Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2017

The August ritual began anew Thursday morning in Jacksonville’s City Hall, with the City Council Finance Committee beginning its review of the Mayor’s proposed budget. The day began with a romp through a presentation from the Curry administration, followed by the Council Auditor’s review of the budget. The proposed $1.27B budget is up from the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 9, 2017

Three months ago, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry bid farewell to Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart. Stewart resigned to take a position at JEA, and what’s been clear this summer is that there’s been no rush to fill the role. On Wednesday, Mayor Curry addressed the situation; in short, no one should expect a new chief of staff […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 9, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilors made the long walk from the Council suite to the Mayor’s Office Wednesday afternoon, for promised “refreshments” with Lenny Curry. In a period of transition for the Council, the public notice meeting was worthy of notice; it was a conscious forging of camaraderie and unity, and one well-timed, with the Finance Committee taking […]

Tag: Lenny Curry

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

Jax City Council begins mulling Lenny Curry’s budget

Lenny Curry has no plans to hire new chief of staff

Lenny Curry, Jax City Council have ‘feelgood discussion’ ahead of budget review