Step into the complex and ever-shifting landscape of Florida politics with renowned political reporter A.G. Gancarski. In this episode, we dissect the mechanical realities driving the Sunshine State's political future, exploring everything from looming constitutional property tax amendments to the early, high-stakes maneuvering of Jacksonville's 2027 mayoral race.

In This Episode, We Discuss

• 🗳️ The Property Tax Amendment Paradox: We break down why the proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes is losing voter support. Support drastically drops when voters learn about the potential $11.8 billion budget shortfall affecting core local services.
• 🌴 Florida's Gubernatorial Race: We take an early look at the upcoming race for governor, analyzing Representative Byron Donalds' massive campaign war chest. We also discuss why he might still face a surprisingly tight contest against Democrat David Jolly.
• 🏛️ Jacksonville's 2027 Mayoral Matchup: We explore Mayor Donna Deegan's formidable $2.6 million fundraising momentum and her successful efforts to win over the Republican donor class. We also examine the crucial communication hurdles awaiting potential challenger Wyman Duggan.
• ⚖️ Local Controversies Unpacked: We unpack the Jacksonville Aviation Authority's ongoing clashes with the City Council regarding Cecil Field's spaceport capabilities. Additionally, we provide the latest expectations regarding the state attorney's investigation into Kevin Carrico.

About the Guest

A.G. Gancarski is an esteemed political reporter and columnist writing for Florida Politics, Jax Today, and dozens of other publications. He is widely recognized as one of the most plugged-in observers of day-to-day political mechanics, offering unparalleled insights into both statewide legislation and Jacksonville's local governance.

About Mikes on Mic

Hosted by 50-year opinion leaders Mike Hightower and Mike Tolbert, alongside award-winning broadcaster Mike Miller, Mikes on Mic delivers incisive conversations about politics, government, and the city of Jacksonville.

Links & Resources

Show Website: MikesOnMic.com

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In this special episode marking the third anniversary of Mikes on Mic, hosts Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert are back in the studio together to celebrate three years of insightful political conversation. Joining the celebration is investigative reporting legend and Executive Editor of The Tributary, Nate Monroe.

The Mikes dive deep with Nate into the latest political shockwaves rocking Jacksonville, from unredacted text scandals and public records battles to the changing guardrails of local government and the future of the city's independent authorities.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Kevin Carrico Text Scandal: Nate breaks down his recent reporting on former City Council President Kevin Carrico's "inartful" text messages regarding a Boys & Girls Club land deal and his flippant approach to public business.
• The Public Records Battle: A look behind the curtain at the considerable fight The Tributary and other news organizations faced to extract complete text messages from city council officials, raising serious transparency concerns.
• JEA & The Investigative Committee: The fallout of Carrico's accusations against JEA CEO Vicki Cavey and why the council seems ready to move past the drama.
• Scrutinizing the Unscrutinized (JSO): Nate discusses how the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office budget consumes a massive chunk of the general fund yet traditionally escapes rigorous council oversight.
• The Death of Local "Guardrails": A poignant look at how Jacksonville politics have nationalized into a permanent partisan campaign mode, shifting away from the traditional influence of local stakeholders with "skin in the game".
• Nat Ford’s JTA Legacy: With JTA CEO Nat Ford resigning effective January 2027 after 13 years, the team reflects on his knack for securing federal grants balanced against the controversial autonomous vehicle program and the fate of the Skyway.

Notable Quotes

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In this episode of Mikes on Mic, hosts Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert sit down with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan live from City Hall. As she begins the final year of her first term and launches her 2027 re-election campaign, Mayor Deegan reflects on her commitment to turning renderings into reality and keeping her administration's foot on the gas.

From downtown revival and neighborhood infrastructure to navigating local political drama and bracing for a major state-level tax battle, Mayor Deegan shares an inside look at the challenges and triumphs of leading one of Florida's fastest-growing cities.

Key Topics Discussed

• Jacksonville's Momentum: Mayor Deegan highlights the city's growth, including major investments in riverfront parks, healthcare, and pioneering local funding to address the affordable housing crisis.
• Neighborhood Infrastructure vs. Downtown Revival: Addressing critics, the Mayor details how downtown development brings a high return on investment that funds neighborhood projects. She highlights an increase from $15 million to $100 million for infrastructure in underserved areas, including vital septic tank removals.
• Public Safety & Prevention: A look at why violent crime numbers are down, the impact of literacy initiatives in partnership with former Mayor John Peyton, and the implementation of Journey Forward intervention programs.
• Navigating City Council Relations: Mayor Deegan discusses her working relationship with the new Council President, finding common ground on jobs and economic development despite differing views on what constitutes "core services".
• The Tallahassee Threat: A deep dive into the upcoming November homestead exemption referendum, which threatens a $300 million revenue hole for Jacksonville and strips local control over quality-of-life funding.
• Florida’s Best-Run City: Mayor Deegan reacts to WalletHub’s recent study naming Jacksonville the best-run city in Florida, contrasting the ranking with recent unspecific criticisms from the State CFO.

