Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees selected Willard Payne as its fifth member on Friday during its final meeting of 2015. Larry Schmitt nominated, noting his experience with the Jax Chamber, the Port Authority, and other boards. “I think his experience and expertise in business dealings would make him a good […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

On the heels of Bill Gulliford’s bill pushing for an HRO expansion referendum, Councilman Tommy Hazouri filed a bill on Thursday to expand the HRO to cover the LGBT community. The Hazouri bill would expand equal protections under the law, including housing and employment, as well as public accommodations, to people regardless of sexual orientation (real or […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2015

In the wake of Councilman Bill Gulliford calling for a referendum on expansion of the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance, one thing is clear. On the HRO, there is no clarity, with business community members, Council members, and the mayor’s office all singing from different hymnals. FloridaPolitics.com caught up with various Jacksonville VIPs today, and notable was […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

After a grueling round of committee hearings, the only question regarding the Jacksonville City Council’s approval of a $45 million investment into EverBank Field upgrades was this. Would it be 19 to 0? Or would dissident Danny Becton stand his ground and vote against the measure, as he did in two Committees? It turned out that […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 2, 2015

Can Jacksonville’s City Council be bought? When it comes to the Human Rights Ordinance, at least one out-of-state outfit thinks so. As first reported by WJXT, a Dallas outfit called Newstarter.com posits a provocative proposition: “Millionaires buy politicians. Now the PEOPLE can too! Buy City Council votes to pass the Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville,” says […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 1, 2015

Rules, the third Jacksonville City Council committee deliberating the bill, approved the EverBank Field amphitheater package on Tuesday afternoon without even a moment of committee discussion. The bill allocates $90 million for stadium improvements, including a new amphitheater, a covered practice field, and other enhancements to the Sports Complex. With no discussion at all, Rules […]

Melissa RossNovember 30, 2015

By turns funny and rueful, Houston Mayor Annise Parker urged Duval County Democrats to learn from her city’s recent bruising turn in the national spotlight over the routing of its “HERO” ordinance by not making the same mistakes of her administration. “When the stupid comments start, don’t roll your eyes,” she told the 2015 Blue […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2015

A movement is afoot, as we reported on Tuesday, among certain pastors to push toward a referendum on the Human Rights Ordinance, as opposed to a Council vote. The referendum in Houston managed to undo the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. Uncoincidentally, Houston pastors were recently in town talking to Jacksonville counterparts. Is this a serious […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 25, 2015

If you’re reading this, you likely have a positive relationship with the Thanksgiving holiday. This should be especially true for the doughty stalwarts of the #JaxPol universe, where seemingly everyone, from the congressional level down to City Council, have tangible things for which they should be grateful. U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, for one, can be grateful […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

The penultimate Jacksonville City Council meeting of the year, on “getaway day” before Thanksgiving break unofficially begins, had, in theory, a light agenda with expected heavy public comment on the HRO and related issues. In practice, though the agenda was light and the public comment was robust, the HRO commentary was surprisingly muted. The agenda […]

Tag: Tommy Hazouri

Willard Payne voted onto Jax police, fire pension fund board

Tommy Hazouri files all-inclusive HRO expansion bill

Legislative approaches diverge on Jax HRO

Jax City Council approves EverBank Field upgrades 19-0, a “legacy for this council”

Can Jacksonville’s City Council be bought?

With no discussion, Jax Rules Committee greenlights Jags stadium improvements

Houston Mayor Annise Parker to Duval Dems: “address stupid comments head-on”

Jax Democratic Council members discuss potential HRO referendum

Thanksgiving, the #JaxPol edition

Jax City Council light on agenda, heavy on public comment