Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 13, 2018

The political cycle never truly ends and no sooner had the 2018 elections wrapped before Northeast Florida Republican candidates and committees began raking in 2020 funds. The numbers aren’t eyepopping, but with power increasingly concentrating in the GOP-dominant region, they are worth watching. Working for Florida’s Families, the political committee of budget chair Sen. Rob Bradley, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 16, 2018

JEA board member Aaron Zahn has resigned his position to pursue the interim CEO position. The news, first reported by the Florida Times-Union, was confirmed via a letter sent to board chair Alan Howard and Jacksonville’s Office of General Counsel and obtained by Florida Politics. The letter confirmed Zahn’s “intent to pursue the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 9, 2018

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams is back to fundraising in earnest for his re-election bid, and both committee and hard money coffers are healthy after a strong March. Williams brought in $27,500 off 43 contributions to his campaign account, his strongest month since his launch last year. He has raised $179,450 for his campaign account thus far, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 6, 2018

Even as well-connected lobbyists for major utility companies hover over Jacksonville’s JEA ahead of a potential sale, five utility unions combined in opposition to any moves Friday. Per a statement from the five unions: “It is the official position of the JEA Union Leadership that a privatization of JEA would have severe, harmful, and long term […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 6, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has no meaningful opposition for his re-election bid and his first 25 days of fundraising likely will ensure that remains the case for some time. In less than a month on the re-election trail, Curry raised just more than $1.5 million. Of that sum, $255,305 went into the campaign account, and $1,246,500 […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2017

The big local story this week was on Tuesday, when former JEA Board Chairman Tom Petway said customers of the 50-year-old municipal Jacksonville utility might be better off under a privatized model. Jacksonville City Council members — such as Matt Schellenberg and Garrett Dennis — were open to the idea, while Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry framed it as a […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2017

The big news out of Tuesday’s meeting of Jacksonville’s JEA Board wasn’t on the agenda. Board member Tom Petway — one of the earliest supporters of the candidacy of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry — announced his intention to leave the board Dec. 31. And he revived a major conceptual proposal on his way out. Petway suggested that perhaps […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 19, 2017

Almost 11 months ago to the day, the JEA Board gave the utility high marks for its performance during and after Hurricane Matthew. On Tuesday, it was time for an encore performance — as the JEA Board met, with Hurricane Irma on its mind. After a week in which the Mayor had “stern words” for […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 10, 2017

While May was the month for the Jacksonville donor class to pony up for Paul Renner ahead of his win of the 2022 Speaker slot, June saw a return of a familiar pattern. That pattern: big-dollar donations to the political committee of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. All told, June saw $110,000 in new money, much of it from […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Whatever Tom Petway wants, Tom Petway gets. On Monday, the Jacksonville City Council Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee approved an ordinance (2016-764) allowing JEA to meet at least every other month. This idea was hatched some weeks back in the catacombs of council committees. “At a Rules Special Meeting, JEA’s Chairman of the Board, Tom Petway, requested that […]

Tag: Tom Petway

Early start: Northeast Florida 2020 fundraising begins

JEA board member resigns to pursue interim CEO position

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams exceeds $400,000 cash on hand for re-election bid

Jacksonville utility unions pan potential JEA sale as ‘harmful’

Big momentum: Lenny Curry raises more than $1.5 million in just 25 days for re-election

Lenny Curry frames JEA privatization proposal as an example of thinking big

Exiting JEA Board, Tom Petway renews push to privatize Jax public utility

Lenny Curry: JEA crisis comms issues ‘need to be fixed’

Lenny Curry committee clears $110K in June fundraising

Jacksonville City Council panel OKs JEA Board plan for fewer meetings