Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2016

Score one for Angela Corey and her re-election bid for state attorney. On Friday, reports the Florida Times-Union, a suit challenging the validity of a write-in candidate, Kenny Leigh, whose entry closed the previously open primary in the 4th Circuit State Attorney race, was thrown out of court in Jacksonville. Plaintiffs will appeal. But for now, it looks like […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2016

As we reported last month, $354,000 of salary increases and bonuses were given out by State Attorney Angela Corey to employees recently. The justification laid out by Corey’s office was pretty linear: it was the culmination of a routine process. “The retention raises fit squarely within the Legislature’s intent of how this salary money is to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2016

An Italian restaurant in Fleming Island was the unlikely venue for the first candidate forum in the 4th Circuit State Attorney race. Incumbent Angela Corey and challengers Wes White and Melissa Nelson participated in what turned out to be a heated discussion. Of the three candidates, Nelson seemed the most interested in making her case for why it was time […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2016

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Turns out a lot of people in Jacksonville are willing to open their wallets wide to get Angela Corey out of the 4th Circuit State Attorney office. In her first month of fundraising, Republican primary opponent Melissa Nelson had a game-changer month: $233,213. Combined with money raised by the First Coast Values political committee, Nelson has $341,000 raised and $289,000 on […]

Melissa RossJune 8, 2016

The fundraising continues apace for 4th Circuit State Attorney candidate Melissa Nelson. A cluster of North Florida heavyweights is hosting a reception for Nelson in Atlantic Beach June 23 (and encouraging contributions of up to $1,000). Acosta’s Gary Chartrand and his family, JAX Chamber chief Audrey Moran, and former U.S. Attorney Paul Perez are some […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

The May numbers for “First Coast Values,” a political committee associated with 4th Circuit State Attorney Republican challenger Melissa Nelson, augur well for her campaign. The political committee’s first month of fundraising brought in $108,500, of which $50,103 was spent. Of that money, $80,000 came from three donors, all attorneys. Ellen Fitzsimmons, general counsel for railroad […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

With campaigns up and down the ticket attracting the attention of Jacksonville’s donor class, it was perhaps inevitable that Lenny Curry‘s political committee would have a sluggish May. A total of $3,000 in new money was the slowest fundraising since the PAC started raising money last year, offset by $26,178 of new spending, of which $20,000 went to […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2016

Is a write-in candidate actual competition? What if the paperwork for the write-in was filed by the incumbent’s campaign manager to close the GOP primary? Can a sham candidacy be defined? These were the questions posed Tuesday in a Jacksonville courtroom, regarding a challenge to the write-in candidacy of Kenny Leigh, an avowed supporter of incumbent […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 26, 2016

Reliable sources tell FloridaPolitics.com that First Coast Values, a political committee supporting Melissa Nelson, has launched a “six-figure” ad buy to introduce the former assistant state attorney to 4th Circuit voters as she challenges for the job of state attorney. The ads are said to be positive, introducing the candidate at the very time incumbent Angela Corey has […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 25, 2016

One might think, given the fact that 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk and State Attorney Angela Corey are in competitive GOP primaries, they might debate their opponents. While there’s still plenty of time for that to happen, it’s not happening Wednesday afternoon. The embattled incumbents, each facing challenges from members of their own party, will instead debate each other. […]

Tag: Melissa Nelson

Kenny Leigh a legit candidate for State Attorney, says judge

Some 4th Circuit State Attorney employees got raises, gave to Angela Corey campaign

State attorney candidates spar at Fleming Island forum

Melissa Nelson leads 4th Circuit State Attorney money race

Melissa Nelson fundraiser set for Atlantic Beach

Six-figure haul for Melissa Nelson’s ‘First Coast Values’ political committee

May was a quiet fundraising month for Lenny Curry’s political committee

State Attorney write-in suit has ‘motion to dismiss’ hearing in Jax court

Melissa Nelson hits Jax airwaves with ‘six-figure’ ad buy

Matt Shirk, Angela Corey to debate Wednesday … will the right questions be asked?