Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2015

One veteran Democratic city council member endorsed Lenny Curry. The other one vilified Alvin Brown‘s ads accusing Curry of wanting to “turn back the clock” as “race-baiting.” They were together on the council. Now Johnny Gaffney and Denise Lee will be together on Curry’s staff. Gaffney was appointed as the mayor’s liaison to Boards and Commissions and Lee was […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council calendar is officially in a lull, with a fifth week break transitioning into a summer break, but with new faces in Duval County’s executive and legislative branches, it probably is a good idea that the mayor and the new council members meet. And on Thursday at high noon, they shall. Curry, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2015

The second Lenny Curry transition committee of Monday morning discussed budget and finance. One big change in the offing looks to be structural, in terms of reporting. The first major discussion involved the mayor’s cabinet. In previous administrations prior to Mayor Alvin Brown, only the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief of Staff reported directly to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2015

With just two days to go until Lenny Curry is inaugurated as Jacksonville mayor on Wednesday, the mayor-elect’s transition committees continued, albeit with some glitches, at Jacksonville University. The Prevention, Intervention, and At-Risk Youth committee was hampered by some key no-shows. Co-chairs Johnny Gaffney and Paul Perez were absent. Thus, it was left to Jon Heymann, of the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

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I remember the first time I interviewed former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney. It was 2008, and I wanted to know why it was that the Duval County power structure fell in behind the Presidential bid of Mitt Romney. The University of North Florida President gave me something that is all too rare in politics: a forthright answer […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

Updated 2:10 p.m. with comment from Lenny Curry team: On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court made gay marriage legal nationwide. Of course, it’s been legal in Florida for the last six months. In response to it being made legal, Duval County Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell made the decision to stop courthouse weddings. The decision, we […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

Two weeks ago, I wrote a piece arguing that these Lenny Curry Transition Team budget reviews should not be open to the media. Once they were made open, however, I endeavored to cover all of them that I could. They were supposed to run for three days; in fact, they ran for seven. Despite that, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

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The final budget review for Lenny Curry‘s transition team involves Information Technology. Usha Mohan is the primary representative of IT. 3:18: A discussion of vacancies. 16 total, with a lot of attrition, and they don’t “pay enough to attract people.” Vacant positions were “not funded at the right levels.” 3:20: Vacancies have ranged, in recent years, from […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

Jason Gabriel has been with the city of Jacksonville’s General Counsel office since 2010. And, at least in the first few months of the Lenny Curry administration, Gabriel, the current General Counsel, will continue. Mayor-elect Curry said Thursday that he has appointed the current Jacksonville general counsel to stay on up to 90 days as […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

Thursday afternoon brings the final two budget reviews for Sam Mousa, Mike Weinstein, and the “budget SWAT team.” First up, Parks and Recreation. The big news out of this is that the Equestrian Center, a consistent money loser, is in the line of fire. 1:04: Revenue basically flat, down by a bit more than $1,000. Summer camps are […]

Tag: Lenny Curry

Lenny Curry appoints Kerri Stewart chief of staff, Denise Lee, Johnny Gaffney to staff jobs

Lenny Curry to meet with Jacksonville City Council Thursday

Lenny Curry Operations transition committee discusses budget and finance

Push for renewed Jacksonville Journey continues in Lenny Curry transition committee

John Delaney discusses Lenny Curry, Alvin Brown, the mayoral transition, and the HRO

Will Duval County bring back courthouse weddings now?

Final thoughts on Lenny Curry transition team budget reviews

Jax transition budget meeting: Information Technology

Lenny Curry picks Jason Gabriel as acting General Counsel

Jax transition budget meeting: Parks, Recreation and Community Services