Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 15, 2015

A year ago, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown presented an ambitious budget to city council that advocated for “getting the best return on our investment for the next generation … [seizing] the moment to use our resources to make not only a better today, but also a better tomorrow.” At 8:30 a.m. Monday in council chambers, […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 10, 2015

Those who have seen Jacksonville grow over the decades have seen Florida State College at Jacksonville grow with it. A few decades back, Florida Junior College was a sleepy two-year school, used primarily as a feeder into the University of North Florida’s upper division offerings. Jacksonville has grown, and FSCJ has grown with it. A four-year […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 8, 2015

A few things are certainties in the Bold New City of the South. One of them is that football (with the exception of the gone and mostly forgotten ACC Championship Game) is a consistent draw. The other is that Jacksonville is as strong a military town as any in the country. When you can make […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 2, 2015

During Thursday’s lunchtime meeting between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and most of the members of the city council, many topics were discussed. One of them was Curry’s intention to send a letter to city employees. During the meeting, the mayor said, “All employees are going to get a message … saying that we understand that the […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 2, 2015

Jacksonville City Council is headed for summer break … but not before a lunch meeting with Mayor Lenny Curry and Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa. Spox Bill Spann told me, going in, that this would be more of a high-level overview than a deep dive meeting. Time will tell. And so will this blog. 12:00: Council members are filing […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

As we reported on Monday, Denise Lee will be serving in the Lenny Curry administration as Director of Blight Initiatives. After her Blight Committee meeting as part of the Curry transition operation at Jacksonville University, we were able to sit her down for an interview, in which she talked about working with Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa, about where […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

As regular readers of this site know, we have been in attendance for a number of the Lenny Curry Transition Committee meetings at Jacksonville University. Tuesday’s meeting of the Operations, Human Resources, and Productivity Committee is the third we’ve covered involving this group. This is the first, however, after Committee Chair Kerri Stewart was picked as Chief […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2015

The first budget review with Sports and Entertainment, and SMG was brutal. History in these reviews shows that Sam Mousa is nicer the second time around. Some fun math in these deals, for sure. 3:31: Overheard. “Hopefully the more they get through of these things, the better we look.” 3:32: Overheard. “I just want to get through […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council calendar is officially in a lull, with a fifth week break transitioning into a summer break, but with new faces in Duval County’s executive and legislative branches, it probably is a good idea that the mayor and the new council members meet. And on Thursday at high noon, they shall. Curry, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2015

The second Lenny Curry transition committee of Monday morning discussed budget and finance. One big change in the offing looks to be structural, in terms of reporting. The first major discussion involved the mayor’s cabinet. In previous administrations prior to Mayor Alvin Brown, only the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief of Staff reported directly to […]

Tag: Sam Mousa
Image via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix.

Lenny Curry’s new budget lives up to “realistic and balanced” promise

FSCJ Downtown Immersion project is on the table

Jacksonville lands next year’s Navy/Notre Dame football game

Mayor Lenny Curry writes letter to COJ employees

Lenny Curry, Jax City Council hold first lunch meeting

Denise Lee talks blight and her new administration role

Kerri Stewart discusses new role as Jax chief of staff

Jax transition budget review: Sports and Entertainment, and SMG

Lenny Curry to meet with Jacksonville City Council Thursday

Lenny Curry Operations transition committee discusses budget and finance