Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2017

Last week in Jacksonville politics, it was the Anna Brosche show. She was at the center of every news cycle for a provocative proposal to mothball Confederate monuments. There are some who would say that, just as Jacksonville was set to experience a solar eclipse Monday afternoon, there was a commensurate eclipse of political capital for […]

Peter SchorschAugust 18, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott pitched his tax-related ballot initiative in Jacksonville this week. By his side was House Speaker Richard Corcoran. That was no coincidence. Corcoran was there to support the plan — but clearly, he was also there to make his presence known to a Jacksonville press corps often obtuse when it comes to statewide […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2017

Beginning Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee will review Mayor Lenny Curry‘s proposed budget. Discussions last week showed an independent streak among the committee’s members, chaired by Curry’s leading City Hall antagonist of the moment, Garrett Dennis. FP talked to Dennis Wednesday evening, after he gave a well-received speech to the Jacksonville Young Democrats Though Dennis’ […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis, just a week after his floor amendments to add more after-school funding to a bill from Mayor Lenny Curry failed, has filed standalone legislation to the same effect. Dennis, via Ordinance 2017-605, seeks to move $1,92M from Council’s contingency account for pension liability to fund these programs. The new money would serve […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry had a symbiotic relationship with former Duval Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, including advocating for Vitti’s job security at one point when Vitti was under fire. Vitti has moved on to Detroit. And now Curry is building relationships anew, as exemplified Wednesday morning when the Mayor met with current Interim Superintendent Pat Willis and School […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 15, 2017

During a Jacksonville press gaggle Tuesday, Mayor Lenny Curry warned of “chatter” heard by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in the wake of Council President Anna Brosche‘s proposal to remove Confederate monuments. Curry comments came during questions to Gov. Rick Scott and him regarding the proposed removal of these monuments — a proposal fraught with controversy locally, with that controversy […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville this weekend, which included one person killed by a domestic terrorist, protesters in Jacksonville renewed calls to remove Confederate monuments in the city. Such calls have increased in intensity in recent weeks, with interesting contretemps at Jacksonville City Council meetings between Confederate enthusiasts and progressives who believe […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

Early in the term of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Australian financial sector titans the Macquarie Group came to town. Jacksonville beat out other competitors in what was called a robust global search in 2015; in 2017, Macquarie doubled down with an expansion of its Southbank Riverwalk location. The incentive package driving that was rolled out in […]

Peter SchorschAugust 11, 2017

Those who work at Jacksonville City Hall have received a political education of late, demonstrated by a recent City Council bill on funding after-school programs. With apologies to Ric Flair, but his famous catchphrase “now we go to school” applies here … and not just because this bill was education-related. Finance Chair Garrett Dennis wanted […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2017

The first day of Jacksonville City Council review of Mayor Lenny Curry‘s proposed budget was highlighted by a deep dive into the Sheriff’s budget: 35 percent of the general fund. Among the highlights of the proposed budget: 100 more cops, which would bring force levels within a few dozen of the peak of 1,800 officers years back. […]

Tag: Lenny Curry
Image via AP.

Confederate monuments and an eclipse of political capital in Jacksonville

Jacksonville Bold for 8.18.17 — Are we kingmakers?

Jacksonville Council Finance Chair: ‘I didn’t plan on being opposition to the Mayor’

Garrett Dennis pushes for more Jax after-school money; Lenny Curry questions funding mechanism

Lenny Curry urges Duval Schools to retain Interim Supe through academic year

Lenny Curry warns of ‘chatter from outside groups’ opposed to Confederate monument removal

Jacksonville pols, civic leaders urge Confederate monument removal

‘Jacksonville is hot,’ says Lenny Curry at Macquarie ribbon cutting

Jacksonville Bold for 8.11.17 — Now we go to school

Jax Councilors hammer Sheriff Mike Williams on policy, procedure