Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossNovember 4, 2015

In the wake of last night’s defeat of an anti-discrimination ordinance in Houston, activists with the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality say they’re going to work overtime to educate the public – and prepare to do battle against any potential scare tactics that could be mounted to defeat an expanded HRO in Duval County. Prop. 1, known […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry appointed the city’s first African American spokeswoman, in the form of the tireless Marsha Oliver. From the easy requests to the tough questions, Oliver handles them with promptness and aplomb, and as she settles into her role, she is moving into a leadership position herself. One example of such: her invitation […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The JEA Board is taking shape, and Lenny Curry is bringing two big time players to the game. One of them is a longtime Democratic City Councilman. A Tuesday morning email from Director of Appointments and Special Projects Jordan Elsbury signals the administration’s intention to advance Warren Jones and Ed Burr on an expedited emergency cycle […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The case of 507 missing debit cards from the Alvin Brown administration continues to be investigated in Jacksonville’s City Hall… and Mayor Lenny Curry wants action. In an email sent Tuesday afternoon, Curry directed his Inspector General, Thomas Cline, to “look into the debit card issue and to connect w State Attorney as appropriate,” also […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 3, 2015

Jacksonville residents often see the cutely titled Kismet on the Riverwalk. That’s Shad Khan‘s yacht: the embodiment of the new Gilded Age, gleaming from end to end, with brass rails reflecting the unrelenting Jacksonville sun like a smile from God himself. However, relatively few have access to the Kismet. This writer has yet to be […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2015

The one-day “Jeb Can Fix It” Florida tour Tuesday made its third and final stop in Jacksonville with the Bush campaign’s attempt to reverse flagging poll numbers and waning insider buy-in. His event in Tampa saw him compare himself to Abraham Lincoln, saying, “If Lincoln was alive today, imagine the foolishness he’d have to suffer” […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 31, 2015

Employee recognition programs are wonderful; but so is fiscal accountability. An email from Jacksonville Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa to Mayor Lenny Curry indicated that over 500 debit cards have gone missing, from an Alvin Brown era employee recognition program. $27,425 of debit cards are “unaccounted” for, wrote Mousa, cards “purchased in conjunction with an […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 30, 2015

As the saying goes, “promises made; promises kept.” On Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced three long-promised “community conversations” on the need for expanding the city’s Human Rights Ordinance to LGBT citizens. Reaction from activists was positive. “We’re pleased to see Mayor Curry keep his campaign promise to lead a series of community conversations about discrimination. […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 29, 2015

The extended drama over Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and his decision to remake the city’s Planning Commission to accord with his “vision” is over, and former Chair Lisa King is the most high-profile casualty. In a written statement on Wednesday, King looked back at her tenure, her battle, and looked forward as well. Describing the 13 to 5 […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 28, 2015

On Wednesday afternoon, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Council President Greg Anderson said Google is considering Jacksonville for “ultra-high-speed Internet access” via Google Fiber. This was billed in advance as a “significant announcement” regarding advancement in Jacksonville’s tech infrastructure, one with tangible results in economic development. With local luminaries such as Susie Wiles, Michael Munz and […]

Tag: Lenny Curry

After Houston, Jax LGBT activists say they’ve got their work cut out

Lenny Curry spox Marsha Oliver to participate in workplace diversity panel

Warren Jones, Ed Burr to JEA Board

Lenny Curry enlists legal eagles on Alvin Brown era Debit-gate

How much does it cost to party on Shad Khan’s yacht?

Can Jeb Bush “fix it”? A shaky Jacksonville appearance raises doubts.

The case of the 507 missing debit cards from the Alvin Brown administration

Lenny Curry announces Jax HRO “community conversations”

Lisa King reflects on her Planning Commission tenure

Lenny Curry, Greg Anderson announce Google Fiber pilot project