Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2017

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officers have been under a media microscope of late, with a number of adverse stories about them in the local press. From DUI arrests to groping incidents in local bars and civil suits for shots in the line of duty, the news cycles have been brutal of late. And even in the JSO […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 9, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilors made the long walk from the Council suite to the Mayor’s Office Wednesday afternoon, for promised “refreshments” with Lenny Curry. In a period of transition for the Council, the public notice meeting was worthy of notice; it was a conscious forging of camaraderie and unity, and one well-timed, with the Finance Committee taking […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 8, 2017

Have the promises made when the city of Jacksonville consolidated with Duval County half a century ago been fulfilled? That’s an open question, and one with a spectrum of answers ranging from “nope” to “things have actually gotten better for most of the city.” On Tuesday, members of the Jacksonville City Council convened to discuss […]

Phil AmmannAugust 4, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is all about loyalty, and much of this edition comes back to the idea of one’s squad as a result. For example, there’s Curry’s candidate in the House District 15 race to succeed Jay Fant, who is running for Attorney General instead of pursuing re-election. And then there’s the push to […]

Associated PressAugust 3, 2017

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says lawmakers have authorized seven new medical facilities for veterans in Florida. Nelson said in a news release Wednesday that the new Veterans Affairs facilities will be located in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa and Lakeland, with two in Gainesville. A total of 28 around the country were approved. Some are […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 31, 2017

Monday morning saw Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council President Anna Brosche announce that $1.071M of new money would be available for after school programs this coming academic year. With reforms to be announced Wednesday morning at a press conference for the Jacksonville Children’s Commission and the Jacksonville Journey this week, this is another short-term solution to a problem […]

Phil AmmannJuly 28, 2017

If this week’s issue of Bold has a unifying theme, it’s “institutional knowledge.” What that phrase means, in a political sense: knowing your milieu, learning what you can and can’t do in office. “Passing the torch,” so to speak. For our area’s congressmen, you will see below how the power of knowing one’s way around […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 25, 2017

Back in the early 1990s, the people of Jacksonville voted via referendum to limit city officials to two consecutive terms. Now, almost three decades later, a Jacksonville City Councilman wants another referendum — to amend that two-term limit, making it three terms for every elected office but that of the Mayor. In addition to giving […]

Phil AmmannJuly 22, 2017

For those in Jacksonville City Hall, these are halcyon days (somewhat). The mayor proposed the most ambitious budget in nearly a decade, addressing long-deferred needs. But, as is always the case in a Florida summer, storm clouds are on the horizon — with quiet assaults on the mayor’s vision. We cover two of them here: […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 20, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry introduced the City Council to his proposed FY 17/18 budget Monday, a $1.27B plan heavy on spending on infrastructure and public safety. Council Finance Chair Garrett Dennis is arguably the most important person in the process going forward; Finance will review the budget in August, tweaking it before the full City Council gets a […]

Tag: Jacksonville

Jax Sheriff discusses stressed officers making bad decisions

Lenny Curry, Jax City Council have ‘feelgood discussion’ ahead of budget review

Did Jacksonville’s Consolidation work? Or is it a work in progress?

Jacksonville Bold for 8.4.17 — Squad goals

Legislation calls for 7 new VA medical clinics in Florida

More money for Jax after-school programs as Lenny Curry pushes for reform

Jacksonville Bold for 7.28.17 — Institutional knowledge

Are two terms enough for Jacksonville’s public officials?

Jacksonville Bold for 7.22.17 — Shadow play

Equal Opportunity criteria to be part of Jax budget review in August