Notable Quotes

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Why are working families in Jacksonville one rent increase away from financial distress? Why has homeownership become an elusive dream for an entire generation, even for those who can afford rent?

In this episode of Mikes on Mic, Mike Miller and Mike Tolbert dive deep into the uncomfortable questions surrounding Jacksonville’s dramatic housing market shift. They are joined by Dr. David Jaffe (Sociology Professor at the University of North Florida) and Katie Renzi (Project Manager for UNF’s Rental Housing Project), co-authors of the book, The Financialization of Human Shelter: The Rental Housing Crisis in a Sun Belt City.

Together, they pull back the curtain on how basic human shelter has been converted into an asset class for wealthy clients and corporate landlords. They break down the failures of traditional supply-and-demand models, the political roadblocks to local affordable housing initiatives, and why the state’s political landscape is making tenant protections harder to enforce.

If you want to understand who really benefits from the current housing market and what alternative models could actually move the needle, this is a conversation you cannot afford to miss.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

• The Financialization Shift: How private equity firms and institutional investors are buying single-family homes in Jacksonville, bundling them into portfolios, and prioritizing investor returns over safe, affordable living conditions.
• The "Middle Housing" & Transit Dilemma: Why zoning deregulation alone won't solve the crisis without capital subsidies and robust public infrastructure, like transit networks, to drive purposeful development.
• State Preemption vs. Home Rule: A look at how Florida's Live Local Act and other state-level legislation have effectively dismantled local "home rule," wiping out democratically passed Tenant Bills of Rights overnight.
• 4 Priorities to Fix the Crisis: Dr. Jaffe shares his blueprint if he were given the keys to City Hall: creating an Office of Housing Resources, launching a public landlord registry, beefing up code compliance, and funding publicly owned, non-profit, mixed-income housing.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: The Financialization of Human Shelter: The Rental Housing Crisis in a Sun Belt City by Dr. David Jaffe & Katie Renzi (Published by Emerald Point).
• Research Website: Check out the multifamily apartment complex database and resources at the [Jax Rental Housing Project Website].

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In this incredibly special episode of Mikes on Mic, hosts Mike Hightower, Mike Tolbert, and Mike Miller dedicate the hour to honoring a true Jacksonville icon—philanthropist, trailblazer, and community champion Pam Paul.

With fingerprints all over the civic, political, and philanthropic fabric of Jacksonville, Pam has spent over six decades quietly transforming the city from the ground up. From serving as an indispensable full-time volunteer senior staff member across three mayoral administrations (Mayors Ed Austin, John Delaney, and John Peyton) to her fierce advocacy for the creation and funding of the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, Pam’s legacy is a masterclass in selfless leadership.

The Mikes share moving tributes from an exclusive video feature packed with local legends—including former Mayors John Delaney and John Peyton, former Sheriff Nat Glover, Judge Audrey Moran, and business leader Michael Munz—before sitting down with Pam herself to reflect on a wonderful life of service.

Tune in to hear firsthand stories about her fearless early days lobbying for children's issues in the all-male halls of Tallahassee and Washington, her unique trademark bowl of peanut M&Ms, and that unforgettable weekend she directed street traffic to ensure 2,100 underprivileged kids got to see Michael Jackson live at the Gator Bowl.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 – Introduction: Honoring the Fingerprints of Pam Paul
• 01:25 – The Florida House Impact Award & A Gathering of 500 Leaders
• 01:50 – Local Legends Reflect: Audrey Moran, John Delaney, Nat Glover, Mark Lamping & John Peyton
• 02:20 – The Dollar-a-Year Volunteer & The Famous Peanut M&Ms
• 03:40 – Sheriff Nat Glover on the New Town Project Partnership
• 04:20 – Mayor John Peyton & The Early Childhood Literacy Book Club
• 06:30 – Michael Munz: "The Mother of the Children's Commission"
• 08:30 – Cracking the Glass Ceiling & Quietly Designing the Better Jacksonville Plan
• 14:50 – Mike Tolbert’s Story: Pam, Michael Jackson, and the 1984 Victory Tour
• 15:50 – Mike Hightower’s Story: Crashing the Halls of Tallahassee & Washington DC
• 18:10 – Mike Miller’s Reflection: The Senior Staff’s "Moral Compass" and "Den Mother"
• 19:30 – The History of the 1994 Tax Referendum for Kids
• 22:10 – Pam Paul Joins the Show: Meeting Bobby Paul at Yale & Moving South
• 24:45 – Facing the Good Ol' Boys: Trailblazing for Female Lobbyists
• 28:00 – "Aren't We Having Fun?" & Closing Remarks

🔗 CONNECT WITH US

• Stream More Episodes: Mikes on Mic Official Website
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💬 SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Mikes on Mic runs on the generosity of our community. A huge thank you to all of our donors for keeping the lights on and the cameras rolling! If you enjoyed this tribute to Pam Paul, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing this episode with a friend.

