Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 30, 2015

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The hot story in Jacksonville politics this week has been the blockbuster forensic audit of the beleaguered Police and Fire Pension Fund. Numerous irregularities, ranging from lavish travel budgets and lack of oversight to questionable investments, were spotlighted in the audit. However, at least one former mayor familiar with the Police and Fire Pension (indeed, […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 14, 2015

On Wednesday afternoon on Heckscher Drive in Jacksonville, local dignitaries gathered for the grand opening and tour of the second public access compressed natural gas facility located at the GATE Convenience Store on Heckscher Drive. Big names in attendance included former mayor John Peyton (whose family owns Gate Petroleum) and state Rep. Lake Ray, who has been […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 14, 2015

There has been just a scintilla of controversy about the board moves made by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, which have included requesting resignations from every member of the JEA Board and appointing replacements for Planning Commission Chair Lisa King and member Joey McKinnon… a gambit which occasioned a fairly epic public comment outcry in Tuesday’s City […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2015

On Friday, the Lenny Curry administration announced the return of a familiar face to Jacksonville, that of widely respected William Killingsworth, who returns to his former position as director of the Planning and Development Department. He held the post during the John Peyton administration, from a job in Tallahassee with the Department of Economic Opportunity. […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 9, 2015

Circuit 4 State Attorney Angela Corey widened her fundraising lead over her challenger, Wes White, in August. Corey’s $16,488 in August brought her total to $185,678. White’s $3,500 brought his tally up to $17,750. Notable August contributions for Corey include $1,000 donations from J.B. Coxwell Contracting, John David Coxwell, Helen Coxwell, and former mayor John Peyton’s Gate Petroleum. Meanwhile, White had […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 20, 2015

Mike Hightower, who resigned from the Jacksonville Electric Authority Board in December 2014, is back with them in a new capacity. Hightower is JEA’s new top lobbyist. As the Times-Union reported on Thursday, the job pays $199K. Competition for this position was fierce. Word is that former Councilman Richard Clark was interested. With Hightower, JEA gets […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 1, 2015

The number of Lenny Curry campaign events I covered is definitely in three figures. A common thread for many of them was how below the radar they were. Endorsement events at local businesses. A speech to the Visit Jacksonville forum. An appearance at the recreation center in Grand Park. And so on. The media wasn’t at […]

Melissa RossJune 12, 2015

During his successful campaign for Jacksonville mayor, Lenny Curry made public safety a key campaign issue, and repeatedly pledged to bring back the city’s Jacksonville Journey anti-crime initiative. The “Journey,” as it was known, began under former mayor John Peyton as a response to Jacksonville’s skyrocketing violent crime rate. A series of interlocking initiatives focusing on […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 11, 2015

Florida Politics has obtained a cache of emails related to Jacksonville Mayor-elect Lenny Curry’s transition. The emails date back to May 22. They provide an invaluable record of the transition, as the self-styled “transformational mayor” moves quickly from the seemingly perpetual candidate to the city of Jacksonville’s chief executive. To highlight the nature of the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2015

Anytime I get an email from Chris Hand, chief of staff for Mayor Alvin Brown, that incorporates the John Adams quote “Facts are stubborn things,” I know I’m in for at least 500 words of top-flight refutation of an opponent’s memes. Friday’s email takes issue with the comments of Councilman Richard Clark on Friday’s episode of First Coast Connect on […]

Tag: John Peyton

John Delaney questions “shrill” Jax PFPF audit

2nd compressed natural gas fueling station comes to Jacksonville

John Peyton on Lenny Curry board moves: “elections are about change”

Hinting at future development vision, William Killingsworth comes back to Jax

Angela Corey widens fundraising lead in reelection race

Mike Hightower: JEA’s new top lobbyist

It all has changed for Lenny Curry

Under Lenny Curry, Jacksonville Journey anti-crime effort set to make comeback

Emails provide fly-on-the-wall perspective inside Lenny Curry’s mayoral transition

Chris Hand to Richard Clark: “Facts are stubborn things”