Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

In Jacksonville politics in 2015, the game changed … perhaps for good. Big money went into campaigns: over $10 million, including soft money, in the mayoral race. Close to $2 million in the sheriff’s race. And even some City Council candidates who raised close to a quarter of a million dollars did so in vain. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

The theory of recurrence is something not unique to Jacksonville politics. In this list of five people who likely will be in the headlines, there are some familiar names. Alvin Brown: The one-term Jacksonville mayor took some time off after his narrow defeat in the May election. He surfaced on very rare occasions, through media […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2015

One of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s priorities has been public safety. But it’s a new school approach to law and order, one predicated on the assumption that Jacksonville can’t police our way out of its problems, and one rooted in a revival of the Jacksonville Journey. “It’s the right thing to do,” Curry has said. Curry […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2015

Despite the handwringing in certain quarters about JEA’s annual bond ratings agency trip to New York earlier in December, JEA says it was “excellent.” An email from JEA CFO Melissa Dykes to Kerri Stewart, Chief of Staff of the Lenny Curry administration, credits the Jacksonville mayor. “The rating agency meetings were excellent. In particular, we have received […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2015

Capital is a finite thing in municipal budgets, and to that end an evaluation matrix for capital investments is floating around Jacksonville’s executive branch. What this will do, in its final form: codify a disciplined approach to capital investment, one rooted in ROI. The seven-page document from Kirk Wendland of the Office of Economic Development offers […]

Melissa RossDecember 22, 2015

In an e-blast to supporters and media outlets, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality is urging supporters to email City Council members and “urge them to pass this important legislation.” “Equally important, we need to make it clear to Council members that we oppose any attempt to put these basic protections on the ballot,” the message […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 22, 2015

Jacksonville Aviation Authority mayoral appointees in a Dec. 15 “status report” letter to Mayor Lenny Curry reported a “strong financial year” and “recovery” from the 2007 recession. Revenues were up over 9 percent year over year in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, outpacing a 5.1 percent increase in expenses, helping the JAA cash flow. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 21, 2015

On Monday morning, members of the Jacksonville City Council wrestled again with Consolidation Task Force recommendations. Just a few of the highlights: • A Jacksonville Strategic Planning Commission was discussed, with Finance Chairman Bill Gulliford pushing for it to be considered in Rules. Rules Chairman Matt Schellenberg then renewed his call for three terms, discussing […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

On Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s office released details on the next round of Community Conversations, first mentioned during the HRO Community Conversation this week. They will be related to the Jax Journey, and the first will address “youth violence” in Jacksonville. “During my campaign, I talked with hundreds of people throughout every corner of this […]

Tag: Lenny Curry
Image via Fresh Take Florida.

A.G. Gancarski’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Jacksonville politics

A.G. Gancarski’s 5 people to watch in Jacksonville politics in 2016

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

Jax Journey revival showing successes already

JEA credits Lenny Curry on “excellent” ratings agency meetings

Details emerge about Jacksonville’s proposed capital investment scoring matrix

Email insights: Jax Coalition for Equality asks supporters to email City Council in support of the HRO

Jacksonville Aviation Authority reports “strong financial year” in status report

Jax Council members discuss term limits, committee structure

City Hall details Jax Journey-related Community Conversation plans