Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2016

With just eight days before the Jacksonville City Council elects a new vice president, every pledge counts in a tight race between Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni. Coming into Monday, Carter had six pledges and Crescimbeni had seven. After a short meeting with Reggie Gaffney Monday, Carter tied the count in the VP race, as Gaffney crossed party […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

Passage of 2016-300, which authorizes the referendum to extend the half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax to address the city’s $2.7 billion unfunded pension liability, seemed to be a certainty before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. After public comment, hand wringing from some council members, and tub thumping from others, it was approved 19 to 0 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2016

Going into Tuesday, John Crescimbeni led Doyle Carter in the pledge race to be Jacksonville City Council vice president seven-to-five. Both candidates had scheduled meetings with pledges on Tuesday. Crescimbeni with Reggie Gaffney. And, later in the day, Carter with Matt Schellenberg. Some describe these meetings as “kabuki theater.” However, with the pledge count surprisingly close, these have become must-see […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

A controversial bill, 2015-519, changing guidelines for city donation of vacant, buildable lots owned by the city after tax reversion for affordable housing inventory purposes, was passed by Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday. The bill doubles the permissible value of properties that can be dispensed to CHDOs and other affordable housing non-profits from $25,000 to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry addressed the City Council Tuesday evening, regarding 2016-300, the ordinance setting an August referendum for the pension tax. Curry noted that with Council support, “we now have the opportunity to save our city from financial ruin,” by extending the half cent sales tax, before speaking to “critics” who want a new sales tax, saying […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2016

A Jacksonville City Council Special Committee comprised of the Finance and Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety (RCDPHS) committees tackled on Monday a controversial bill, 2015-519, which regulates property donation of the 436 parcels under city ownership. The bill, passed on Monday, will be on Tuesday’s Council agenda as an addendum item. 2015-519, which […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2016

On Monday, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee deferred property donation and human trafficking signage bills, and OKd Project Rex, which is expected to bring an Amazon distribution center to Jacksonville. **** 2015-519, a bill that would allow change the city’s rules for property donation that has circulated for nine months now, was considered Monday […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2016

Expectations that a controversial bill on increasing the value of property the city may donate to developers from $25,000 to $50,000, would be discharged for discussion came to pass, at the urging of Councilman Bill Gulliford, during Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. Council had already promised further discussion on 2015-519 in the Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement […]

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. GancarskiApril 11, 2016

Headed into Monday, Doyle Carter trailed John Crescimbeni in the pledge count in their Jacksonville City Council VP race 6 to 4. And Monday closed with the same tally. Carter held a half hour long meeting with District 7 Councilman Reggie Gaffney, whose pledge would have been seen as a bellwether for support from the nine Council members […]

Tag: Reggie Gaffney

Doyle Carter, John Crescimbeni tied in Jax Council veep race

Jacksonville City Council authorizes August pension tax referendum

Jax Council VP race tightens up three weeks ahead of vote

Jax Council finally passes property donation bill

Lenny Curry pitches August pension tax referendum to Council

Jax Council special committee OKs property donation bill, 2015-519

Jax Council Finance Committee defers property donation, human trafficking bills, OKs Project Rex

Jacksonville City Council discusses controversial property donation bill, defers action

Jacksonville celebrates its national champs, the Ribault Lady Trojans

Doyle Carter pitches Reggie Gaffney in Jax Council VP bid, but Gaffney doesn’t come through