Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 1, 2018

Fifty years ago Monday, Jacksonville (racked by corruption and governmental inefficiency at the time) embarked on an experiment with consolidated government. Though many debate the efficacy of the model, the case for Consolidation was made (or reiterated) energetically Monday evening at the Jessie Ball DuPont Center. The Jacksonville Historical Society’s Task Force for Consolidation hosted […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 28, 2018

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Five decades ago, Jacksonville consolidated city and county services. For 50 years since people have been arguing about whether it was a good idea. We saw it last week: a mayoral forum involving Mayor Lenny Curry and his five living predecessors (look for the replay Sunday on This Week in Jacksonville). Curry, seeking re-election, sounded […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 28, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s state-level political committee (Build Something that Lasts) has benefited greatly from the generosity of the Jacksonville Jaguars and owner Shad Khan in recent years. The committee has raised $1.79 million in total. Of that sum, Khan has ponied up $175,000 and the Jaguars have ponied up another $35,000. (That isn’t all they’ve donated: […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 26, 2018

Duval County was the epicenter of some of the most savage attacks against Ron DeSantis in the Republican Gubernatorial primary. Many prominent Republicans, including U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, state Sen. Aaron Bean, state Rep. Cord Byrd, and Jacksonville City Council President Aaron Bowman, strongly backed Adam Putnam. However, the candidate who “knew Florida best” didn’t prevail. And Jacksonville area Republicans will […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry faces re-election in six months, and if August job numbers mean anything, the well-capitalized Republican incumbent should breeze through. The Jacksonville MSA’s unemployment rate sits at 3.5 percent, down from 4.2 percent a year ago. And that’s way down from near-term historical heights of over 11 percent in 2010. When Curry came […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 21, 2018

Inside seven weeks until Election Day, and it’s just a few weeks from the start of vote by mail. What that means: It’s getting late. It’s getting late for statewide candidates who come to Jacksonville and try to define themselves, struggling for attention from an indifferent media. And time is short for some candidates who […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 20, 2018

A familiar face is assuming the helm of Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority, if only in a transitional role. https://twitter.com/GoMeteoric/status/1042541797824712705 Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s chief of staff Brian Hughes will assume the interim CEO role, while pulling double duty as chief of staff until a new permanent DIA head is found. Though many members of the community saw a […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 19, 2018

Jacksonville University hosted six mayors — current mayor Lenny Curry, and his predecessors Alvin Brown, John Peyton, John Delaney, Tommy Hazouri, and Jake Godbold — Wednesday, with a topic as big as Jacksonville history itself. Namely, the city/county Consolidation fifty years prior. Consolidation brought an efficiency of services, but came with a price. African-Americans were divested of political power, and promises were […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 18, 2018

One of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s most trusted lieutenants, Chief Financial Officer Mike Weinstein, will leave City Hall Nov. 9. “Since 2015, during the transition between my administration and my predecessor’s, Mike Weinstein has been both trusted adviser and friend. His expertise and depth of knowledge helped me prepare balanced budgets that met our city’s priorities, create […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2018

The primaries are now well behind us. The parties have unified. Ops for losing candidates have moved into other campaigns (or endeavors). If you pay attention, there is — at times — a crispness in the morning air. And while that coolness may be fleeting, it’s an augury of the inevitable march of time. The […]

Tag: Lenny Curry
Nicolas Maduro. Image via AP.

Jacksonville commemorates Consolidation

Jacksonville Bold for 9.28.18 — A good idea?

A new accounting: Lenny Curry PAC pays Jaguars for a change

Duval Republicans to fete Ron DeSantis with Wednesday fundraiser

Good news for Lenny Curry: Jacksonville unemployment down to 3.5 percent

Jacksonville Bold for 9.21.18 — It’s getting late

Former Jacksonville mayors see no issue with Brian Hughes helming DIA

Jacksonville mayors talk highs and lows of Consolidation

Jacksonville CFO Mike Weinstein headed out, treasurer Joey Grieve moving up

Jacksonville Bold for 9.14.18 — Time marches on