Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 6, 2016

Tommy Hazouri wanted the Committee of the Whole to consider the fully-inclusive HRO bill he introduced. And Council President Greg Anderson obliged, albeit independently of Hazouri’s stance. On Wednesday afternoon, Anderson sent out a memo. “As President it is my responsibility to make sure we have a fair, civil, and orderly debate as we move to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 6, 2016

The two most high-profile supporters of a fully-inclusive Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) met Wednesday afternoon to talk strategy. Councilmen Tommy Hazouri and Aaron Bowman came together to talk about the bill that Hazouri introduced before the Council’s holiday break. Along with them, Councilmen Sam Newby and Reggie Brown showed up for the discussion, as did Council Vice President […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 6, 2016

“The people made it clear what they wanted,” a re-elected politician said. “I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and I intend to spend it.” That politician: George W. Bush, in 2004. Bush 43 learned about the finite power of political capital the hard way: seeing his father go from 91 percent approval ratings to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 5, 2016

Tuesday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee was not without its highlights. — Chief Financial Officer Mike Weinstein was on hand, discussing the extension of the 1/2 cent Better Jacksonville Plan tax to pay for the Unfunded Liability on public pensions, a presentation he had made earlier on Tuesday in RCDPHS. Weinstein, on his […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 5, 2016

On Monday, the Jacksonville City Council Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement Committee kicked off 2016. The ad hoc committee has become a source of consternation for many on Council, who note that it is unable to take action, and is just a deliberative committee. Some highlights included a further discussion of Land Bank issues and […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

The holiday break is officially over at Jacksonville’s City Council. The Monday Finance Committee meeting: highlighted by Jax Mayor Lenny Curry introducing his pension unfunded liability payoff plan, ahead of the Legislative Session in Tallahassee this month. Curry discussed his “proposed solution for funding unfunded pension liabilities,” one he said does not involve a new tax, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

In Jacksonville politics in 2015, the game changed … perhaps for good. Big money went into campaigns: over $10 million, including soft money, in the mayoral race. Close to $2 million in the sheriff’s race. And even some City Council candidates who raised close to a quarter of a million dollars did so in vain. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 21, 2015

On Monday morning, members of the Jacksonville City Council wrestled again with Consolidation Task Force recommendations. Just a few of the highlights: • A Jacksonville Strategic Planning Commission was discussed, with Finance Chairman Bill Gulliford pushing for it to be considered in Rules. Rules Chairman Matt Schellenberg then renewed his call for three terms, discussing […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

In the wake of the Community Conversations on the Human Rights Ordinance, Lenny Curry has been in the process of meeting with the business community and the faith community. The latter conclave between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and local ministers on Friday morning was marked as a “private meeting” on Curry’s public schedule. But it dealt with […]

Tag: Tommy Hazouri

Committee of the Whole to consider Jax HRO legislation

Tommy Hazouri, Aaron Bowman talk HRO expansion bill; Bowman to co-sponsor

Lenny Curry, the pension tax, and political capital

Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee discusses pension tax plan

Jax NICE Committee kicks off 2016, discusses “Spring Clean Jacksonville”

Lenny Curry unfunded liability payoff plan highlights Jax Finance committee meeting

A.G. Gancarski’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Jacksonville politics

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

Jax Council members discuss term limits, committee structure

Jax ministers talk HRO referendum with Mayor Lenny Curry