Politics

Should Florida’s state bird be the flamingo or scrub-jay? Jim Mooney says both in refiled bill

Published

5 months ago

September 5, 2025

Will 2026 be the year when lawmakers finally knock the common mockingbird of its perch as Florida’s official state bird and replace it with two avians far more closely associated with the Sunshine State?

Islamorada Republican Rep. Jim Mooney hopes so. He just refiled legislation (HB 11) to make the change, establishing the American flamingo as Florida’s state bird and the blue-and-gray scrub-jay as the state’s official songbird.

It’s about more than different feathers on a crest, Mooney said, noting that both the scrub-jay, Florida’s only exclusively native bird species, and the flamingo are emblematic of the state’s recovering ecosystem and how important it is to keep it healthy.

“It’s an environmental bill for me. It’s directly showing the results of Everglades restoration,” he said.

“Why are they back and hanging out? Because the food sources are better in the Florida Bay. As a kid, I always saw flamingos here, and it’s nice to see entire flamboyances of them now. And then you look at the scrub-jay, and it’s going the way of the orange groves. It’s being bulldozed away. I just want to make people aware that we’ve got to do a better job of protecting scrub-jays’ habitat, recognizing it and providing better support for them and the flamingo.”

Mooney’s 2025 version of the bill died without a hearing. Its upper-chamber analog by Miami Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia fared better, clearing two of three committee stops with uniform support before stalling in the Senate Rules Committee, which Republican Kathleen Passidomo of Naples chairs.

“Ileana did a great job of presenting it,” Mooney said, adding that he expects the legislation to fare better in the House this time around. “Speaker (Daniel Perez) promised me he’d hear it.”

*(L-R) The American flamingo and Florida scrub-jay. Images via AP.*

Efforts in Florida to replace the mockingbird, the state bird of four other states, have persisted for years.

The most prominent push came in the 1990s, when students tried to make the change but encountered a powerful foe in then-National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer. In one Palm Beach Post op-ed at the time, she described scrub-jays as “evil little birds that rob the nests of other birds” and suffer from a “welfare mentality” because they were known to eat food from other people’s hands.

During talks last year about Garcia and Mooney’s proposals, Jason Oberlink, the Legislative Director of Florida for All and a self-professed “bird nerd,” derided Hammer’s “bizarre crusade” against the scrub-jay, whose return from the brink of extinction reflects Florida’s resilience and shows that “even in devastation, there is still hope.”

“This bill won’t stop the climate crisis or stop corporate polluters from driving it,” Oberlink said. “But it does send a message: recognizing the flamingo and the Florida scrub-jay affirms our commitment to preserving what makes Florida special.”

Mooney acknowledged Friday that there are more pressing problems than which fowls fly as Florida’s finest.

“I’ve got my insurance bill coming too,” he said. “I’ve got some other good stuff coming.”

HB 11 is the first bill Mooney has filed for the 2026 Legislative Session, the regular schedule of which is set to run Jan. 13 to March 31.

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Matt McCullough joins race to replace Matt Carlucci on Jacksonville City Council

Published

6 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

May Greene

A third candidate has joined the race in Jacksonville City Council at-large Group 4 to replace term-limited Matt Carlucci.

“After thoughtful discussions and with the support of my family, I am excited to officially announce my candidacy,” Matt McCullough said in a statement announcing his bid.

McCullough, a former Navy pilot who flew during the global war on terror in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Active Endeavor, and has received two Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medals, a Meritorious Service Medal, and recognition as both Combat Aircrew of the Year and Pilot of the Year.

He currently is North Florida’s Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer, and believes that his military background is a unique value-add as he enters politics.

“As a veteran, I know what leadership and delivering results looks like. Jacksonville deserves a city government that works to put our residents first, keeps our neighborhoods safe, and invests responsibly in our future,” McCullough said. “I’ve had the honor of wearing our nation’s uniform and lead under pressure. I am ready to bring that leadership to City Hall on day one and continue my service on the Jacksonville City Council.”

Carlucci has yet to endorse in this race between three Republicans, in which a real front-runner has yet to emerge.

