Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville this weekend, which included one person killed by a domestic terrorist, protesters in Jacksonville renewed calls to remove Confederate monuments in the city. Such calls have increased in intensity in recent weeks, with interesting contretemps at Jacksonville City Council meetings between Confederate enthusiasts and progressives who believe […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 4, 2017

The dispute, at least in theory, was over window tint. However, what one Northeast Florida pastor experienced has brought new attention to old conflicts between Jacksonville police and African-American residents. Rev. Darien Bolden of Fernandina Beach had stopped with his nephew on 19th Street in Jacksonville to look at investment properties. That’s when an officer expressed […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 18, 2017

A bill authorizing a referendum to increase the number of consecutive terms a Jacksonville City Council member can serve passed its second and final committee on Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by second-term Councilman Matt Schellenberg, passed Finance by a 5-2 margin Tuesday morning. Between committee stops, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry punted on expressing an opinion on the […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2017

A bill to impose a 90 day moratorium on block parties in Jacksonville (and not the rest of Duval County) cleared its two city council committees Tuesday. The legislation (2017-196) posits “a legitimate public purpose in imposing a temporary moratorium on permitting recreational street closings … ‘block parties’ within the City, to allow the City time to […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Aaron Bowman continued his push for the vice-presidency of the 19-person legislative body with some success. Bowman solicited pledges from Tommy Hazouri, Greg Anderson, and Sam Newby, in an attempt to break a 3-3 deadlock with his opponent, Scott Wilson. Newby was sold without little prodding, noting that while he and Bowman were on opposite […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 6, 2017

Perhaps the race for the Jacksonville City Council presidency isn’t a done deal just yet. Perhaps “tradition” won’t tell the tale after all. On Monday, Jacksonville City Councilwoman Anna Brosche met with fellow first-term Republicans Al Ferraro and Sam Newby to solicit his support for her bid for the council presidency. Brosche started the day with a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee approved the expansion of the city’s Human Rights Ordinance on Wednesday morning. The measure was approved by a 4-3 vote, with Bill Gulliford, Sam Newby, and Matt Schellenberg opposing expansion. The expansion would add sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the list of protected categories under the ordinance, which ensures […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2017

On Thursday, opponents of Jacksonville’s proposed expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance had their say in the Council Chambers. Councilman Bill Gulliford, launching the meeting, noted the passion surrounding this issue, which is now in its fifth year of being debated citywide. “I decided to have this meeting for several reasons,” Gulliford said, including “objective discussion” of […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 24, 2017

Groundhog Day is over a week away, but those who attend Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting will feel inevitable deja vu. Some will think it’s 2016. Others will think it’s 2012. That’s because the fervent arguments they’ll hear tonight on Jacksonville’s perpetual hot-button issue — expanding the Human Rights Ordinance to LGBT people, via […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 16, 2017

For the second straight cycle, the Jacksonville City Council is running its committees on a Tuesday — Thursday cycle — a consequence of Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The council mulls a series of bills ahead of next week’s meeting, starting bright and early Tuesday morning in the Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services Committee. […]

Tag: Sam Newby
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Jacksonville pols, civic leaders urge Confederate monument removal

After cop points gun at preacher, calls for ‘diversity training’ in Jacksonville

Bill gutting term limits moves to full Jacksonville City Council

Block party moratorium to be voted on by full Jacksonville City Council

Aaron Bowman takes lead in Jacksonville City Council VP race

Anna Brosche makes up ground in Jacksonville Council President race

Jacksonville HRO clears final city council committee

Jacksonville LGBT rights opponents speak; Bill Gulliford talks HRO referendum

Opposing sides gear up for Jacksonville HRO public hearing on Tuesday night

ShotSpotter gets its shot in Jacksonville council panels