![\"\"](\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/jax-chamber.jpg\")
<\/a>Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce secures $750,000 in marketing funds after brief City Council budget drama.<\/p>\nHappily, for the Chamber and its JAXUSA marketing arm, there wasn\u2019t much controversy in the process.<\/p>\n
The Neighborhoods Committee alluded to political positions the Chamber\u2019s JAXBIZ political committee took over the years on some issues but not others, and the Finance Committee basically told the Chamber to start substantiating its expenses with receipts.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s set to pass City Council on Tuesday; why wouldn\u2019t it be?<\/p>\n
The Chamber endorses candidates and supports the majority of the City Council.<\/p>\n
There are those on the outside of this process who still warn that the Chamber may face issues with the Council down the road.<\/p>\n
But when?<\/p>\n
There is one more budget cycle left ahead of the 2027 election.<\/p>\n
Time is running out.<\/p>\n
No competition<\/strong><\/p>\n The view remains the same in Northeast Florida\u2019s 5th Congressional District.<\/p>\n As of the end of September, four-term incumbent John Rutherford<\/strong><\/a> continues to dominate in terms of donor support.<\/p>\n The former Jacksonville Sheriff has $337,169 on hand, putting him well ahead of his only Primary challenger to report financial activity, podcaster Mark Kaye<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Kaye has $5,106 on hand at last report.<\/p>\n While four Democrats have opened campaign accounts, three of them have reported no fundraising at all.<\/p>\n The other one, Peter Mark Heggestad<\/strong>, has raised less than $300.<\/p>\n Rutherford raised more than $83,000 in Q3, and more than $56,000 of that comes from individual contributors.<\/p>\n His associated \u201cStrengthening the American Republic<\/strong><\/a>\u201d Leadership PAC also has nearly $33,000 on hand.<\/p>\n Kaye, who recently joked that Rutherford was \u201cready to retire<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d continues to fall short of what he promised when he got in the race in terms of fundraising.<\/p>\n The challenger said earlier this year that \u201cdonations are pouring in from across the country,\u201d and that he expects to \u201clean heavily on grassroots energy, digital outreach, and the loyal support of thousands of his listeners called \u2018Kayetriots\u2019 across Florida and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n Thus far, those supporters are pacing themselves.<\/p>\n The incumbent has faced Primaries consistently.<\/p>\n In 2022 and 2024, he got roughly 2\/3 of the vote against conservative populist Mara Macie<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The district, which includes some of Duval and St. Johns counties, is designed for a Republican win in any General Election, with more than 250,000 GOP registrants and fewer than 145,000 Democrats.<\/p>\n Bean counting<\/strong><\/p>\n U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean<\/strong><\/a>, a Fernandina Beach Republican, continues his steady fundraising<\/strong><\/a> as he runs for a third term in the 4th Congressional District.<\/p>\n As of the end of September, Bean had more than $961,000 on hand, per records from the Federal Elections Commission<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n He raised more than $261,000 in Q3, with more than $141,000 coming from individual contributors. The vast majority of those donations came from people who live in Northeast Florida, including House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan<\/strong><\/a> and Adam Brandon<\/strong><\/a>, a candidate for Jacksonville City Council.<\/p>\n Political Action Committees related to Florida companies, such as Publix<\/strong><\/a> and Raytheon,<\/strong><\/a> also contributed.<\/p>\n Bean has a substantial fundraising lead<\/strong><\/a> over his challengers.<\/p>\n Michael Kirwan<\/strong><\/a>, a Jacksonville Democrat who entered the race months ago, is currently the best-positioned to compete<\/strong><\/a>. He raised more than $250,000 according to his first fundraising report.<\/p>\n Democrat Ricky Knoles<\/strong> had under $1,000 on hand as of the end of Q3, while Brittany Robinson<\/strong> had just over $2,000.<\/p>\n Former Democratic nominee LJ Holloway<\/strong><\/a> says she is looking to run again as well, which could create a four-way Primary in August if she enters the fray. But despite running for Congress several times since the 2016 cycle, she has never raised the kind of money Kirwan is reporting.<\/p>\n Two candidates without party affiliation have also opened FEC accounts.<\/p>\n No fundraising activity has been reported.<\/p>\n The district includes Nassau, Clay and part of Duval counties. It is 41% Republican and 34% Democrat.<\/p>\n Complete and Total<\/strong><\/p>\n President Donald Trump <\/strong>has officially endorsed U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack\u2019s <\/strong>re-election bid. He praised the Gainesville Republican in a Truth Social post<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cCongresswoman Kat Cammack is doing a fantastic job representing the wonderful people of Florida\u2019s 3rd Congressional District,\u201d Trump wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Congress, Kat is working tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Support our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Champion our Military\/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Kat Cammack has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election \u2014 SHE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!