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Staff ReportsDecember 20, 2018

As our own A.G. Gancarski suggested in his predictions at the beginning of 2018, the year was bound to be filled with excitement. He even got some of his predictions right. He knew the JEA privatization debate was going to be ugly. He also knew that no matter how many murders happened on Jacksonville streets, […]

Staff ReportsDecember 14, 2018

Those close to the political operation of Mayor Lenny Curry are calling this a “momentum week.” And why not? Curry is essentially alone still in the mayoral field. Yes, there are filed opponents. No, you haven’t heard of them. And won’t, given their fundraising. Curry is on television with an ad buy. He’s talking smack. […]

Staff ReportsDecember 6, 2018

Wrap it up The year, in terms of Jacksonville city government, is nearing an end. Next Tuesday sees the final City Council meeting of 2018. For those interested in getting autographs, a Holiday themed meet-and-greet will also be held Wednesday afternoon. Hors-d’oeuvres will be served at the latter event. Reminder: keep gifts under $100 in […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 3, 2018

Duval’s December begins as most months have begun the last four years: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and his ever-expanding political machine standing strong, even as political enemies recover from their latest rout. Last Tuesday saw a doubleheader: back-to-back events illustrating the futility of, as the phrase once went, raging against the machine. An older phrase […]

Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2018

Baseball terminology may be out of season, but no matter: this week’s developments show that all the work Northeast Florida lawmakers have done in recent months has paid off. For the second straight year, Fleming Island Republican Rob Bradley will helm Senate Appropriations. This year, a close ally is also handling the House budget. Gov. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2018

On Tuesday, the board of Jacksonville public utility JEA voted to make interim CEO Aaron Zahn permanent. Mystery shrouded the process for some observers, leading JEA board chair Alan Howard to decry notions that the board was not independent of the Mayor’s Office. A review of the seven-person board’s scoring matrixes backs up at least part of that […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council approved a bill that would change conditions under which part of the local utility could be sold. All committees voted the bill up without a no vote, pushing the bill onto the consent agenda. Charter previously required City Council approval of any transfer of more than 10 percent of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

Electricity was in the air Tuesday, as the board of Jacksonville municipal utility JEA picked its new CEO. It turned out to be the guy who had been in that role for some time. Some members of the Jacksonville City Council and the media thought it was a done deal well ahead of the meeting, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, the liaison to local utility JEA, reiterated concerns about the Council’s lack of oversight over the power provider. Schellenberg had told the Florida Times-Union of his frustrations with not being able to get a meeting with interim CEO Aaron Zahn until after the utility decided whether or not to make Zahn permanent. The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 6, 2018

Duval County voters on Tuesday approved a nonbinding referendum suggesting that the Jacksonville City Council must first approve a sale of 10 percent or more of the municipal utility (JEA). While JEA has an independent board, the push to privatize the utility that started a year ago led Council members to want increased checks and […]

Tag: JEA
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Jacksonville Bold for 12.20.18 — The year that was.

Jacksonville Bold for 12.14.18 — Momentum week

Jacksonville Bold for 12.6.18 — Wrap it up

2019 elections a referendum on Jacksonville’s strong mayor government

Jacksonville Bold for 11.29.18 — Payoff pitch

Gravitas, financial acumen, and stakeholder management sealed the JEA CEO vote

Jacksonville City Council imposes further restrictions on JEA sale

Temp to perm: Jax insider Aaron Zahn locks up JEA CEO gig

Jacksonville City Councilmember bristles over lack of JEA oversight

Jacksonville voters want extra safeguard against JEA sale