Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 4, 2017

Interesting times in Duval County, where State Rep. Jason Fischer has been calling for an audit of Duval County Public Schools. And it appears there is a showdown imminent between the Duval Delegation and the Mayor’s Office on one side and the Duval County School District on the other. In a letter sent Thursday to the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 3, 2017

In a letter sent Thursday to the Duval County School Board, Rep. Jason Fischer expresses “deep concern” about the School Board not taking “formal action” to schedule an audit to account for $21 million of what Fischer deems to be overspending in the current budget year. [Letter] Board Chair Paula Wright, writes Fischer, asserted that there was a […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2017

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Before Wednesday’s meeting of the Duval County School Board, Chair Paula Wright cautioned that “no news” would come out of the conclave. However, with the real possibility that Superintendent Nikolai Vitti may leave Jacksonville for Detroit, a city “in his DNA,” the board needed to have a sunshine discussion to discuss next steps. Notable: Vitti was absent, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2016

On Wednesday afternoon, the Jacksonville Journey Oversight Committee convened for the first time since a wave of weekend violence left multiple people dead, including an 11-month-old infant. In that meeting, held in the wake of City Council committees scrutinizing how Journey resources are allocated, one thing that became clear was that the committee is looking […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

Rep. Reggie Fullwood plead guilty to a felony Thursday, resigned from the campaign on Friday, and was to be replaced as a candidate on Monday. However, the Duval Democratic Executive Committee leadership opted Monday afternoon to postpone the meeting until Tuesday, citing a desire to ensure all legal requirements were satisfied, including ensuring proper notice to […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 30, 2016

In the classic tradition of politics in Florida, some big news developed during Happy Hour on Friday. A day after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges, Reggie Fullwood filed a letter Friday with Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner saying he is no longer a candidate in House District 13. Fullwood’s withdrawal, said the letter, was “effective immediately,” to “permit […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 23, 2016

For the Duval County School Board, the slogan might be “wake me when September ends.” Earlier in the month, the board evaluated Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, deeming him “effective,” even though below the surface questions loomed about widening achievement gaps inside demographic categories of the student population. From there, board chair Ashley Smith-Juarez, according to Vitti, scheduled a meeting […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2016

A national championship occasions many victory speeches, as the national champion Ribault Lady Trojans found out Tuesday afternoon. Hemming Park in Jacksonville was jampacked with hundreds of well-wishers in Trojan Blue. And the stage was no less packed, with over a dozen politicians ranging from School Board and City Council members to Mayor Lenny Curry […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2016

The Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters opens in Jacksonville at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 4830 Atlantic Blvd., and for Clinton partisans locally, it’s a big deal. Speaking will be School Board Member Paula Wright. “Hillary Clinton has fought her entire life for children and working families – and knows how to get results,” Wright said. “She has a proven […]

Julie DelegalDecember 9, 2015

First the lobbyist from the Florida Charter School Alliance wanted to meet with a sitting Duval School Board member — privately. But when former Duval School Board Chairwoman Becki Couch suggested they “notice” the meeting and invite her fellow school board members to join them, lobbyist Ralph Arza said no. He asked her again to […]

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Image via Palatka Main Street.

Kim Daniels becomes first Democrat to call for Duval Schools audit

Jason Fischer has ‘deep concern’ over lack of Duval Schools audit

Duval County School Board mulls post-Nikolai Vitti era

Jacksonville Journey: a marathon, not a sprint

Selection of Reggie Fullwood replacement in HD 13 race postponed until Tuesday

Resigning from House, Reggie Fullwood withdraws from HD 13 race

‘Broken’ Duval County School Board castigates media, each other in contentious conclave

Jacksonville celebrates its national champs, the Ribault Lady Trojans

Hillary Clinton campaign to open Jax HQ Wednesday night

Julie Delegal: 3 Duval School Board members should get ready for hardball