Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 20, 2016

In the Tuesday morning meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Public Health and Safety Committee, the panel voted to hold the funding level at $26.275 million for fiscal year 16/17. But there will be changes this year. Penny Thompson, vice president of government affairs for UF Health, noted that the money will be sent directly […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 4, 2016

Until this year, Jacksonville legislators Lake Ray and Reggie Fullwood served together in Tallahassee. Ray is termed out. And, if the endorsement from the First Coast Manufacturers Association is any indication, the Republican wants to show Fullwood the door on his way out. The FCMA endorsed Tracie Davis, running against Fullwood in Jacksonville’s House District 13, over the incumbent. What […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 22, 2016

Jacksonville’s first Leadership Week last year dealt with at-risk young men. This year, the initiative will be expanded to include at-risk young women, city leaders revealed Friday. Leadership week will extend from Aug. 1 to Aug. 5 this year, and Friday Mayor Lenny Curry, Sheriff Mike Williams, Bishop John Guns, Councilman Sam Newby, and Daniel Davis of the Jax Chamber convened […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2016

Mayor Lenny Curry scored support from his party’s executive committee Monday for his pension-tax pitch. An email from the Republican Party of Duval County revealed Curry, who came through the ranks of the local, then the state party, got a “standing ovation” after his remarks. “Our party leaders are a tough group of fiscal conservatives who […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 21, 2016

The passage of the revamped Public Investment Policy (PIP) was the big news to come out of Tuesday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee. This was the final meeting of the combined RCDPHS committee, which will be split up and given sharper individuation and focus under incoming Council […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

On Tuesday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety committee mulled Zika-related legislation. One bill, which moves $122,524 from the mosquito control fund balance to allocations for insecticide and equipment this fiscal year and next, was approved by the Finance Committee Monday. RCDPHS approved the bill 5-0 without discussion. A […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

In the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections, the main event was anticlimactic. Everyone knew current Vice President Lori Boyer would be voted in as president-designate, offering meaningful continuity after the presidency of Greg Anderson. However, the VP-designate race between Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni offered considerably more drama, with both men deadlocked at eight pledges each ahead of the special […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2016

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An ordinance appropriating $250,000 from Jacksonville City Council contingency funds to construct a stage at downtown’s Hemming Park was approved Tuesday by the Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety (RCDPHS) committee, the second of two committees to mull the measure before the full council considers it Tuesday. The allocation was approved Monday by a 6-to-1 […]

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

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee tackled two unusual bills. The first bill requires “public awareness signs for human trafficking” to be displayed in “adult entertainment and massage/bodywork establishments.” The bill had gotten workshopped in a couple of public notice meetings, before making its way to committees […]

Tag: Sam Newby

Jacksonville City Council panel OKs UF Health allocation

Lake Ray manufacturer group backs Reggie Fullwood’s Dem opponent in HD 13

Leadership Week in Jax reaches out to at-risk youth

Under new leadership, Duval GOP backs mayor’s pension tax proposal

Public Investment Policy clears final Jax Council committee

Second Jax council committee approves mosquito-control funds

Jax City Council elects Lori Boyer president, John Crescimbeni vice-president

Second Jax Council committee approves $250K for Hemming Park stage

Jacksonville City Council authorizes August pension tax referendum

Jax Council committee tackles human trafficking, sexual predator bills