Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

Ordinance 2018-75, which would revise existing medical cannabis regulations, moved out of its first of two Jacksonville City Council committees Monday. The code was first formulated in response to “Charlotte’s Web” low-THC cannabis being the single legal strain, and after an extended period of debate, processing and dispensing were allowed in commercial districts, with cultivation permitted […]

Drew WilsonJuly 18, 2018

Lehigh Acres Rep. Matt Caldwell let loose another torrent of endorsements for his Agriculture Commissioner bid Wednesday, this time from county constitutional officers in all corners of the state. Backing him in the four-way Republican primary to succeed Adam Putnam are Monroe Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Lee Sherriff Mike Scott, former Pasco Sheriff Bob White, Walton […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 30, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilmen Jim Love and Matt Schellenberg, both second term Republicans, had expressed different visions for the future of Jacksonville’s public utility. Schellenberg’s 2018-242 would encourage the Mayor and the JEA Board to explore a review of a potential sale; Love’s 2018-248 would represent Council opposition to a sale. Both bills will not see the Council floor, after a […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2018

Jacksonville’s public utility on Tuesday picked a new interim CEO, Aaron Zahn, who said — along with JEA Board chair Alan Howard — that there needed to be a “pause” in the privatization discussion. For months, City Hall has been roiled with discussions of a potential sale of JEA. Now, there fmay be a break in the action. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2018

Wyman-Duggan-has-the-machine-behind-him-in-his-bid-to-replace-Jay-Fant..jpg

On Tuesday, JAXBIZ (the political arm of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce) endorsed Wyman Duggan in House District 15. “Wyman is an experienced, conservative leader who can make an immediate impact for our community in Tallahassee,” JAXBIZ Chair Dane Grey said. “Wyman understands the importance of growing jobs for hard-working families and attracting investment in our community.” […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2018

Two Republicans — former WJCT CEO Michael Boylan and Chamber candidate Rose Conry — are squaring off to replace termed-out Matt Schellenberg in Jacksonville City Council District 6. Conry, while still the front-runner regarding money raised and on hand, lost some ground to Boylan in March. Boylan raised $11,400, in his second straight month over […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2018

The scene was set for Tuesday morning’s Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee the day before in a different committee. Finance Chair Garrett Dennis attempted to pepper city CFO Mike Weinstein with questions about the Kids Hope Alliance, the children’s program reforms of which Dennis has been a staunch critic. Dennis was shut down by that committee chair as […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2018

Lost in all the drama and metadiscourse regarding Jacksonville’s potential sale of local utility JEA: whether the sale is good for the city or not. A meeting at 1 p.m. at Jacksonville City Hall between City Council members moved to resolve that question. Councilman Matt Schellenberg (the Council liaison to JEA, who is as open to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2018

Good news and bad news for those watching the trials and travails of Jacksonville’s Police and Fire Pension Fund. The good news first: Per a recent actuarial report from the fund, 2017’s funded ratio is 47.60% compared to 43.02% last year (after reflecting all Actuarial Impact Statements). This is the highest ratio since 2010. The […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2018

As Jacksonville considers the increasingly less hypothetical question of whether or not to sell its public utility, JEA, a bill (2018-101) filed this week would earmark any proceeds. The bill, filed by Republican City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, would set up a restricted reserve account, which would require a two-thirds vote to access funds therein. In a conversation Thursday […]

Tag: Matt Schellenberg
Image via AP.

Jacksonville City Council panel approves cannabis code change

Matt Caldwell piles on 16 endorsements for Ag. Commish bid

Jacksonville City Councilors will pull competing JEA privatization resolutions

Is the JEA privatization push on ‘pause’ … or dead?

Jacksonville Chamber’s ‘JAXBIZ’ committee endorses Wyman Duggan in HD 15

Former WJCT CEO makes up ground in Jacksonville City Council money race

Jacksonville City Council panel chair skirmishes with Lenny Curry lieutenants

Jacksonville City Councilor seeks $5B net for JEA electric sale; colleagues skeptical

Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund sees bounce in funding level, but extra contributions urged

Jacksonville to mull ‘lockbox’ for JEA sale proceeds