Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 3, 2016

In a meeting Wednesday, Councilman John Crescimbeni criticized the Committee of the Whole process on HRO expansion, which runs through March 3. “Whether [I was] for it or against it, I likely wouldn’t drag it out until [March] 3rd,” Crescimbeni said when asked about the HRO by Tommy Hazouri. His opposition to the protracted process pertaining to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

The Jax City Council ban on the use of cellphones during meeting is under siege, with a threat from Bill Gulliford that boiled down to pass my bill fixing it or face a rules challenge. The Bill Gulliford bill included a measure prohibiting “electronic communications” from or to Council members related to legislation on the agenda […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2016

One of the most hot-button issues before Jacksonville’s City Council is the decision whether to increase the number of terms city officials can serve. On Monday, it cleared its fourth and final committee. The Matt Schellenberg bill seeks to boost consecutive terms for the Jacksonville mayor, City Council, and Duval County constitutional officers from two to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2016

Despite Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s position that no further legislation on the Human Rights Ordinance expansion is “prudent,” Councilmen Bill Gulliford and Tommy Hazouri plan to go ahead with their competing bills, to be debuted and debated heavily starting Thursday at the Committee of the Whole. “I’ll withdraw mine if Tommy wants to withdraw his,” […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 29, 2016

I knew something unpopular was about to happen Thursday night when I saw this Facebook post from Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry quoting Harry Truman. “Fame is a vapor, popularity is an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today may curse tomorrow and only one thing endures. Character.” Truman’s motto: the buck stops here. The irony: that […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 28, 2016

Where does Lenny Curry fall on the expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to the LGBT community? The decision, which he pledged to make by the end of January, is imminent, said Kerri Stewart, Curry’s Chief of Staff, Thursday. Stewart added that he has been locked in “discernment,” as Council President Greg Anderson described it earlier this month. However, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 27, 2016

Barring the unexpected, Lori Boyer will be Jacksonville City Council President. Wednesday meetings with Council members (Anna Brosche, Matt Schellenberg, and Tommy Hazouri) were intended to let her make her case, while finding out what her colleagues’ vision for Boyer’s presidential year might be. “We can change the face of this city,” Boyer said in the meeting with Brosche. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

Matt Schellenberg spent Monday afternoon courting support for an expected runoff scenario in the Jax Council VP race, including a scheduled meeting with Tommy Hazouri, who had already pledged to Aaron Bowman Schellenberg had already criticized Bowman, a fellow Republican, for a] running too early in his term and b] perhaps not having enough “independence” from the […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

Jacksonville City Council Vice President candidates Matt Schellenberg and Aaron Bowman continue to solicit support in Monday meetings with Council members. Schellenberg, who has one signed on supporter as at this writing, seeks to court three supporters on Monday. He has an 11:00 meeting with Anna Brosche, who told us last week that she wasn’t planning to commit […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 20, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee had an active agenda on Tuesday, highlighted by term limits, texting, and other hot button issues. The most interesting thing on the agenda: a bill they all voted against. Rules came together and downed a measure to increase the statute of limitations on ethics complaints from 2 years to […]

Tag: Tommy Hazouri
State Sen. Vic Torres at U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost event before the collapse. Photo via Jacob Ogles.

John Crescimbeni throws cold water on HRO process: “damage to reputation of city”

Cellphone ban vexes Bill Gulliford, yet Rules defers his bill

Jax term limit extension bill clears final committee

Despite Lenny Curry’s “no to HRO” position, both Council bills moving forward

Lenny Curry’s HRO punt and the process going forward

“Discernment” continues for Lenny Curry on HRO … but for how long?

Lori Boyer: “we can change the face of this city”

Matt Schellenberg asks Tommy Hazouri for VP support

Jax Council leadership race continues Monday

Jax Council Rules Committee spikes ethics proposal