Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 14, 2015

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Being a party chair in Duval County is a tough job. Not a day goes by, for example, when this writer doesn’t hear about dissension in the Duval Democratic Executive Committee, including razor sharp criticisms of its chair, Neil Henrichsen. The factions in that party are real, and those on the outside would be shocked […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 2, 2015

In Jacksonville, Ron Littlepage is generally held up as the dean of local opinion columnists. When he writes something, people pay attention. That was the case with his Tuesday column, in which he wrote: Mayor Lenny Curry has famously declared: “One City, One Jacksonville.” Now two months into his administration, a disturbing trend has developed as […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2015

Of all of his legislative accomplishments, State Rep. Lake Ray takes as much pride in his work for JAXPORT and Florida ports in general as any of them. He is an evangelist for bringing JAXPORT into alignment with the requirements that today’s shipping companies have: It’s important for the port itself, for manufacturing, for jobs, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 27, 2015

[Updated: 4:43 p.m.] Peter Bower is one of the more powerful people on the JEA Board. He serves as Vice Chair and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. He also has a history of contentious statements since taking that position, including broadsides against the man who appointed him. Bower was appointed by Jacksonville mayor Alvin […]

Phil AmmannAugust 24, 2015

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With a tip of the hat to Legislative IQ powered by LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Shirley Proctor is no longer administrative assistant to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. On: Joyce Butler has become the new administrative assistant for Judiciary. Off & On: Ned Luczynski has become policy chief […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

The Republican Party of Duval County elected Lake Ray III as its new party chair last night. Obviously, the majority of the party believes that’s a good thing. Joining those voices: former mayoral candidate and two-term City Councilman, Bill Bishop, who contrasted the new chair with the old one. “Robin presided over a very divisive period for […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

For the second time in less than a year, the Duval County Republican Party has a new chairman. Lake Ray III defeated Vice Chairwoman Karyn Morton 101 to 78 after the culmination of a process full of color, drama, and intrigue. Morton, who became vice chairwoman in 2014 (and acting chairwoman after Robin Lumb resigned for a Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

There are no polls, as far as I know, in the all-important Duval County Republican Executive Committee race. But based on an email going around this weekend, it’s fair to assume that state Rep. Lake Ray III might have the inside track in Monday night’s election. With the party poised to pick its third chairman […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 28, 2015

At Jacksonville City Hall on Tuesday, Mayor Lenny Curry lunched with members of the Duval Legislative Delegation. Here’s a blog of Curry’s lunch with the two state senators and six representatives that comprise the delegation. 12:06 p.m.: Councilmembers Al Ferraro and Anna Brosche are already in the room, along with Ron Littlepage, Mario Rubio, Charles McBurney, Lake Ray, Patrick Juliano, Janet Adkins, Audrey Gibson, Kerri Stewart and […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 24, 2015

The first thing you would have seen walking into the Salem Center for the Monday Duval County Republican Executive Committee meeting would have been Raymond Johnson. You couldn’t have missed him. He stood directly across from the glass doors, with a poster board and a petition opposing Jack Webb, a candidate for GOP chair,. Objecting […]

Tag: Lake Ray
Image via Jeff Witt campaign

Duval GOP chairman Lake Ray talks donors, Tallahassee, Jax HRO

Ron Littlepage parses semantics of “One City, One Jacksonville”

Lake Ray talks port strategy, Nancy Soderberg

JEA Board member called on NE FL GOP legislators to “resign” in April

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Alex Pantinakis disappointed in Bill Bishop REC Chair comments

Lake Ray new Duval GOP chairman; Lindsey Brock treasurer

One last bit of intrigue in Duval GOP chairman race

Lenny Curry lunches with Duval legislative delegation

Civil war in the Duval GOP? Or business as usual?