RPOF-CNN debate scheduled for Jacksonville

On the heels of an announcement about Florida moving the state's presidential primary to January, the Republican Party of Florida issued the following announcement:

Today the Republican Party of Florida and CNN have entered into an agreement to co-host a nationally-televised debate on a date between January 22 and January 31. The move ensures Florida voters, and the nation, will hear directly from the Republican presidential contenders just before Florida’s January 31st primary. The debate will be held in a venue in Jacksonville.

 
“The Republican Party of Florida is excited to be working with CNN for a debate linked to the state’s primary date,” said RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry. “The opportunity to host it in my home city, Jacksonville, helps shine the national spotlight on another region of Florida that our eventual nominee must win.”

Florida Governor Rick Scott said of the announcement, “After national debates in Tampa and Orlando, this latest partnership with CNN for a debate in Jacksonville in January demonstrates the crucial role Florida will play, not only in the Republican Presidential Primary, but in the general election next November.”

Jacksonville mayor’s race takes on national significance ahead of 2012

Jacksonville is a big city—one of the largest in land area in the U.S. It’s also a key city in Florida elections. In 2008 voters chose Sen. John McCain (R) over then Sen. Barack Obama (D) for president by less than a 2 percent margin. Some analysts believe Jacksonville will be a key city in the 2012 General Election, and that concept is leading to speculation about the impact of Jacksonville’s elections in May when voters will select a new mayor.

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As foreclosure chaos rules, Jacksonville woman’s story touches a nerve

Updated on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 1:42AM by Kay B. Day, Editor

When you work in media a long time, people tell you a lot of stories. Most of them you can’t run for one reason or another—the person has no proof of his or her claims perhaps. Or maybe the prospect of a lawsuit is there because the current political climate aims to silence voices of those who disagree with the status quo.

After meeting Rebecca Sharp, she told me the story of her personal experience with foreclosure. Sharp’s case is probably not typical—she says she has made her mortgage payments and did so through Western Union. That way she had independent validation she made those payments. As I pointed out in the original column, Sharp’s problems involved her escrow account.

Since writing that story, I’ve received comments and one reader in particular was extremely upset.

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Jeb Bush endorses McCollum at rally as GOP base strengthens

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum speaks to guests during his 2010 Florida Tour stop in Jacksonville. McCollum is running in the primary to win the Republican nomination for governor.Former governor Jeb Bush arrived in Jacksonville on Monday to support Attorney General Bill McCollum’s bid to win the GOP Primary in the Florida gubernatorial race.

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Florida GOP gubernatorial candidates should debate in Jacksonville

Cindy Graves, president of the Florida Federation of Republican Women, issued an official statement on Wednesday, calling for a statewide debate between the two frontrunners in the governor’s race. Graves said, “The members of the Florida Federation of Republican Women respectfully call upon our GOP candidates for Florida governor to work out the details necessary to hold a statewide televised debate for the benefit of the voters.”

At present both Democrat and Republican candidates for the Primary in the nation’s fourth largest state are locked in duels that at times make the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral look like a water pistol fight.

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Jacksonville band heads to Gitmo for 4th of July weekend celebration

(Jacksonville, Fla.)—August Drive, a band based in Jacksonville, Fla., will head to US Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) to entertain troops for a weekend holiday celebration on July 3 and 4. The group is a hybrid formed by members of two popular bands, Something Distant and Dial-9. Lead vocalist Jeff Congo told The US Report, “We really want to go down there and give these troops a little piece of home, and let them unwind and sing and scream along to songs they know and love.” [Story continues after photo.]

[Left to Right] Jason Ramsey- bass,Jeff Congo- lead vocals and guitar, Evan Cameron- lead guitar,Chris Condon- drums. (Photo courtesy of Chris Condon)

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