Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2016

March fundraising reports are starting to trickle in, and House District 12 Republican Don Redman has an interesting donor on his: Sam Mousa, Jacksonville CAO. Mousa maxed out for Redman, as part of a $8,340 haul (that included $1,900 of money from the Redmans, but still). Also maxing out: Best Bet’s Jamie Shelton, the husband of Ali Korman Shelton, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 2, 2016

Interim Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Executive Director Beth McCague said when she took the job that she didn’t want to be there indefinitely. A year was the longest commitment that she wanted to offer. And she may be done sooner than that. An internal email from McCague to Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa notes that […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2016

In an attempt to put a “stronger focus on neighborhoods” and to impose “cost controls,” the Jacksonville City Council passed 17-0 comprehensive reorganization legislation Tuesday night that created a Neighborhoods Department. The legislation has been a priority of the Curry administration from before the inauguration, and would mitigate the effects of a reorganization in the previous […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2016

Jacksonville will retain the rights to the World’s Largest Cocktail Party, as Lenny Curry announced Wednesday an extension of the contract for five more years. “This is a big deal for Jacksonville,” Curry said, and for “both schools.” The deal extends the agreement to 2021, which will “mitigate any uncertainty,” with a window opening for re-negotiation of […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 15, 2016

Jacksonville’s Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa on Tuesday pitched the Neighborhoods Department reorganization to Rules as a move toward “cost control and fiduciary responsibility.” “The reorganization does create a stronger focus on neighborhoods,” Mousa said, in alignment to Mayor Lenny Curry‘s vision. “Several department heads will no longer have a direct report to the mayor,” […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 4, 2016

Duval County Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan had a dilemma this past month: The city required an audit, but he didn’t think he had the time. Carr Riggs Ingram, an accounting firm, has been contracted for an audit. In late February, one of the external auditors from this group contacted the Supervisor of Elections office with a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2016

When it comes to former Jax PFPF head John Keane, City Council is ready to “lawyer up,” and a March 7 “litigation shade meeting” will address strategy. The guidelines were laid forth by Council President Greg Anderson in a memo Friday. Attendance is “urgent” for all members of Council, as they discuss legal strategy in the wake […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2016

On Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will lead a crew in a building demolition effort. But it’s for a good reason: the eradication of blight, and renewal. A release from the mayor’s office asserts that “a Jacksonville neighborhood, once ridden with crime, will soon experience a “groundbreaking” effort unlike any other.” “In preparation of the development of Payne […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s big bill involved attempting to finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane with a settlement agreement. Instead, they “postponed indefinitely,” after a long and tortuous process of discussion and amendments. The goal is to get answers to questions and, seemingly, to show Keane […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

Parking downtown may get more expensive for Jacksonville’s city employees in the upcoming fiscal year, if a 2014 ordinance is allowed to sunset. In an email to CAO Sam Mousa, OED head Kirk Wendland notes that “Ordinance 2014-438-E gave all City employees who are monthly parkers at municipal owned parking garages operated by Public Parking a 50% […]

Tag: Sam Mousa

Jacksonville CAO Sam Mousa highlights Don Redman HD 12 March donor list

Jax pension fund preps for post-Beth McCague era

Jacksonville City Council passes Neighborhoods bill

Florida/Georgia game extension rooted in “Relationships 101,” says Lenny Curry

CAO Sam Mousa successfully pitches Neighborhoods re-org to Jax Council Rules committee

Duval SOE Mike Hogan: “I don’t have any time to deal with an audit”

Jax City Council plans closed meeting on John Keane dispute

Lenny Curry to lead demolition exercise Friday

Jax Council “postpones indefinitely” John Keane settlement

Jax city employees may pay more for parking next fiscal year