Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2015

On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed two bills into law with vastly different ramifications for Jacksonville. The first, HB 647, amends the Jacksonville city charter to modify the authority of the Civil Service Board, revising the authority of the civil service board to hear appeals, complaints, and grievances. Rep. Lake Ray‘s bill amends provisions in the charter […]

Melissa RossJune 9, 2015

An on-air discussion of the McKinney, Texas, viral video making the rounds this week quickly turned into an impassioned debate on criminal justice, with one participant’s calls to confront institutional racism set against another’s plea to evaluate police use-of-force incidents case by case. “We have to look at the institutionalization of racism in America,” activist Wells […]

Melissa RossJune 5, 2015

Even though the election isn’t until November 2016, the prognosticating around North Florida is already well underway as State Attorney Angela Corey files for a third term representing Clay, Duval and Nassau counties in the state’s 4th Circuit. The two questions political observers have are these: Can the other filed candidate, former Assistant State Attorney Wes White, […]

Melissa RossJune 3, 2015

As the state’s Medicaid fight continues to get national attention, UF Health Jax CEO Russ Armistead remains steadfast and vocal in his insistence that a solution must be found, and quickly, to Florida’s healthcare funding crisis — or else North Florida’s only safety net hospital will close its doors. “I think people don’t believe it […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2015

On Monday evening, The Rev. Clifford Johnson held a discussion at northwest Jacksonville’s Zion Hope Baptist Church called “Strengthening the Community: A Shared Responsibility.” It brought together school board members Connie Hall and Becki Couch, community organizer C. Mickee Brown, gang investigator for DCPS Jeff Shouse and, except for media, a crowd of about 150 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 29, 2015

Throughout Jacksonville, there are serious issues that require immediate attention and remedy. From an overstretched police force dealing with an epidemic of violence to the still-not-even-close-to-repaired span of Liberty Street, Jacksonville has many pressing issues facing it. You wouldn’t know that if you read Wednesday’s Times-Union, however, which trumpeted the Alvin Brown administration making yet one […]

Melissa RossMay 28, 2015

Jacksonville’s mayor’s race may have just wrapped up, but Lenny Curry’s win has Floridians of all political stripes already prognosticating about the upcoming presidential race here in 2016. And Florida remains the swingiest of swing states, with its 29 coveted electoral votes eyed by operatives and donors as the ultimate prize for the nominees. “This […]

Melissa RossMay 27, 2015

“There are two things that are important in politics,” Mark Hanna, the late GOP U.S. senator from Ohio, once said. “The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.” Most political observers across the state agree Lenny Curry beat Alvin Brown in the recent Jacksonville mayor’s race for several reasons. Topping […]

Associated PressMay 25, 2015

Jacksonville had the biggest population gain of any Florida city last year and now is the nation’s 12th most populous city. New figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Jacksonville’s population grew to more than 853,000 residents last year, an increase of 9,300 residents. By pure numbers, Jacksonville is Florida’s most populous […]

Bob SparksMay 20, 2015

One year ago not many figured northeast Floridians would be using the words “Mayor-elect Lenny Curry.” Yet, that’s precisely the water cooler chatter not only in Jacksonville, but among the political class across Florida. Curry, former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, was a long shot to defeat incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown, the city’s […]

Tag: Jacksonville
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Governor signs Jacksonville civil service, kiteboarding bills

The McKinney video: a Rashomon

Angela Corey’s re-election campaign takes shape

UF Health Jax CEO: We need an independent taxing district

NW Jax discussion on “gang awareness” yields more questions than answers

Are Jacksonville’s water taxis a sucker bet?

Susan McManus: 2016 race will see record spending in Florida

Marty Fiorentino on Lenny Curry money machine: “We stuck together”

Of Florida’s cities, Jacksonville had biggest gain

Bob Sparks: Lenny Curry shows Republicans the way to win