Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 7, 2015

With early voting well under way, Mayor Alvin Brown rolled out a series of endorsements for a Thursday media event, including former GOP Council Presidents Matt Carlucci and Alberta Hipps, LGBT activist Jimmy Midyette, and other leaders from the nonprofit community, along with Republican Councilman Stephen Joost and Democratic Councilman Warren Jones. Critics will say those endorsements come with asterisks. They will […]

Melissa RossApril 23, 2015

As a conservative Democrat in GOP-leaning Duval County, Mayor Alvin Brown has always had to triangulate. It’s a skill most Florida political observers think he learned from his years Bill Clinton‘s orbit (arguably the most skilled Democrat in history at swimming upstream in the South). Perpetually walking a knife’s edge on taxes and spending, not to mention […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 27, 2015

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Another news cycle brings another round of drama to the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC, whose chairwoman, Carrington Mead, has stepped down amid pressure from other PAC members. They are said to see her as an obstacle to negotiations with the Mayor’s Office to get an executive order protecting LGBT community members from workplace discrimination. Mead […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 23, 2015

On Saturday evening, we broke the story of Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown having what euphemistically can be called an animated discussion with members of the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC. Today, we’re breaking the story of a shakeup within the PAC, as one of its founding members, Ben Weaver, stepped down amidst a disagreement with the group […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2015

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The first week of early voting has started out badly for Jacksonville At Large Council Candidate Kimberly Daniels. This past Monday she found herself in a heated dispute at an early voting location. On Friday’s edition of her radio program 25 Minutes of Power, she clarified events, explaining that she had been “set up” by political […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2015

Earlier Wednesday, we reported on the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC‘s slate of endorsements for the March Jacksonville Unitary Election. In doing so, we have uncovered differing recollections of a 2012 meeting between PAC Vice Chairman Jimmy Midyette and Mayor Alvin Brown‘s Chief of Staff Chris Hand. Midyette said at Tuesday’s press conference that “before the bill was introduced, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2015

Earlier Wednesday, we reported on the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC‘s slate of endorsements for the March Jacksonville Unitary Election. In doing so, we have uncovered differing recollections of a 2012 meeting between PAC Vice Chairman Jimmy Midyette and Mayor Alvin Brown‘s Chief of Staff Chris Hand. Midyette said at Tuesday’s press conference that “before the bill was introduced, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2015

One of the more exciting developments of the 2015 Jacksonville elections has been the increased discussion of issues that matter to the LGBT community. The Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC, a nine-member political action committee, announced its formation Monday with a news release promoting Tuesday’s endorsements. “The committee plans to target specific races and push […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2015

LGBT issues have been front and center in Jacksonville’s political discussions the last few years. But until now there has not been a local Political Action Committee that specifically addresses that community’s political needs. That changes today, as the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC has formed, with intentions to endorse Mayoral and City Council candidates […]

Tag: Jimmy Midyette
Debate party at Sports Grill Kendall. Image via AP.

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

Alvin Brown gets GOP and LGBT endorsements

LGBT issue forces Jax mayoral candidates to walk political tightrope

Carrington Mead resigns as chair of Jax-area LGBT PAC

Shakeup in NE FL LGBT Leadership PAC: Ben Weaver steps down

Kim Daniels Times-Union ad funded by Jax heavy hitters

Alvin Brown’s staff chief disputes LGBT leadership PAC version of 2012 meeting

Alvin Brown's staff chief disputes LGBT leadership PAC version of 2012 meeting

NE Florida LGBT leadership PAC endorses Bill Bishop, Tracie Davis, myriad council candidates

Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC will endorse candidates tomorrow