\u201d<\/p>\n Cammack embraced the support.<\/p>\n \u201cHonored to be in the fight with Donald Trump for the future of our country,\u201d she wrote on her X account<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re defending conservative values, protecting our communities, and getting the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n The support for the three-term Congresswoman isn\u2019t surprising, but it should help insulate Cammack from a Republican Primary challenge. That could be especially important if lines for her district change substantially as the Florida Legislature begins an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting effort<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n No other Republicans have filed for Cammack\u2019s seat in Congress. But when she first ran for the seat in 2020, Cammack faced<\/strong><\/a> nine other Republican opponents for the open seat. She ultimately succeeded U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho <\/strong>after working in his congressional office as Deputy Chief of Staff.<\/p>\n Should lines remain similar for CD 3, more than 60% of voters in the district supported Trump for President, compared with under 39% who voted for Democrat Kamala Harris<\/strong>, according to MCI Maps<\/strong><\/a>. Trump outperformed Harris in every North Florida district.<\/p>\n The support for Cammack\u2019s re-election could also diminish speculation about whether Cammack intends to run in Florida for Agriculture Commissioner in 2026 should incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson <\/strong>not seek re-election.<\/p>\n Dolphin Cost<\/strong><\/p>\n Jacksonville University (JU<\/strong><\/a>) President Tim Cost <\/strong>will step down from the top slot at the private college on the First Coast next year but will remain heavily involved in the institution.<\/p>\n JU announced Tuesday that Cost has agreed to leave the presidency and become Chancellor of the school in Summer 2026. Cost became president of JU 14 years ago. An alum who was a JU Dolphin baseball player and standout pitcher when he attended the school more than four decades ago, Cost left an executive position with PepsiCo to take the helm at the campus on the St. Johns River in Northeast Florida.<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Cost\u2019s exemplary leadership over the past 14 years has transformed our university in remarkable ways,\u201d said JU Board of Trustees Chair John Miller<\/strong>. \u201cUnder his guidance, we\u2019ve enjoyed growth in undergraduate and graduate enrollment, developed countless strategic partnerships in and outside of our community, and elevated our profile both in the region and beyond. The Board is grateful for his extraordinary commitment as President and his dedication to students, and we are confident he will help further advance our mission and expand our impact as Chancellor.\u201d<\/p>\n A JU press release said Cost had reached an agreement with the Board of Trustees in 2022, stating he would transition into Chancellor and primarily focus on fundraising, alumni, community and government relations.<\/p>\n But despite that agreement, Cost and JU ran into financial difficulties in the Spring. Due to the challenges of dollars and cents, there was a 10% faculty cut and several academic programs were eliminated as Cost and the school engaged in financial restructuring.<\/p>\n The financial developments and hits to faculty and curriculum sparked student protests on campus and heavy criticism from many of the faculty who remained employed. Still, the Board of Trustees stood behind Cost and agreed with his proposals to right the financial ship.<\/p>\n The university plans an extensive search process before selecting the next President of the 91-year-old school.<\/p>\n Pedal patrol<\/strong><\/p>\n Palm Coast is the latest Florida municipality to step up regulations on e-bikes that are increasingly popular across the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n The City Council in Flagler County this month approved an ordinance<\/strong><\/a> that defines \u201cuse and operation of electric bicycles.\u201d City officials acknowledged there have been growing concerns about the safety of the easy-to-use bicycles that have a battery-powered engine and can scoot up to speeds in excess of 30 mph. They\u2019re akin to a low-speed motorcycle with pedals. But a simple push of a button can propel them.<\/p>\n On that end, the Palm Coast Council ordinance makes it illegal for e-bike owners to modify the vehicles so they can exceed state-defined speed limits on streets, sidewalks or paths. The new law also stipulates a minimum age of 11. Anyone using an e-bike must follow all local traffic regulations and must provide an audible signal when passing other vehicles on the road.<\/p>\n Anyone operating an e-bike in Palm Coast must also have a photo identification that is issued by a government agency, which must be presented to any law enforcement officer if requested. Those identification cards can include a driver\u2019s license, passport, military identification or a school ID.<\/p>\n Fines for violations can be up to $100 for each offense and law enforcement is empowered to impound the vehicle if necessary.<\/p>\n The Palm Coast move comes after St. Johns County approved an e-bike public awareness campaign in August, following two separate accidents involving the vehicles that injured two different 15-year-old boys.<\/p>\n I\u2019m walkin\u2019 here<\/strong><\/p>\n A new analysis<\/strong><\/a> shows Jacksonville is one of the worst walkable cities in the United States.