Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 26, 2018

With Christmas celebrations behind us (some trees are already at the curb), 2018 is quickly reaching its terminus. Some Jacksonville political types have had years to forget. Below, some who have had years to remember. ________ Politician of the year: Lenny Curry “To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man,” Ric Flair used to […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 20, 2018

An early Christmas present emerged Thursday for Jacksonville political junkies, as At-Large City Councilwoman Anna Brosche moved closer to a mayoral run. The media release was sent out by a heavy hitter with a statewide rep: Ryan Wiggins of Full Contact Strategies. This means Brosche is playing to win. “While Jacksonville is a beautiful and vibrant city much like […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 26, 2018

With a little more than a month to go before qualifying in the Jacksonville mayoral race, there is little drama. Incumbent Lenny Curry has almost $3,000,000 cash on hand for his re-election campaign while he awaits a challenger with any sort of fundraising traction to file (only NPA Connell Crooms, who has about $1,000 on hand, has filed). Curry has […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 7, 2018

In 1984, there was no bigger star in the world than Michael Jackson. With the songs from 1982’s Thriller still resonating on the charts, he and his brothers thought the time was right for a family Victory tour. That tour came to Jacksonville: a three-night Gator Bowl stint in a metropolitan area much less populous than […]

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. GancarskiApril 3, 2018

The scene was set for Tuesday morning’s Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee the day before in a different committee. Finance Chair Garrett Dennis attempted to pepper city CFO Mike Weinstein with questions about the Kids Hope Alliance, the children’s program reforms of which Dennis has been a staunch critic. Dennis was shut down by that committee chair as […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 28, 2018

On WJCT’s “First Coast Connect“, Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis sat for his first interview Wednesday since the Council made the decision to strip the JEA Special Committee of subpoena power and include everyone on council in the committee. As expected, Dennis (a member of what was a five-person committee and a staunch critic of selling JEA) […]

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 […]

Tag: Kids Hope Alliance
Image via AP.

Domination: Jacksonville politics’ biggest winners of 2018

Anna Brosche moves closer to challenging ‘failed’ Lenny Curry

‘Her window’s closing’: Is Anna Brosche running for Jacksonville Mayor?

Forgotten about for 34 years, Michael Jackson’s money will fund Jacksonville music scholarships

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 Council panel chair skirmishes with Lenny Curry lieutenants

Duval drama: Garrett Dennis charges Lenny Curry team with intimidation, ‘subliminal tactics’

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