Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossMay 13, 2015

As the U.S. and Cuba edge closer to an agreement to restore full diplomatic ties, a retired State Department official who served as the senior diplomat in Cuba says Florida is well-positioned to take advantage of the historic changes. “There is this tremendous yearning in Cuba for changes to happen to allow people to have […]

Melissa RossMay 11, 2015

The Rev. Gene Youngblood, father of Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 3 candidate Geoff Youngblood, says a message posted on the marquee outside his First Conservative Baptist Church is “reacting to current events” and corresponds to Scripture. The sign reads “Homosexuals must repent or go to Hell.” It has sparked a petition response at the website […]

Phil AmmannMay 10, 2015

America’s oldest city is slowly drowning. St. Augustine’s centuries-old Spanish fortress and other national landmarks sit feet from the encroaching Atlantic, whose waters already flood the city’s narrow, brick-paved streets about 10 times a year — a problem worsening as sea levels rise. The city has long relied on tourism, but visitors to the fortress […]

Melissa RossMay 10, 2015

With just ten days left until the May 19th runoff election, Mayor Alvin Brown and his former opponent, Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Bishop, have hit the streets together in the first of several canvassing operations the duo is expected to conduct leading up to Election Day. First stop: Riverside/Avondale, the hipster historic neighborhood Bishop won […]

Melissa RossMay 8, 2015

Jacksonville City Councilman and third-place mayoral finisher Bill Bishop again denied any quid pro quo was discussed with either Mayor Alvin Brown or Lenny Curry before awarding his endorsement to Brown last week. “I get a kick out of that,” said Bishop during an appearance on WJCT’s First Coast Connect. “What I first said is I […]

Melissa RossMay 6, 2015

Cooler heads will likely prevail as the Florida House and Senate troop back to Tallahassee in June. So says influential Jacksonville lobbyist and consultant Marty Fiorentino. “I think the Legislature will come back in Special Session and create a budget that’s good for Florida,” he said. “The leadership of both the House and Senate will […]

Melissa RossMay 5, 2015

Zack Whitson, the 29-year-old owner of TWG Technologies and the North Florida millennial whiz kid behind new election data software, says Jacksonville’s mayor’s race is on a knife’s edge, according to his numbers and methodology. Whitson’s business is behind iElectApp and is also building Sphere, a new online tool letting users know which of their […]

Melissa RossMay 4, 2015

Jacksonville’s African-American faith leadership assembled at the Gateway Mall early voting precinct Monday morning to urge people to get to the polls — in particular to combat crime and gang activity in the city. “The current crime, gangs and community unrest in Jacksonville directly relate to public policy and lack of justice that we can […]

Melissa RossMay 4, 2015

As early voting gets under way in Duval County, the Orlando-based Florida Family Action PAC has sent out a voter guide advising socially conservative residents as they to go the polls to choose a new Jacksonville City Council. “These City Council candidates OPPOSE granting special rights based on ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ and SUPPORT […]

Melissa RossMay 1, 2015

Former Jacksonville mayoral candidate Audrey Moran used her time at the podium accepting a OneJax Humanitarian Award to call out Mayor Alvin Brown and his challenger Lenny Curry, both in the audience, on the city’s Human Right Ordinance. Moran, now vice president of corporate and social responsibility for Baptist Health, challenged Brown and Curry to issue a […]

Tag: Jacksonville
Stock image via Adobe.

“Tremendous yearning for change” in Cuba means business opportunities for Florida

Minister, father of Jax City Council candidate, defends “homophobic” sign

Sea rise threatens Florida coast, but no statewide plan

Alvin Brown, Bill Bishop go door-knocking

Bill Bishop: No quid pro quo on mayor’s race, no ads on arena

Marty Fiorentino: June Special Session should get results

Millennial data cruncher says Jax mayoral race on knife’s edge

Vote to get social justice, reduce crime, Jax Baptist ministers urge

Florida Family Action PAC urges Jax voters to support anti-HRO candidates

Audrey Moran calls out Alvin Brown, Lenny Curry on HRO