Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 10, 2016

Jordan Elsbury was coming up through the ranks of Louisiana politics when he took a chance on Lenny Curry’s 2015 campaign for mayor of Jacksonville. The move worked out for the Southeastern Louisiana University grad who stayed on to work for the administration, first as director of appointments and now in intergovernmental affairs. Here’s Elsbury […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 25, 2015

If you’re reading this, you likely have a positive relationship with the Thanksgiving holiday. This should be especially true for the doughty stalwarts of the #JaxPol universe, where seemingly everyone, from the congressional level down to City Council, have tangible things for which they should be grateful. U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, for one, can be grateful […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The JEA Board is taking shape, and Lenny Curry is bringing two big time players to the game. One of them is a longtime Democratic City Councilman. A Tuesday morning email from Director of Appointments and Special Projects Jordan Elsbury signals the administration’s intention to advance Warren Jones and Ed Burr on an expedited emergency cycle […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 20, 2015

Jacksonville City Council chambers was largely empty Tuesday afternoon, except for those proposed for appointments to Jacksonville boards and commissions, a smattering of reporters, political junkies, and a TV camera. The latter parties were there to document the moves that Mayor Lenny Curry contends are necessary to execute his vision, moves that opponents – most prominently Councilman […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2015

[Updated at 7:16 p.m] In Tuesday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee, Councilman Tommy Hazouri voted against Russ Thomas being appointed to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. This came as a surprise to Thomas, who received a very genial voicemail from Hazouri, pledging what seemed to be unconditional support before the vote. “Hey Russ, […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 6, 2015

Whispers prior to Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee meeting predicted a council member or two might say something about the wave of board and commission replacement appointments that dominated the agenda. Planning Commission Chairwoman Lisa King, whose replacement by Donald Adkison was on the agenda for the second reading, was in the house. So was […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 25, 2015

“I have decided to resign from the board of JEA,” wrote former Vice Chair Peter Bower, because “the atmosphere for public service has become poisonous and detrimental.” Knowing Lenny Curry reasonably well at this point, I’m sure that, as he read this, his thinking went something like this… Don’t let the door hit you in […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2015

Fireworks emerged in Tuesday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee when Councilman Tommy Hazouri stood in opposition to the appointment of Kirk Wendland as Economic Development Officer during what otherwise was an uncontroversial group of appointments. Hazouri has not been thrilled with Mayor Lenny Curry‘s approach to composition of independent boards, yet this […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2015

From all accounts, former Clinton Administration member Nancy Soderberg is “ready for Hillary.” Word is that she’s going to be putting in work on the campaign. She’ll have more time to do just that in the coming months, as the Lenny Curry administration let the former Deputy National Security Advisor know this week that her services no […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 19, 2015

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Another day, another departure of an Alvin Brown political appointee. Wednesday’s edition: Melody Bishop, the wife of one-time mayoral candidate Bill Bishop, from the Downtown Investment Authority board. In a letter to Jordan Elsbury, the Director of Appointments and Special Projects for the Lenny Curry administration, Bishop, “with heavy heart,” offers her resignation “effective immediately.” She wanted the opportunity to meet […]

Tag: Jordan Elsbury

Meet Jordan Elsbury — One of the 30-under-30 rising stars of Florida Politics

Thanksgiving, the #JaxPol edition

Warren Jones, Ed Burr to JEA Board

Tensions flare as Jax Rules Committee spikes Democratic planning commissioners

A look at Tommy Hazouri’s change of heart on Russ Thomas

Tommy Hazouri: Lenny Curry board moves “emasculate” consolidated government

The end of Peter Bower, and what it means for Jacksonville’s boards

In Rules Committee, Tommy Hazouri opposes Kirk Wendland’s appointment to Office of Economic Development

Nancy Soderberg, ready for Hillary, bounced from JAXPORT board

Melody Bishop leaves Downtown Investment Authority, pledges “support” to Curry