Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 14, 2016

The logrolling continues in Jacksonville’s City Council. Vice President Lori Boyer wants to be president. On Thursday, Boyer sought the support of VP front runner John Crescimbeni. Not much convincing was needed. In the middle of Boyer’s pitch, Crescimbeni told Boyer to stop midsentence, declaring himself a “Boyer supporter.” After the transactional part of the meeting […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 12, 2016

““Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” — John Adams “If we’d had a referendum in 1965, I’d still be on the back of the bus.” — Denise Hunt A light legislative agenda on Jacksonville’s City Council was offset by dozens of […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 12, 2016

Tuesday’s JEA Agreement meeting, at least on the agenda, was dominated by two meaningful issues. The first: pension issues, in light of both the General Counsel ruling that Council, and not JEA, was the appropriative body for pay negotiations. This ruling overruled the previous General Counsel’s take on the matter earlier in the decade. As well, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2016

Two of the most powerful (and quotable) people on Jacksonville’s City Council, Finance Chairman Bill Gulliford and John Crescimbeni, met Monday afternoon to talk about Council leadership, specifically the latter’s VP bid. Crescimbeni, one of seven Council Democrats, is seeking the City Council vice presidency later this year, along with at least one other candidate (Rules […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

The holiday break is officially over at Jacksonville’s City Council. The Monday Finance Committee meeting: highlighted by Jax Mayor Lenny Curry introducing his pension unfunded liability payoff plan, ahead of the Legislative Session in Tallahassee this month. Curry discussed his “proposed solution for funding unfunded pension liabilities,” one he said does not involve a new tax, […]

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 16, 2015

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Council members Lori Boyer and Bill Gulliford met with members of the Lenny Curry administration, including Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and Chief Financial Officer Mike Weinstein, to discuss issues related to recommendations related to the Task Force on Consolidated Government. At least a few of the reforms discussed may find their way into the 2016 […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

After a grueling round of committee hearings, the only question regarding the Jacksonville City Council’s approval of a $45 million investment into EverBank Field upgrades was this. Would it be 19 to 0? Or would dissident Danny Becton stand his ground and vote against the measure, as he did in two Committees? It turned out that […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

Tuesday’s JEA Agreement meeting, the final one before the Jacksonville public utility’s trip to New York for pivotal meetings with bond-rating agencies, was not expected to have drama. One pragmatic reason for such an expectation: Bond agencies might not look favorably on the kind of morality play theater that has become a staple of JEA […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

Since Consolidation, and likely before, the Beaver Street corridor has been less a showplace and more a no-go place. It’s an area associated, in recent history, with blighted buildings and the occasional seedy showbar. For politicians such as Councilman Reggie Brown, creative solutions are sometimes necessary. Other times, less creative but equally necessary solutions are also […]

Tag: Lori Boyer

John Crescimbeni backs Lori Boyer for Jax Council president

HRO expansion talk roils Jax City Council

Pension, contribution issues dominate JEA Agreement meeting

Bill Gulliford backs John Crescimbeni for Jax Council VP

Lenny Curry unfunded liability payoff plan highlights Jax Finance committee meeting

Jax Council members discuss term limits, committee structure

Jax Council members, administration members discuss potential government reforms

Jax City Council approves EverBank Field upgrades 19-0, a “legacy for this council”

JEA Agreement meeting addresses contribution “floor”

Jax Council members meet over Beaver Street rezoning