Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2018

Tensions are high this week, as the debate over gun control and rights rages statewide. One legislative staffer, Sadie Haire, district aide for Jacksonville Republican Jason Fischer, a supporter of the Second Amendment, got more than words from a gun control proponent. “On Wednesday, a man – a coward really – forced himself into my district […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 23, 2018

On Wednesday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry held a media event in which he and City Councilman Al Ferraro filled potholes in roads in a Northside industrial park. Curry wanted to focus on the hard work being done, day in and day out, by city employees to maintain public infrastructure. A laudable goal. Especially given where […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2018

Mayors come and go, but the bloodtide on Jacksonville streets continues. This weekend, yet another child was caught in the line of fire. Seven-year-old Tashawn Gallon was gunned down in Durkeeville Sunday night. Per the Florida Times-Union, he died hours after being shot in a drive-by. “Last night a 7 yr. old was killed in a drive-by […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2018

A Jacksonville creek restoration project awaited by Avondale area residents for more than a decade is finally on the verge of a City Council green light. And Council members hope this is the beginning of a series of similar projects. In committees Tuesday and Wednesday: a bill (2018-8) to move forward on the restoration of Big […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2018

Reimbursements will come sooner or later for the city of Jacksonville from the federal government for Hurricanes Matthew and Irma. Until then, however, the impact of the storms will be felt in the city’s general fund budget. The Jacksonville City Council Auditor’s quarterly report for the final three months of 2017 puts the figures in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2018

Duval County residents continue to be vexed by CSX trains stalled out at railroad crossings during the “precision railroading” era. They shouldn’t expect recourse from local government, however. A correspondent to Mayor Lenny Curry attempted this week to get recourse from the company. She was directed to make her grievance known on a webpage but with no response. Some excerpts […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2018

Jacksonville City Council Vice President Aaron Bowman made it official Monday, launching his bid for the board’s presidency. On Friday, Bowman came away with pledges from two former council presidents and a former mayor serving on the Council. Tradition holds that the vice president moves to the presidency, barring some unusual development, such as what happened […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2018

A shakeup in the office of Mayor Lenny Curry ends a particularly eventful week in Jacksonville politics. Sports and Entertainment head Dave Herrell resigned, capping an almost four-year run after being appointed in 2014 by former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. The role, per Brown, was “a key position to build Jacksonville’s momentum as a premier destination for major […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 16, 2018

Before we get to federal and state news, let’s take a look at local drama. In what has been the roughest week for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, his administration pushed forth to a skeptical City Council and the querulous crowd a controversial report Wednesday urging the sale of the local public utility. The valuation study […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2018

Brian Hughes, chief of staff for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, has been cleared of charges that he violated any laws in an interaction earlier this week with a City Council staffer. Hughes had been accused of “accosting” Jeneen Sanders, assistant to Council President Anna Brosche, in a conversation over Curry’s office not being copied on an email from […]

Tag: Jacksonville
Image via X (Duke Energy).

‘Coward’ attacks state lawmaker’s female aide; gun control debate to blame?

Jacksonville Bold for 2.23.18 — The Steamroller

Lenny Curry laments ‘senseless violence’ on Jacksonville streets

Jacksonville’s Big Fishweir Creek restoration clears City Council committee

$130M+ hit for Jacksonville from hurricanes, as financial storm clouds loom

No fix for Duval residents vexed by CSX crossing blockages

Aaron Bowman gets Jacksonville City Council presidency backing from two former presidents

Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment head Dave Herrell resigns

Jacksonville Bold for 2.16.18 — Power play

Jacksonville general counsel clears Brian Hughes in dispute with City Council assistant