Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2016

The big news coming out of Jacksonville’s 24th annual mayor’s environmental luncheon was that Mayor Lenny Curry wasn’t present. The yearly event, designed to honor the area’s “finest and most creative environmental stewards,” saw representation from the mayor’s office, via Dr. Charles Moreland, who often serves as a proxy for such events. Many attendees were dismayed by […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 8, 2016

Jacksonville attorney John Winkler may want to debate Mayor Lenny Curry on the merits of the pension tax. But Curry’s not having it. Last week, Winkler challenged Curry to a debate, to be held Tuesday night on Jacksonville’s Southside. Winkler had expected to dialogue with Mayor Curry at a WJCT town hall event, but the scheduling fell […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 5, 2016

Jacksonville lawyer John Winkler is one of the most outspoken opponents of extending the half-cent sales tax to deal with the city’s unfunded pension liability. To that end he has mobilized, with a political committee, a ubiquity in comment threads, and on Tuesday, he threw down the gauntlet to debate. “I hereby offer you a public opportunity […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 4, 2016

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A surprisingly common thread in coverage of Wednesday’s Donald Trump rally in Jacksonville media was the disconnect between his description of Jacksonville’s post-industrial economic devastation and the message put forth by local politicians and the business community. Among Trump’s assertions: “This area has been devastated by the loss of industrial jobs …. As you stand here thinking […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 5, 2016

Mayor Lenny Curry is going to have 19 versions of the same conversation in the coming days and weeks, as Council members ready budgetary requests. Curry spokeswoman Marsha Oliver said it plainly: “It’s budget prep time. They are discussing the budget and the city’s financial future.” Tuesday afternoon’s schedule for Curry tells the tale: Meetings abound, with […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

In 2015, there was more than a little bit of local drama about the removal of Chairwoman Lisa King from the Jacksonville Planning Commission. King was bounced unceremoniously, and the man who nominated her for chairwoman, Tony Robbins, likewise was removed soon thereafter. By virtue of removing King as a Planning commissioner, she also became ineligible to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

Though the HRO Committee of the Whole fireworks will heat up Council Chambers Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will be walking a Westside neighborhood instead of being on hand for the procedural drama. Curry’s spokeswoman, Marsha Oliver, said this is part of the mayor’s weekly commitment to “engage with citizens,” by visiting neighborhoods, meeting residents, and hearing […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown is gone from City Hall, but not forgotten, if WJXT’s latest slab of anti-Brown red meat is worth noting. The issue this time: inventory control. $4.3 million of city property was lost from 2010 to July 1, 2015. And a big part of the reason? A lack of a meaningful inventory […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

Regarding the Jacksonville amphitheater proposal, part of a package of $90 million in stadium improvements to be halved, in terms of financing, by the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Jaguars, there are at least a few salient questions. A conversation with Marsha Oliver, the mayor’s spokesperson, revealed some answers on Monday. Oliver stressed that […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

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Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, meet the culture warriors on your right. Last week, FloridaPolitics.com reported on the Rev. Gene Youngblood and his attempts to undermine the upcoming “community conversations” that start 6 p.m. Tuesday at the FSCJ Downtown Campus Advanced Technology Center, 401 W. State St., on expanding the Human Rights Ordinance to LGBT people. Contending […]

Tag: Marsha Oliver
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Lenny Curry misses mayor’s environmental luncheon

No debate on Jax pension tax for Lenny Curry

Pension tax opponent challenges Lenny Curry to debate

Jax leaders demur in addressing Donald Trump’s description of local economic devastation

Budget meetings begin between Jax mayor, council members

Lenny Curry denies Lisa King another volunteer board role

Lenny Curry takes neighborhood stabilization walk Thursday

Debit-gate revisited: WJXT hits Alvin Brown over inventory control

Jax stadium improvements to be paid off in “fifteen to thirty years”

Ahead of first HRO “community conversation,” Raymond Johnson seeks to frame debate