August is about to hit full stride. For Jacksonville area voters, especially Democrats, these are exciting times. From competitive races for Congress to state Senate and state House, there are choices on the ballot. And narratives. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 13, 2018

Two major Democratic candidates for Governor plan Jacksonville area stops this week, as fundraising efforts continue for the August primary. Philip Levine will hold a “cocktail party” event Thursday evening, with a nascent host committee including Mark Frisch, Matt Kane, and Ted Stein among others. The event honoring the Miami Beach Mayor will be at the Beaches Museum in […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 13, 2018

February offered a unique opportunity for people running against incumbents, who can’t fundraise during the Legislative Session, to make up ground in fundraising. But — at least in competitive Northeast Florida races — they didn’t take up the gauntlet. Senate SD 4: Incumbent Aaron Bean couldn’t fundraise in February, and has $88,000 cash on hand in his […]

Peter SchorschMarch 9, 2018

Jacksonville Bold for 3.9.18 — Cheat sheet The Legislative Session is ending; hopefully, sooner than later. And campaign season is heating up. New candidates in state House races … and old back stories. And Mayor Lenny Curry — “Our Mayor,” per the branding — is seeking four more years. Former City Council members seek a […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 8, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has been an active candidate for re-election since Wednesday; on Thursday, he discussed why he’s going for four more years. One reason he offered: “to keep fighting for things I told people I’d fight for,” including public safety, resources for children, and a tangible commitment to all of Jacksonville. Curry stresses that […]

Phil AmmannMarch 2, 2018

With competitive Democratic primaries, the tail end of the Legislative Session, and local City Hall intrigue, there is a lot to unpack. However, we have not arrived at the point in the narrative with a great deal of resolution. At least not yet. In a literary sense, this is known as foreshadowing. Money has not […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 26, 2018

Some good news for Jacksonville came Monday via another bond upgrade. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced an uptick in the special revenue bond rating to ‘AA’ from ‘AA-’. “This latest upgrade further demonstrates our continued and strong focus on fiscal responsibility is making a difference for our citizens,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “We continue […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 26, 2018

Via 2018-133, Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche seeks to establish a task force to look at transparency in local government. The bill will be on Tuesday’s Council agenda. “The Task Force on Open Government” will “undertake an in-depth review of Jacksonville’s legislative process and the methods by which the public accesses government” and “make recommendations for […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry took office in 2015, and even before he officially took over in July, there were discussions of reforms of government services. His transition committees discussed some concepts, and by the time Curry’s team settled into office, explorations continued on a conceptual level of privatizing or otherwise reforming the way services were […]

Tag: Jacksonville
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Jacksonville to mull making city property a hit free zone

Jacksonville Bold for 3.16.18 — Bottom line

Philip Levine, Andrew Gillum plan Jacksonville area fundraisers

Slow February in Northeast Florida legislative race fundraising

Jacksonville Bold for 3.9.18 — Cheat sheet

Lenny Curry outlines second-term vision: Public safety, investments in all of Jacksonville feature

Jacksonville Bold for 3.2.18 — March Madness

Ratings methodology change leads to bond upgrade for Jacksonville

‘Open government task force’ bill to be introduced to Jacksonville City Council Tuesday

For Lenny Curry’s team, privatization of public resources is not a new concept