Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2018

As Jacksonville considers the increasingly less hypothetical question of whether or not to sell its public utility, JEA, a bill (2018-101) filed this week would earmark any proceeds. The bill, filed by Republican City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, would set up a restricted reserve account, which would require a two-thirds vote to access funds therein. In a conversation Thursday […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2018

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilmembers struggled, in a meeting in a packed Council chambers, with the idea of a sale of the JEA to a private company. This was the second straight day on which Council members did a deep dive into JEA operations, with Monday offering Council calling for underground power lines. The office […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2018

The Soul Food Bistro is the go-to place on Jacksonville’s Westside for soul food. From fried catfish and collard greens to oxtails and cornbread, it has it all. It is also in the heart of Jacksonville City Council District 9, which is represented by Councilman Garrett Dennis. Dennis, a Democrat who often is alone in a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 22, 2018

Jacksonville has wrestled with issues of blight for decades; in fact, there is even a department in city government to address the issue. The consolidated city has ordinances dating back to 1975 on the matter, but the problem remains; trash on the sides of roads and in vacant lots. On Monday, Jacksonville City Councilmembers Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown hosted […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 22, 2018

How vulnerable is Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown? Fourteen months out from the first election, Brown (who hasn’t yet filed for re-election) already has six people lined up to replace her. Community activist Tameka Gaines Holly filed this month. A Leadership Jacksonville graduate with an aversion to taking strong positions on issues, she will attempt […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2018

Embattled and often controversial Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown will draw a new challenger on Wednesday: Tameka Gaines Holly. Holly is a community activist who went to school in District 8 (Ribault), has worked and lived there all her life, and will — with the backing of community stakeholders — be able to make a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2018

The run-up to the federal trial of suspended Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown continued Thursday afternoon, with her lawyer looking to exit the case. That request was granted. Katrina and fellow suspended Councilor Reggie Brown, who are unrelated, are accused of a 38-count conspiracy to defraud, say federal prosecutors. The pair is accused of extracting hundreds of thousands of […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 2, 2018

For the third straight year, Florida Politics is attempting to predict how politics in the 904 will go. And hopefully the predictions will go better than they did the previous two years. 2016’s predictions were as reliable as a coin flip: Six right, six wrong. 2017 saw six wrong… and four right. Batting .400 is […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 11, 2017

After winning her election for chair of the Duval County Democrats earlier this week, Lisa King issued a statement that read more like a call to arms. “The stakes have never been higher for our country. The ideals that we hold so dear seem to be under attack every day. While we are currently the minority in […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 5, 2017

The opioid overdose crisis in Jacksonville has taxed city resources on a number of fronts, including those not visible to the public, such as the Medical Examiner’s office. Numerous city hall conversations this year have spotlighted the pressures created by the unnatural and unbudgeted deaths of the overdose crisis. WJXT reported on a cry for […]

Tag: Katrina Brown

Jacksonville to mull ‘lockbox’ for JEA sale proceeds

Jacksonville City Councilmembers want answers before selling JEA to private investor

Showdown at the Soul Food Bistro: Garrett Dennis takes on Lenny Curry

Talking trash: Jacksonville City Council in a dither over litter

Katrina Brown stays tight-lipped on Jax City Council re-election bid

Tameka Gaines Holly launches run in Jacksonville City Council District 8

Katrina Brown loses lawyer weeks ahead of February trial date

A.G. Gancarski’s 10 predictions for Jacksonville politics in 2018

Duval Democrats ‘aggressively organizing’ as Lisa King prepares to lead them

No more room at the morgue: Crisis in Jacksonville