#MikesOnMic #PamPaul #JacksonvilleHistory #Philanthropy #WomenInLeadership #JaxChildrensCommission #CommunityImpact #DuvalCounty

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Is Downtown Jacksonville truly booming, or are we just chasing buzzwords? In this episode of Mikes on Mic, Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert sit down with Ennis Davis—a certified planner, public historian, and sixth-generation Floridian—to peel back the layers of Jacksonville’s urban development, transportation struggles, and rich cultural heritage.

From the future of the Laura Street Trio to the deep Gullah Geechee roots of LaVilla, Ennis provides a master class on how history and density must work together to create a vibrant city.

Key Highlights from the Conversation:

• The Reality of "Booming" Downtown: Ennis discusses why hitting the 10,000-resident milestone isn't a "magical pinnacle" for vibrancy and why the city must focus on "The Three Cs": Clustering, Complementing uses, and Compact settings.
• Historic Preservation & The Laura Street Trio: A look at why projects like the Trio have struggled to cross the finish line and how the Ambassador Hotel's transition into a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel serves as a model for adaptive reuse.
• LaVilla’s True Identity: Why Ennis corrects the "Harlem of the South" label, instead calling Harlem the "LaVilla of the North," and the neighborhood's role as the epicenter of Gullah Geechee culture in Jacksonville.
• Transportation & The Navi System: A candid critique of JTA’s driverless vehicle system, the need to attract "choice riders," and why transit investments fail without supportive land-use policies.
• The Emerald Trail: Why this project is more than just a "wide sidewalk" and how it can serve as a tool for generational wealth in historically disenfranchised communities.
• Jacksonville’s Gullah Geechee Heritage: Ennis discusses his new book and the $34 billion economic potential of cultural tourism, including the authentic history behind local staples like shrimp and grits and garlic crabs.
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About the Guest:

Ennis Davis is an author and urban planner with over 20 years of experience in architecture and development. He is the President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and a leading voice on equitable development and mobility in Florida.

Join the Conversation:

Special thanks to our generous donors for keeping the lights on and the cameras rolling.

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The three Mikes are taking a brief hiatus this week, but we’re digging into the vault to bring you a discussion that is just as relevant now as it was when it first aired in March 2025. Join Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert for a deep dive into the political maneuvers and fiscal realities shaping Jacksonville.

In This Episode:

• The UF Land Swap: We break down the friction between Mayor Donna Deagan and Councilman Ron Salem over the proposed land swap to bring a University of Florida graduate school to downtown.
• The $3 Billion Elephant in the Room: A sobering look at the city's $3 billion pension debt and the record-breaking $201 million annual payment hitting the general fund.
• The Power of Local Journalism: We discuss the critical role of the Jacksonville Tributary in uncovering the health crisis at the Duval County Jail, leading to staffing increases and the lifting of the facility's probation.
• 2026 Political Forecasts: From the Trump vs. DeSantis influence on the Florida Governor’s race to John Morgan’s potential third-party run, we look at the shifting tides of the GOP and independent voters.
• Legislative Watch: A discussion on the $115.6 billion state budget, the erosion of Home Rule, and the future of property insurance in Florida.

Connect with the Mikes:

• Website: mikesonmic.com
• Platforms: Find us on your favorite podcast app, Facebook, and YouTube.

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In this episode, the "Three Mikes"—Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert—are joined by long-time political leader and 5th-term City Councilman Matt Carlucci. With a legacy stretching back to the dawn of Jacksonville’s consolidation, Carlucci offers a candid look at the friction currently defines City Hall.

From the "cancer" of partisanship to the ongoing investigations surrounding JEA, this conversation cuts through the noise to ask: Is Jacksonville's government still working the way it was intended?.

Inside the Episode

• The Carlucci Legacy: Matt reflects on the lessons learned from his father, Joe Carlucci, a member of the first Consolidated Council known for his fierce independence.
• A Crisis of Trust: The hosts discuss a recent UNF poll showing City Council approval ratings in the low twenties. Carlucci argues that trust is a politician's most valuable asset and, currently, it is being squandered by pettiness.
• The JEA Controversy: The discussion dives into the State Attorney investigations and the "political problem" behind allegations of toxic workplace culture and billing failures.
• Staying in the Lane: Mike Hightower and Matt Carlucci warn against the "chilling effect" of politicizing independent boards, noting the potential risks to Jacksonville’s credit ratings on Wall Street.
• Downtown’s Momentum: Despite the political drama, Carlucci highlights the "noticeable" vertical growth in the city, including the University of Florida's presence, the new MOSH, and the Emerald Trail.

Key Takeaways

• Independence is Paramount: Carlucci stresses that council members must be independent thinkers rather than following "bad influencers".
• The Danger of Partisanship: Modern political divisions are described as a "wall" that prevents the give-and-take necessary for sound policy-making.
• Governance vs. Politics: The "Founding Fathers" of consolidation intentionally designed independent authorities like JEA to keep politics out—a guardrail Carlucci believes is currently under threat.

Connect with Mikes on Mic

Visit our website at mikesonmic.com to catch up on past episodes. You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube, and your favorite podcasting platform.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on the conversations shaping Jacksonville.

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