Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 12, 2018

A common thread in uncompetitive Jacksonville City Council races: June checks from the owner of a certain local NFL franchise. In District 2, challenger Jack Daniels has $115 on hand. The perpetual challenger is not exactly keeping pace with incumbent Republican Al Ferraro. Ferraro, a Mayor Lenny Curry ally, brought in $5,825 in June alone, with donations from Shad Khan […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2018

Lobbyists for two major players in the utility industry have registered with the City of Jacksonville. Records show Florida Power and Light has engaged Paul Harden, best known locally as the representative for the Jacksonville Jaguars and owner Shad Khan‘s interests. Harden was also pivotal in persuading the Jacksonville City Council to approve a slots referendum in […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2017

What happens when the Americans for Disabilities Act meets a Jacksonville zoning overlay? A headache, some litigation, and, eventually, attempts by all parties to arrive at a workable compromise. Emphasis on the word “attempts,” as seemingly everyone outside of the lawyers who reached the compromise found something at which to balk. A bill that would […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 4, 2017

In Houston for the Superbowl, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan broke with the city’s right wing on two hot-button issues. Khan, a Muslim immigrant from Pakistan, came out against the controversial Donald Trump immigration/travel ban from seven majority-Muslim countries. And, for good measure, he expressed — to a national publication — his support for the expansion of […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 13, 2017

Close Call: On Wednesday evening, the reports trickled in from Washington, D.C. Rep. John Rutherford had suffered a medical episode in the U.S. House of Representatives, one which led him to require hospitalization through Thursday. The fear expressed by many: a massive heart attack. That speculation went out on Twitter, and the hours between the incident […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 20, 2016

“You won’t have Gulliford to kick around anymore.” Those Nixonian words, said by Finance Chair Bill Gulliford at the end of the last committee meeting under his chairmanship, kicked off the agenda meeting, a prelude to the last Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting before leadership of the Council and committees changes at the end of […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 9, 2016

Alas, there were no slot machines in the Lynwood Roberts Room for demonstration purposes. None of the earmarks of a casino. No young women selling packs of cigarettes. And very little in the way of entertainment in a committee workshop that had about as much drama as an algebra equation. Rather, there were just the familiar […]

Drew WilsonMay 5, 2016

Republican Sen. Travis Hutson will hold a fundraiser for his re-election campaign May 17 at The Fiorentino Group offices in Jacksonville, his campaign announced Thursday. The host committee for the event includes fellow Florida Sens. Rob Bradley and Aaron Bean as well as Jacksonville Jaguars lobbyist Paul Harden, attorney Marty Fiorentino and Acosta CEO Gary […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

Laveranues Coles wants to open a strip club. This has now resulted in a lawsuit, and national publicity, revolving around the stated purpose of “opening a club that would feature dancing that would be ‘performed before a consensual audience, all over the age of 18 years, who are desirous of receiving and enjoying the message […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

In two Jacksonville City Council committees, Danny Becton was the sole no vote against the EverBank Field upgrades. Yet when it came time to vote for the measure in front of the full Council, he went with the other 18 votes on what one Councilman called a “legacy for this Council.” The question those who watched […]

Tag: Paul Harden

Is Shad Khan picking winners in Jacksonville City Council races?

Utility industry giants lobby up in Jacksonville

Springfield Overlay zoning change legislation draws scrutiny in public notice meeting

Shad Khan: No to Muslim Ban, Yes to HRO

Jacksonville Bold for 1.13.17 — Close call

Slots bill hits jackpot in Jax Council Finance committee

Jax Council committees workshop slots legislation

Travis Hutson to hold re-election fundraiser May 17 in Jacksonville

Laveranues Coles sues Jacksonville: Why now?

Why Danny Becton flipped on the amphitheater vote