Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

As of Sunday night, Rules Chairman Matt Schellenberg had three meetings scheduled Monday to engage support for his Jax City Council VP bid. Anna Brosche was his first. Schellenberg, a second term Republican representing Mandarin and Beauclerc, had introduced at-large candidate Brosche to voters in his Mandarin district last year during the campaign, as he did Sam Newby, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 5, 2015

Arguably the most monumental election of Tuesday night, for those in Northeast Florida, wasn’t the St. Johns County Sales Tax referendum, but half a continent away: Houston voters rejected their city’s equal rights ordinance. The margin wasn’t close: 61 to 39 percent. The issue had been into a so-called “bathroom ordinance,” with opponents somehow reducing […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The JEA Board is taking shape, and Lenny Curry is bringing two big time players to the game. One of them is a longtime Democratic City Councilman. A Tuesday morning email from Director of Appointments and Special Projects Jordan Elsbury signals the administration’s intention to advance Warren Jones and Ed Burr on an expedited emergency cycle […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 5, 2015

At Monday’s NICE Committee meeting, the ongoing public information campaign regarding blight was discussed. Seemed innocuous enough on its surface. In practice, though… The city of Jacksonville’s Director of Blight, Denise Lee, presented the administration’s position regarding the importance of public information, even as committee members, such as Councilman Tommy Hazouri, wanted to know more […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

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By an 18-0 vote, the Jacksonville City Council authorized a resolution urging Housing and Urban Development to defund Eureka Gardens. It seemed clean enough at the time. Bill Sponsor Warren Jones noted that the legislation was being studied in Shelby County, Tennessee, where the same owner had eight properties. Denise Lee added that she wanted to extend […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 11, 2015

Denise Lee is approaching the end of her tenure on Jacksonville City Council. She has a lot to be proud of as she exits for her next venue, with smart money having her headed toward the Curry administration. Her signature achievement, however, must be considered the Blight Committee, which she has used to take aim […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2015

Before Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, there was a scene that was curiously touching. Former District 7 Councilman Johnny Gaffney showed his brother, just-elected Councilman Reggie Gaffney, where he’d be sitting. You probably wouldn’t have seen that had George Spencer beaten Reggie in the election. In that moment, you could see how Johnny might have taught […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 8, 2015

A doorknocker showing up on the front doors of houses in predominately African-American neighborhoods on the Northside and Northwest Jacksonville, as opposed to predominately white, Hispanic, or Asian-American neighborhoods, makes some tough claims about Republican mayoral candidate Lenny Curry. It calls him “divisive and dangerous,” a “partisan Republican” who “worked to block the voting rights of […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 7, 2015

At the Lenny Curry headquarters opening in Avondale on Thursday night, former City Councilman Johnny Gaffney talked to a room full of Curry supporters about the heat he has gotten for bucking the Democratic Party and backing Curry. “My phone is blowing up. It’s hot; got to call 911 to put it out,” Gaffney said, adding that he […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2015

Earlier Wednesday, we reported on the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC‘s slate of endorsements for the March Jacksonville Unitary Election. In doing so, we have uncovered differing recollections of a 2012 meeting between PAC Vice Chairman Jimmy Midyette and Mayor Alvin Brown‘s Chief of Staff Chris Hand. Midyette said at Tuesday’s press conference that “before the bill was introduced, […]

Tag: Warren Jones

Jax Council VP candidate Matt Schellenberg questions Aaron Bowman’s independence from Chamber

Despite fall of Houston HERO, “fully inclusive” Jax HRO push is full steam ahead

Warren Jones, Ed Burr to JEA Board

Sparks fly in Jax NICE Committee

Jax Council votes for resolution asking HUD to defund Eureka Gardens; controversy ensues

Future Jacksonville undersheriff talks blight enforcement

Tale of 2 cities, 2 parks: Jacksonville City Council considers public safety

Denise Lee rips into another Alvin Brown ad

Warren Jones calls out Johnny Gaffney

Alvin Brown’s staff chief disputes LGBT leadership PAC version of 2012 meeting