Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossJuly 6, 2015

This week in Jacksonville, Community Health Outreach will commemorate the 20th anniversary of former NASA Astronaut and Jacksonville resident Norm Thagard’s return from the Russian Mir 18 mission on July 7, 1995. Twenty-eight experiments were conducted in the course of the 115-day flight. The mission culminated in a landing at the Kennedy Space Center in the […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 4, 2015

The rains have been hitting this writer’s portion of Duval County all day, dousing the usual neighborhood fireworks wars. This is symbolically fitting, as the Volokh Conspiracy blog at the Washington Post likewise dumped cold water all over a recent fevered ruling of Judge Mark Mahon, which set strict limits on permissible speech at the Duval County Courthouse, as “clearly […]

Ryan RayJuly 2, 2015

As part of a run of several new appointees to state boards and agencies, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he has picked retired Florida National Guard Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett for the board that oversees the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The governor’s office noted that Burnett, a 70-year-old resident of St. Augustine, is […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

As promised no later than June 30 by Mayor Alvin Brown, Jacksonville’s General Counsel released his review of anti-discrimination legislation. A quick read of this indicates that there is room to legislate against discrimination, such as in a Human Rights Ordinance, without creating undue enforcement burdens or burdens against religious groups. Should City Council be looking […]

Melissa RossJune 30, 2015

Calling public safety and the city’s stretched finances his top priorities, new Jacksonville City Council president Greg Anderson says the city is heading into “an exciting time” as a new mayor and council are sworn in July 1. “If we can create an environment where the executive and legislative branches are working together, Jacksonville is […]

Melissa RossJune 29, 2015

With reaction continuing to pour in after the Friday Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, Jacksonville LGBT activists say they’re ready to take another crack at updating the city’s human rights ordinance. “We’re trying again,” says Jacksonville attorney and activist Jimmy Midyette, who chairs the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC, and thinks the climate is now a […]

Julie DelegalJune 24, 2015

The murder of a pastor and eight parishioners in their historic Charleston church this past Wednesday was swiftly answered by law enforcement the next day, when police arrested 21-year-old Dylann Roof. Roof has expressed ideological kinship with the Council of Conservative Citizens, one of numerous hate groups whose poison is available with a few clicks […]

Melissa RossJune 24, 2015

With resolutely positive messaging, outgoing Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown is reflecting on his four years in office by noting the accomplishments that he says make him most proud: pension reform, downtown development, and the growth of the city as a sports and entertainment destination. On the pension deal: “I’m very happy for the hardworking taxpayers […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

The back and forth on a resolution against seismic testing off the Jacksonville coast has finally ended, as it went down in a 9-9 vote. Historians will find amusing a part of the process, which involved Councilman Reggie Gaffney attempting to not vote, because he didn’t understand the issue, before eventually voting against the resolution. His […]

Melissa RossJune 23, 2015

In the city named for Andrew Jackson, discussions involving race and the history of the South have often been fraught with awkward associations to the past. But an on-air radio discussion over South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s call to remove the Confederate battle flag from that state’s Capitol was refreshingly civil. “The people of South […]

Tag: Jacksonville
Stock image via Adobe.

Former Jax NASA astronaut: “A shame we didn’t replace the shuttle program with new vehicle”

Washington Post: Duval County courthouse speech restrictions are unconstitutional

Rick Scott appoints Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett to UNF board

Jacksonville General Counsel releases review of anti-discrimination laws

Greg Anderson on new Jax mayor, council: “We’ve got a new day”

With same-sex marriage now legal coast to coast, Jax activists eye city’s HRO once again

Julie Delegal: Southern Poverty Law Center keeps tabs on hate groups

Alvin Brown says, “I kept my promises”

Gaffney spikes the ball: Seismic Testing resolution falls in Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville speaks out about Confederate flag