Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s big bill involved attempting to finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane with a settlement agreement. Instead, they “postponed indefinitely,” after a long and tortuous process of discussion and amendments. The goal is to get answers to questions and, seemingly, to show Keane […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

At an event celebrating the Jacksonville office of MacQuarie, which will create 125 jobs by the end of next year, Gov. Rick Scott and Mayor Lenny Curry took questions on subjects that were just a bit more contentious than job creation, including the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill making its way through Tallahassee, and the stalled […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

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The Florida House held a second reading Tuesday of Jacksonville’s “pension tax” bill, which would facilitate a referendum to extend the current half-cent sales tax 30 years and devote it to paying off Jacksonville’s $2.6 billion of unfunded pension liability. The debate before the full House went well. Going into the House session, those familiar […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

When Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry endorsed Marco Rubio for President Sunday, it seemed like a logical and predictable move. In some respects, it was set up nine months ago when Rubio came in to support Curry at a rally before the May election that saw the former RPOF chair swept into office. Rubio’s presence was the punctuation mark […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2016

In a statement Sunday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry endorsed Marco Rubio for President. Rubio made a high-profile trip to Jacksonville to support Curry in May for Mayor; now, with the race for GOP nominee becoming a three-person battle, Curry has returned the favor. For conservatives this election represents an opportunity to lead a new generation of Americans into a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

Sunday morning at the iconic Bethel Baptist Church in downtown Jacksonville, Mayor Lenny Curry will host the first “farm to faith” event. Billed as “an effort to address the health disparities that plague northwest Jacksonville” including “food deserts,” Curry will be helped by the Clara White Mission in this effort. “Farm to Faith” provides fresh produce to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

David Chapman of the Jax Daily Record broke a significant story this week: legislative confirmation of the long-awaited Lenny Curry plan to revive the Neighborhoods department. “The Neighborhoods Department will operate under Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and with a re-established Housing and Community Development Division — the ‘direct link’ to city neighborhoods,” Chapman writes. Chapman’s […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

The next date to watch for the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill (CS/CS/SB 1652), Jacksonville’s attempt to extend its half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan tax through 2060, is Tuesday. The “pension tax” bill, designed to address the city’s Unfunded Pension Liability, has been added to the Special Order Calendar. Worth noting: Tia Mitchell noted in her reporting this […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council met for its Committee of the Whole meeting regarding expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. The expectation going in was that both the Tommy Hazouri and Bill Gulliford iterations of the legislation would be withdrawn. In the hours leading up to the meeting, an intriguing narrative surfaced: whether Hazouri’s withdrawal motion […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

Though the HRO Committee of the Whole fireworks will heat up Council Chambers Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will be walking a Westside neighborhood instead of being on hand for the procedural drama. Curry’s spokeswoman, Marsha Oliver, said this is part of the mayor’s weekly commitment to “engage with citizens,” by visiting neighborhoods, meeting residents, and hearing […]

Tag: Lenny Curry

Jax Council “postpones indefinitely” John Keane settlement

Lenny Curry, Rick Scott talk pension tax, HRO, 2016 election

Jax pension tax bill passes 2nd major House hurdle

The importance of Duval County for Marco Rubio

Lenny Curry endorses Marco Rubio

Jax Mayor Lenny Curry to hold “Farm to Faith” event

Jacksonville’s Neighborhoods Department represents vision, followthrough

Jax “pension tax” bill moves to House special order calendar for Tuesday

Both Jax HRO bills withdrawn

Lenny Curry takes neighborhood stabilization walk Thursday