Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2016

On Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry made an audacious move. He ordered that former Police and Fire Pension Fund (PFPF) head John Keane’s pension be cut. In doing so, as readers will see, the mayor reasserted the primacy of the executive branch over the PFPF, in a quest to protect taxpayer dollars, and to finally bring closure to this ongoing […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

Derek Igou, Jacksonville’s first choice for the new director of Neighborhoods, didn’t work out. The problem, we understand, was one of academic credentials. The Lenny Curry administration is back to the drawing board, and a Thursday email indicates a refinement of job description specs for Neighborhoods head. “Per our discussion and your directions,” wrote Mousa Thursday to […]

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 11, 2016

The enigmatic HD 12 campaign of Republican Richard Clark, a JTA Governmental Affairs Officer, resumed fundraising in March after five months of dormancy. A $9,500 March brought Clark up to $60,000 even, leaving him just over $50,000 on hand. Clark, a former Jacksonville City Councilman, raised money from luminaries, including Susie Wiles, the co-chair of the Florida […]

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 […]

Tag: Sam Mousa
Orlando Pride

Lenny Curry orders John Keane’s pension cut, litigation dismissed

Next Jax Neighborhoods director to have law enforcement leadership background

Jacksonville City Council discusses controversial property donation bill, defers action

Richard Clark and Clay Yarborough lead the HD 12 money race through March

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”