Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 18, 2016

It turns out that Warren Jones wasn’t the only big name being talked up for a run for Duval County School Board. Mike Hightower, JEA’s chief public affairs officer, was approached by some interested members of Jacksonville’s donor class for a potential school board run. He thought about it briefly — for about 14 hours — […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 4, 2016

One of the more surprisingly compelling political stories in Jacksonville in the second half of 2015: the chaos at the local utility, JEA. You saw the mayor, Lenny Curry, sending emails to top staff members asking “what the hell is going on” with the board of directors. You saw board members blasting media for covering its […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 7, 2016

In August, the JEA utility service brought Northeast Florida Republican legend Mike Hightower in to handle external affairs, a move lauded at the time. Now we’re seeing more evidence of Hightower’s expanding role at a critical time for JEA as it hammers out its JEA Agreement with the city of Jacksonville. Judi Spann told Florida Politics […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2015

Bill Gulliford celebrated his 72nd birthday by chairing the JEA Agreement meeting, promising, at long last, an extended discussion of the contribution formula, before a vote on it next Tuesday. The proposal specs: a 10-year agreement, starting October 2016; a contribution floor of $114,187,538; a reset of tax millage to achieve the floor; an annual […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 20, 2015

Mike Hightower, who resigned from the Jacksonville Electric Authority Board in December 2014, is back with them in a new capacity. Hightower is JEA’s new top lobbyist. As the Times-Union reported on Thursday, the job pays $199K. Competition for this position was fierce. Word is that former Councilman Richard Clark was interested. With Hightower, JEA gets […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 20, 2015

Those with long institutional memories in Jacksonville noted that the JAX Chamber, via its JAXBIZ political arm, took a much more active role in the 2015 municipal elections than in previous years. That effort was helped along by meaningful funding and resource allocation for endorsed candidates, and Tuesday’s election showed it paid off. Mayor-elect Lenny Curry, Sheriff-elect Mike […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2015

Was the JAXBIZ endorsement of Lenny Curry preordained? It depends on how you look at it. The endorsement came late Tuesday, just one day after the JAXBIZ interview of Mayor Alvin Brown, and seemed to reflect a consensus view. The wording: unambiguous. “JAXBIZ researched the records and platforms of each of the three major candidates, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2015

Was the JAXBIZ endorsement of Lenny Curry preordained? It depends on how you look at it. The endorsement came late Tuesday, just one day after the JAXBIZ interview of Mayor Alvin Brown, and seemed to reflect a consensus view. The wording: unambiguous. “JAXBIZ researched the records and platforms of each of the three major candidates, […]

Tag: Mike Hightower

Mike Hightower for Duval school board? Thought about it, ruled it out

After bad press and board flux, JEA on path to stability again

JEA makes organizational move; Mike Hightower over media affairs

JEA Agreement meeting addresses contribution formula proposal

Mike Hightower: JEA’s new top lobbyist

Email insights: JAX Chamber candidates prevail in city election

Alvin Brown’s no-win situation: inside the JAXBIZ endorsement of Lenny Curry

Alvin Brown's no-win situation: inside the JAXBIZ endorsement of Lenny Curry