<\/p>\n According to the study by StorageCafe<\/strong><\/a>, Jacksonville is the 17th-worst city for supporting residents who prefer not to drive vehicles. According to the analysis, Jacksonville doesn\u2019t really offer a pedestrian-friendly environment, with limited public transit and few amenities for those who want to traverse the city on foot.<\/p>\n It could be worse, though. The analysis ranked Cape Coral as the top town in the country where car culture still dominates. Port St. Lucie followed in second. Pembroke Pines was ranked sixth. Only Texas had more cities in the top 25 worst cities for pedestrians, with six towns on that list.<\/p>\n Miami was ranked the second-best metro area in the country for a pedestrian-friendly environment.<\/p>\n Book \u2019em<\/strong><\/p>\n The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA<\/strong><\/a>) Jacksonville is holding a book launch event that will feature its new publication called \u201cThe Armory South: The 1924 Jacksonville Woman\u2019s Club Exhibition Rediscovered.\u201d<\/p>\n The publication is written and researched by P. Scott Brown<\/strong>, the Interim Dean of the Hicks Honors College at the University of North Florida. The catalog features an in-depth analysis of the current exhibition of the same name on display at MOCA.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Armory South: The 1924 Jacksonville Woman\u2019s Club Exhibition Rediscovered reassembles core works from a forgotten but seminal Modernist exhibition mounted in March 1924 by the Woman\u2019s Club of Jacksonville and the newly founded Jacksonville Fine Arts Society (now MOCA). Planned to mark the beginning of the museum\u2019s second century in 2025, The Armory South tells several related stories of essential importance to the history of women in Modern art, the introduction of Modernism to the American South, and the ideas and relationships shaping American art in the mid-1920s,\u201d a MOCA press release said.<\/p>\n The launch party is Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the MOCA museum in downtown Jacksonville.<\/p>\n Word wars<\/strong><\/p>\n University of North Florida professors are being urged to watch what they say amid a climate of ideological policing.<\/p>\n The Tributary<\/strong><\/a> reports the state ordered \u201ccertain taboo words\u201d removed from \u201call class syllabi or course descriptions in the university\u2019s teacher-education department.\u201d<\/p>\n On the chopping block: \u201cdiversity,\u201d \u201cequity,\u201d \u201cinclusion,\u201d and \u201cculture.\u201d<\/p>\n UNF leadership defends the move as according with state law that mandates instructional material \u201cmay not distort significant historical events or include a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics \u2026 or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.\u201d<\/p>\n Palm Coast plans<\/strong><\/p>\n With two finalists in the running to be the next Palm Coast City Manager, the city is calling for public input.<\/p>\n Palm Coast officials are opening up public participation in the selection process for the new top administrator for the city government. The city is hosting interviews with the two finalists for the position on Nov. 13 at City Hall. City leaders are encouraging residents to take part in what they are calling a day of public engagement, and the city will post exact times for the event as it draws closer.<\/p>\n The finalists for the top slot include David Fraser, <\/strong>who has three decades of municipal experience and administration. He\u2019s currently the Interim County Manager in Adams County, Colorado. He also has experience involving strategic planning, intergovernmental relations and development of major grants and revenue for municipal projects.<\/p>\n Michael McGlothlin <\/strong>is the other finalist who has four decades of public service experience. He\u2019s currently the Town Administrator for Redington Shores in the Tampa Bay area. McGlothlin is a former city administrator and police chief in Oregon.<\/p>\n Touch grass<\/strong><\/p>\n St. Johns County formally dedicated a new athletic facility that will serve as a new site for soccer leagues and other sports.<\/p>\n The facility isn\u2019t technically new, but it has a new surface at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center<\/strong><\/a> at 1300 Duval St. in St. Augustine. The event held Saturday morning commemorated the transition of the former grass field into the new artificial turf field.<\/p>\n<\/a>John Rutherford dominates fundraising in Florida\u2019s 5th District, leaving challenger Mark Kaye far behind.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Aaron Bean nears $1 million cash on hand as Northeast Florida challengers struggle to raise funds.<\/p>\n<\/a>Donald Trump backs Kat Cammack\u2019s re-election, bolstering her standing ahead of potential redistricting changes.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Jacksonville University\u2019s Tim Cost to step down as president, transition to chancellor amid fiscal strain.<\/p>\n<\/a>Palm Coast cracks down on modified e-bikes, setting age limits and ID rules to boost safety.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Study ranks Jacksonville among America\u2019s least walkable cities, where cars rule and sidewalks disappoint.<\/p>\n<\/a>MOCA Jacksonville launches book by author P. Scott Brown rediscovering 1924 Modernist exhibition celebrating women\u2019s impact on Southern art.<\/p>\n<\/a>UNF professors told to remove \u2018diversity,\u2019 \u2018equity,\u2019 and \u2018inclusion\u2019 from syllabi under new state rules.<\/p>\n<\/a>Palm Coast seeks public input as finalists David Fraser and Michael McGlothlin vie for City Manager.<\/p>\n