Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 5, 2016

Jacksonville City Council’s Tuesday Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety (RCDPHS) committee meeting was highlighted by Pension Tax and Public Health talk, and an extended discussion of a controversial Fire and Rescue salary allocation from September’s budget hearings. The Health Department’s Kelly Wells announced new initiatives, such as the 60 Days to Better Health challenge […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

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 11, 2015

House District 16 candidate Jason Fischer had a quiet month of fundraising in November. Some $3,350 raised brought Fischer’s total up to $123,330. Fischer, a Duval County School Board member, has spent just $2,715 thus far in the campaign. His PAC, Conservative Solutions for Jacksonville, has raised $70,000 thus far, but none in November. Fischer’s one significant […]

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 3, 2015

World AIDS Day was on Tuesday this year, and most people understood the significance of it, including in Jacksonville. However, there was one notable exception, one given a national forum by The New York Times. One who has been among the leading voices against the expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance to address the needs […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 1, 2015

The vote, much like the Jaguars’ game against New England this year, was never in doubt. With heavy backing from the Lenny Curry administration throughout the process, Jacksonville City Council’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety Committee unanimously OK’d the city’s $45 million allocation for the improvements to EverBank Field, which include a covered practice […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

The JEA Agreement Committee meeting last week brimmed with optimism over getting close to an accord on the contribution proposal. Would Tuesday’s meeting brim with similar good feeling and bonhomie? Not so much. JEA CEO Paul McElroy noted that “given where we are with our governance structure,” it would be necessary to have the board consider […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

On Tuesday at high noon, a conference room in Jacksonville City Council’s offices had a Vehicles for Hire committee meeting, including Councilmen Bill Gulliford, Matt Schellenberg, Garrett Dennis, Jim Love, Anna Brosche, Reggie Gaffney, and Council President Greg Anderson. The Tuesday meeting’s main event: a phone-in presentation from Broward County Assistant County Attorney Annika Ashton regarding Broward’s Transportation Networking Company regulations, recently imposed […]

Tag: Matt Schellenberg
Image via AP.

Jax rec committee talks public health, pension tax plan, JFRD budget

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

Jax Council members discuss term limits, committee structure

Jason Fischer approaches $200K cash raised, including PAC

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

JEA Agreement meeting addresses contribution “floor”

HRO opponent Raymond Johnson victim blames on World AIDS Day

2nd Jax city panel, recreation committee, OKs Jaguars’ amphitheater bill

JEA Agreement contribution negotiations snag because of board turnover

Broward County Assistant Attorney presents to Jax Vehicles for Hire Committee