In Episode 140 of the Mikes on Mic Podcast, hosts Mike Tolbert, Mike Hightower, and Mike Miller sit down with veteran Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Carlucci for an extended, candid conversation.

Episode Highlights

• The State of Local Politics: Carlucci discusses how the Jacksonville City Council's culture has increasingly shifted toward personal attacks and intense partisanship over the last four years. He explains his recent decision to publicly speak out on Facebook against performative politics that damage public trust and hurt the families of local leaders.
• City Budget & Mayor Deegan: The councilman breaks down the current $2 billion city budget, specifically praising Mayor Deegan's recent presentation for effectively connecting city departments and demonstrating how various programs support one another. He also commends current Finance Chair Will Lannin for avoiding petty politics and protecting essential services, such as telehealth options and local clinics that provide families with critical alternatives to the Shands emergency room.
• Amendment 3 Concerns: Carlucci warns about the severe ripple effects Amendment 3 could have on municipal finances and vital services, including the Kids Hope Alliance and local after-school programs that working parents rely on.
• Recent Elections: Carlucci highlights the primary victory of Councilwoman Moné Holder, noting that her transparent messaging on affordable housing and Amendment 3 resonated with voters and seemingly brought a more respectful tone to the current finance committee.
• Personal Growth & Future Plans: Reflecting on nearly four decades in politics, Carlucci shares how losing elections ultimately made him a more grounded and empathetic public servant. He formally announces his upcoming book detailing these lessons, expected to release this November, and shares his post-council plans to retire from office and vacation with his wife, Karen.

About the Guest

• Matt Carlucci was first elected to the Jacksonville City Council in 1987 and is currently completing his fifth and final term representing At-Large Group 4.
• Over his 35 years of public service, he has been a steadfast advocate for government accountability, helping to create the Jacksonville Ethics Commission and serving as chair of the State Commission on Ethics.
• Outside of politics, he has run a local State Farm insurance agency for 45 years.

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In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome back Times Union reporter David Bauerlein to break down the latest news from city hall.

Episode Highlights

• The JEA Investigation: We kick things off by examining the recent city council committee questioning of JEA CEO Vickie Cavey. The Mikes and David discuss the highly unusual, deposition-style interrogation led by council secretary Jason Teal.
• Vickie Cavey's Future: The panel explores whether Cavey will return from her extended leave or choose to retire once again from her demanding role at the utility.
• Navigating the $2.02 Billion Budget: David provides behind-the-scenes insights into the city council finance committee's review of Mayor Donna Deegan's proposed $2.02 billion budget.
• Referendum Contingencies: Discover how the upcoming November property tax referendum is forcing the council to place about $7.1 million of public and cultural service grants "below the line," contingent on the election's outcome.
• City Development: We discuss Mayor Deegan's prioritization of downtown investments—including a continuous St. Johns River park system—and how that balances with funding for other local neighborhoods.

Jacksonville's Power Brokers

The conversation also highlights the key players influencing Jacksonville's current political and financial landscape:

Political Figure | Role & ImpactNick Howland & Will Lehnen | City Council President and Finance Committee Chairman leading a cautious review of the city's spending.

Lenny Curry & John Peyton | Former mayors who continue to exert background influence over local politics and potential swing votes.

Wyman Duggan | A potential future Republican mayoral candidate who voted to put the property tax referendum on the ballot.

A special thank you to our donors for keeping the lights on and the cameras rolling! You can find Mikes on Mike on your favorite podcasting platform, Facebook, and YouTube, or visit mikesonmike.com.

Tune in to the show on your favorite Podcasting platform and on MikesOnMic.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mikes-on-mic/id1697258731

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1osbkLvqreSJPXmfaubY1M?si=yVwAAnw1TmSSzZnZ3vM8sA

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In Episode 138 of Mike's On Mic, hosts Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert sit down with Dr. Sean Freeder, UNF political science professor and director of the Public Opinion Research Lab. The team breaks down the latest July UNF poll numbers, exploring what they reveal about voter sentiment, shifting party advantages, and major upcoming races in Florida.

Key Discussion Topics & Highlights:

• Florida’s Political Landscape: Dr. Freeder analyzes why Republicans maintain a strong voter registration advantage, but why a narrower turnout differential could make the 2027/2028 election cycles much more competitive.
• The Affordability Crisis: A look at why affordability and housing costs dominate voter concerns across all political lines, and how candidates must move past generic platitudes to craft targeted messaging.
• The Homestead Exemption Amendment: Breaking down the legal challenges facing the property tax ballot language, how budget impact estimates drastically change voter support, and shifting stances from key interest groups and leadership.
• The Governor's Race: Examining the surprising polling numbers between Byron Donalds and David Jolly, the impact of national anti-incumbent sentiment, and Republican primary fallout.
• The U.S. Senate Primary & General Outlook: A close look at the Democratic primary race between Lieutenant Colonel Vindman and State Representative Angie Dixon, and how either candidate stacks up against incumbent Ashley Moody.

Tune in every two weeks for more insider political analysis and local insights from the Three Mikes and follow the program at MikesOnMic.com

Tune in to the show on your favorite Podcasting platform and on MikesOnMic.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mikes-on-mic/id1697258731

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