April Ethridge, an Army vet with an MBA, has raised just $1,550 after being in the race for the better part of 2025.

Andrew McCann, who made his career in medical services before he “made the pivotal decision to step away from corporate life to focus on his family, personal growth, and the betterment of Jacksonville,” raised and self-funded $13,100 since entering the race at the end of October.

Qualifying runs from noon on Jan. 11, 2027, to noon on Jan. 15, 2027. The First Election is March 9, 2027, while the General Election, which sees the top two finishers square off regardless of party label unless someone gets a majority in March, is May 18.

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Politics

Nicole Gomez Goldmeier, Jackie Arboleda promoted at LSN Partners

Published

38 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

May Greene

Two weeks after announcing its first round of 2026 promotions, LSN Partners is following up with a couple more as it continues expanding its local, state and federal practices.

Round 2 includes the elevation of Nicole Gomez Goldmeier to Chief Growth Officer and Jackie Arboleda to Chief Marketing and Community Relations Officer.

Gomez Goldmeier previously held the COO title at LSN Partners. In her new role, she will drive revenue growth and business development for the firm with a focus on strengthening long-standing client relationships, advancing expansion into key markets driven by client demand, and supporting strategic engagement.

She will remain actively involved in the firm’s Republican Governors and Mayors practice, reinforcing LSN’s position as a trusted bipartisan adviser.

“Nicole understands our clients and the public-sector landscape in a way that few people do,” said Alex Heckler, founder and Managing Partner of LSN Partners. “She has played a central role in how we build relationships, identify opportunities, and position the firm for long-term success. This role formalizes the work she has already been leading.”

Arboleda, meanwhile, will oversee the firm’s marketing, communications, brand positioning and community engagement, ensuring that LSN’s messaging, events and external presence reflect the firm’s strategic priorities and client-focused initiatives.

LSN said she will continue serving as a leader within the firm’s health care practice while working directly with clients as a project manager, adding that her dual focus on marketing leadership and project management strengthens the firm’s ability to deliver results to clients across markets nationwide.

“Jackie has helped shape how clients experience and engage with LSN and how the firm is perceived in the market,” Heckler said. “Her understanding of our clients, our culture, and our mission allows her to deliver results at the highest level, whether in our healthcare practice or driving the firm’s communications strategy.”

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Florida’s signature industry shows up for Tourism Day at the Capitol

Published

1 hour ago

January 21, 2026

May Greene

Tourism spending produces an estimated $2K in tax savings per Florida family, VISIT FLORIDA says.

Florida tourism and hospitality heavyweights will show up in force Wednesday at the Capitol to highlight the Sunshine State’s signature industry and make the case for continued state investment.

Groups participating in Florida Tourism Day at the Capitol include the Florida Attractions Association, Florida Association of Museums, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Florida RV Park and Campground Association, Destinations Florida, and VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism marketing arm.

The cohort will spend the day meeting with lawmakers to emphasize the industry’s role as one of Florida’s primary economic drivers, top employers and major state revenue generators.

“The success of Florida’s tourism industry, and the economic and jobs benefits our state reaps from it, are the direct result of statewide and local tourism promotion efforts,” said Destinations Florida Executive Director Robert Skrob.

Florida Attractions Association President and CEO Bill Lupfer added, “Tourism is a cornerstone of Florida’s economy, supporting jobs, communities, and public services statewide. No destination in the world matches Florida’s number, quality and diversity of guest experiences or the cutting-edge service delivered by our attractions, making continued investment in tourism essential to sustaining our global leadership.”

According to a recent VISIT FLORIDA study, travelers spent a record $134.9 billion in the state in 2024 — up 3% from the prior year — and nearly all of it remained in Florida’s economy, with 59 cents of each dollar going directly to worker salaries. Meanwhile, tourism-related tax revenue reached $33.6 billion, while tourism-supported employment grew to 1.8 million jobs statewide.

VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO Bryan Griffin said the topline numbers translate to an estimated $2,000 in tax savings per Florida family, adding that his agency “remains diligently focused on partnering with Florida’s tourism industry and serving Florida’s residents through our important work.”

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