Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 16, 2018

Peter Rummell is one of the leaders of Jacksonville’s political donor set, and for the second straight week he got news from a Jacksonville board regarding his District project. The news was different than that coming out of last week’s Downtown Investment Authority meeting, which had the city of Jacksonville buying the land from JEA […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2018

The District development on Jacksonville’s Southbank could cost taxpayers up to $26 million in infrastructure work. The deal has taken longer to unfold than expected, and when the deal was originally approved, the expectation was that the city would spend less, that JEA would get paid back $27 million for demolition and cleanup, and the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee put Sheriff Mike Williams through the wringer during this year’s budget process. They pushed back against budget asks two weeks ago, compelling the Sheriff to return Friday morning, where he spent roughly an hour answering questions related to a poll his political committee ran. Among the items in suspension: 100 […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2017

Friday saw the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee move toward wrapping up budget deliberations. However, there was still some unfinished business with various departments. And the most interesting bit of business was political business — not budgetary. — The big enchilada: the 100 new police officers and other proposals from JSO, which were not approved […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 23, 2017

Tuesday night saw the Jacksonville City Council reject a bill that would authorize an Aug. 2018 referendum to extend the current two-term limit to three for most city elected officials. The bill, sponsored by second-term Councilman Matt Schellenberg, would have applied to every office but that of mayor. It failed 6-11, however, despite Council President Anna Brosche supporting […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2017

Directly after what is certain to be an edifying round of public comment regarding the future of Jacksonville’s Confederate monuments, the City Council is poised to feather its own bed Tuesday evening. Councilors will vote to authorize an Aug. 2018 referendum that could, if passed, end the quarter-century long practice of term limits for most […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2017

The first day of Jacksonville City Council review of Mayor Lenny Curry‘s proposed budget was highlighted by a deep dive into the Sheriff’s budget: 35 percent of the general fund. Among the highlights of the proposed budget: 100 more cops, which would bring force levels within a few dozen of the peak of 1,800 officers years back. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2017

The August ritual began anew Thursday morning in Jacksonville’s City Hall, with the City Council Finance Committee beginning its review of the Mayor’s proposed budget. The day began with a romp through a presentation from the Curry administration, followed by the Council Auditor’s review of the budget. The proposed $1.27B budget is up from the […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 26, 2017

As the old saw goes, victory has many fathers, but defeat is an orphan. In that context, a decision to postpone a decision — such as that made by the Jacksonville City Council during yet another attempt to push through a referendum that could scuttle current term limits (changing limits from two consecutive terms to […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 26, 2017

In the context of mounting controversy and phone calls to legislators, the Jacksonville City Council was faced with a vote Tuesday evening regarding a referendum to change term limits that have been in place for a quarter century. As is this council’s wont when facing a controversial issue, the body punted rather than make a […]

Tag: Matt Schellenberg
Debate party at Sports Grill Kendall. Image via AP.

District project clears JEA board; developers now to buy land from JEA by July

Jacksonville City Council seeks to put brakes on District deal

After venting about poll, Jax Council panel gives Sheriff 100 new cops

Jax Councilors feel ‘targeted’ by Sheriff’s poll pushing 100 new cops

Lenny Curry is ‘glad’ Jacksonville City Council term limit referendum vote failed

Term limit two-step resumes Tuesday for Jacksonville City Council

Jax Councilors hammer Sheriff Mike Williams on policy, procedure

Jax City Council begins mulling Lenny Curry’s budget

How the Jacksonville City Council effort to scuttle term limits went wrong

Jacksonville City Council defers action on term limits referendum