Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 21, 2016

On Wednesday night, when the eyes of the political universe were on Cleveland, former RPOF chair and current Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry was closer to home, at Bistro Aix in San Marco. Curry, who’d been elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, stood down for an alternate. In fact, up until Wednesday evening, he hadn’t […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 15, 2016

St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure, one of many vying for the Republican nomination in Florida’s 4th Congressional District, has raised $450 so far in the campaign through Jun. 30, with $250 of itemized contributions. He’s running his operation off of a $100,000 personal loan, and he still has $83,895 on hand, after spending $16,554 thus […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 13, 2016

On Tuesday evening, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry pitched young professionals on the pension-tax referendum slated for Aug. 30. The event took place in Shad Khan’s suite at EverBank Field. Matt Brockelman, the event organizer from sponsor Southern Strategy Group, said around 60 people attended and approximately $10,000 was raised for the “Yes for Jacksonville” political committee, […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 11, 2016

Mayor Lenny Curry has said he is willing to invest all of his “political capital” into getting a “Yes” vote on the pension tax referendum. And he might have to do just that. A University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab poll reveals support for Jacksonville’s pension tax referendum is not as strong as it […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 1, 2016

During his campaign for mayor in 2015, Lenny Curry‘s push from being slightly behind in the polls to winning the election coincided with concerted outreach to areas of Jacksonville for which the promise of consolidation was never fully delivered. Curry, last spring, made forays to Grand Park and other struggling neighborhoods to meet voters who were […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2016

Bill McClure, a Republican running in Florida’s 4th Congressional District, has messaged heavily against Jacksonville’s pension tax referendum this week. He’s in an interesting position: despite being a St. Johns County commissioner, his declared address for his filing in CD 4 is in the Hidden Hills neighborhood in Arlington, 35 miles and a county line away […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 28, 2016

St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure may be a long shot in the race for the Republican nomination in Florida’s 4th Congressional District, which contains Nassau County and parts of Duval and St. Johns counties. But he seems to be predicating his campaign strategy on opposition to the signature issue of Jacksonville’s political establishment: the Aug. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 28, 2016

The Jax Chamber has made no secret of its support of the pension-tax referendum. “This is one of the biggest issues facing Jacksonville and the unfunded pension liability is crippling our city finances,” said Matt Rapp, chair of government affairs for JAX Chamber, said in February after the Florida House approved the measure. “We applaud […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 27, 2016

On Monday, the Jacksonville Civic Council issued a statement supporting the pension-tax referendum, joining other community stakeholders in backing “Mayor (Lenny) Curry’s campaign to address Jacksonville’s unfunded pension liability by identifying a dedicated funding source and lowering future pension costs.” Since 2013, the Civic Council has keyed in on what it calls the “critical issues arising from the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry pitched his pension-tax referendum to the Northeast Florida Builders Association Wednesday. A day later, NEFBA’s unconditional and unanimous support for the Aug. 30 plebiscite came through via a press release. “We appreciate Mayor Curry’s leadership on this important issue. After hearing his presentation today, we are more committed than ever to support this […]

Tag: pension tax referendum

Lenny Curry, Tommy Hazouri sell pension tax to Jax ‘future leaders’

Bill McClure has raised just $450 so far for congressional campaign

Lenny Curry pitches pension-tax to young professionals

Poll: Lenny Curry’s pension tax still headed for a win, although support has fallen off some

Lenny Curry talks first year in office, and the path forward

Legal issues, ethical questions dog Congressional candidate Bill McClure

Congressional candidate Bill McClure announces ‘digital ad buy,’ anti-pension tax petition

Jax Chamber reiterates support for pension-tax referendum

Jax Civic Council backs pension-tax referendum

NEFBA backs Jax pension tax referendum, gives $10K to effort