Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry kicked off his administration’s summer jobs program Monday, rebranded as the “Mayor’s Youth at Work Partnership.” Now in its 12th year, the program will serve 350 youth aged 16-21 between June 18 and July 27. They will have job opportunities; 20 hour-a-week gigs with both the city and the private sector. The goal […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2018

Two bills of note passed by the Jacksonville City Council Tuesday evening. ____ Straw ballot for JEA sale: 2018-141 will prime a straw ballot referendum for November to test the voters’ mood on a JEA sale. The measure, sponsored by Garrett Dennis and John Crescimbeni (two skeptics of the need to sell), would, in theory, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 5, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis, a critic of Jacksonville’s Kids Hope Alliance board that administers the city’s children’s programs, made it known earlier in the week that he would attend Wednesday’s KHA Board meeting. Dennis’ principal interest: the board’s selection of a new CEO. In Council committees Tuesday, Dennis peppered employees of the Lenny Curry administration with questions […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 27, 2018

In an extended speech Tuesday evening, Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis said there was a “cloud” over Joe Peppers, a former Kids Hope Alliance board member who has since resigned and made a play for the CEO of the same organization. Dennis asked that Peppers withdraw from CEO consideration. Dennis spotlighted Peppers’ alleged disrespect of Raines and […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2018

Harsh words flowed last week from two heads of Jacksonville nonprofits to Jacksonville city officials regarding perceived irregularities in the new Kids Hope Alliance. At issue: board member Joe Peppers, who had since resigned, pursuing the CEO position of the nascent children’s program board. “I am honored to remain a candidate for the CEO position. If the […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 15, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council approved six members of the Kids Hope Alliance board on Tuesday, including Joe Peppers. Peppers, in fact, was approved unanimously — but by no means does that mean his nomination process went smoothly, specifically with regard to one particular Councilman: Garrett Dennis. In fact, the process was characterized in an email by Jessica Laird — […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 12, 2017

Six of the seven board members of Jacksonville’s nascent Kids Hope Alliance cleared City Council Tuesday evening. Five of them made the cut via the consent agenda: Rebekah Davis, a former member of the Jacksonville Children’s Commission board of directors; Kevin Gay, a previous Jacksonville Journey board member; former Jacksonville Sheriff and current Edward Waters College President Nat Glover; Iraq War […]

Tag: Joe Peppers
Image via Florida A&M University.

Jacksonville youth summer jobs program to emphasize ‘career pathways’

JEA straw poll, board reform bills clear Jacksonville City Council

Garrett Dennis warns Jacksonville Kids Hope board not to pick Joe Peppers as CEO

Jacksonville City Councilman says there’s ‘cloud’ over Kids Hope Alliance CEO nominee

Non-profits raise ethics red flags about Jacksonville children’s board governance

Lenny Curry staffer decries Garrett Dennis’ ‘aggression’ against her

Six ‘Kids Hope’ board picks clear Jacksonville City Council