Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 27, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry drew his third challenger for the 2019 unitary election Friday, with Connell Crooms filing to run without party affiliation. Crooms became known to Jacksonville residents in the wake of a protest that went awry in Hemming Park last April. The protest became violent when Gary Snow, a noted provocateur at leftwing and Democratic events […]

Staff ReportsApril 27, 2018

Lately, Jacksonville politics has been fractious. A debate over JEA privatization, a hot-button topic for months, saw the culmination of claims and cross-claims of lies, betrayals, subterfuge and deception before Mayor Lenny Curry pulled the plug Thursday. As the political season approaches, locals may want to take a cue from gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, who made yet another […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, in Dallas for the NFL Draft, abandoned what was seen by many as a desire by his administration to privatize the local utility, via a statement Thursday morning. “I am choosing to state unequivocally that I will not submit any JEA privatization plan to the City Council,” Curry said. The law is […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

Concert tickets became the source of a controversy in Jacksonville City Hall this month, illustrating (again) the distrust between City Councilman Garrett Dennis and Mayor Lenny Curry. At issue: the distribution of free tickets for concerts by comedian Kevin Hart and country artist Tim McGraw. On Apr. 3, Dennis’ assistant sent the Mayor’s staff “a public records request on […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

It appears that there will be a competitive race after all in Jacksonville City Council District 9 . Incumbent Garrett Dennis faces a challenge from within his own party by way of Marcellus Holmes. Holmes, who played professional football for the New England Patriots from 1997 to 2001 as both a practice and active squad member, is about […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2018

On Friday, WJCT broke the news that “Data Targeting, Inc., a Gainesville firm that worked to elect Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, conducted a focus group study in late February asking participants whether they support selling municipal utility JEA.” The claim was that “a private group of investors” who are “nonpartisan” were paying for the focus group, which saw participants […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said last month that he wanted the city to have a “mature conversation” about JEA valuation and whether privatization was the way forward. However, after yet another series of bad news cycles in which Curry, a popular mayor for most of his term, has seen that conversation and his mayoralty pilloried in […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2018

In Jacksonville, tales of the next year of elections have just begun. In this edition: congressional fundraising. For those needing a guide to both contenders and pretenders, a look at the money (months before voters cast ballots) will tell that tale. Down the page, our story on City Council fundraising. Some candidates who are not […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis filed a bill this week that is his latest shot across the bow of Mayor Lenny Curry. The bill, while not likely to pass, will be an interesting litmus test of how much political capital Dennis has with Council in the wake of some difficult news cycles for the Curry administration. Per […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2018

Jimmy Hill, an Atlantic Beach Republican challenging incumbent Lenny Curry in the Jacksonville Mayor’s race, confirmed to Florida Politics on Monday that he and his wife had filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy just days before filing for mayor. The Hills listed assets of $686,412 (including a $635,000 house) and liabilities of $519,251 in the Mar. 29 filing. Income of […]

Tag: Lenny Curry

‘Jax 5’ protester Connell Crooms launches run for Jacksonville Mayor

Jacksonville Bold for 4.27.18 — Lessons learned

From Dallas, Lenny Curry blasts critics, backs away from JEA privatization

Concert ticket kerfuffle creates sour notes in Jacksonville City Hall

Former NFL player launches campaign against Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis

JEA privatization focus group not funded by Lenny Curry’s political operation

Is Jacksonville’s ‘mature conversation’ about JEA privatization over?

Jacksonville Bold for 4.20.18 — Can’t knock the hustle

Jacksonville City Councilman challenges Lenny Curry, seeks JEA board reform

Bankruptcy then candidacy for Jacksonville mayoral hopeful Jimmy Hill