John Hawley
Aug 1, 2026
The Influence Network- People. Money. Connections. Power.
Government decisions rarely happen in isolation. Behind major contracts, development incentives, board appointments, campaign contributions and public-policy decisions are networks of business leaders, elected officials, developers, nonprofits, political organizations and civic institutions whose interests frequently intersect.
The Influence Network follows those connections using public records, campaign-finance reports, government contracts, corporate filings, board memberships, meeting records and other publicly available information. The objective is not to suggest that a connection itself establishes wrongdoing, but to document who is connected to whom, where public and private interests overlap, and how those relationships intersect with decisions involving taxpayers and public policy.
Individual articles examine subjects including Jacksonville's civic and business leadership, development incentives, government appointments, political contributions, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships and organizations seeking to influence Florida policy.
By connecting those stories over time, the series provides something a single headline cannot: a broader view of the people and organizations participating in the decisions shaping Jacksonville and Florida.
Explore The Influence Network below. Select any article to examine the records, relationships and public decisions behind each story.
The Influence Network- Part V: Who Shapes Jacksonville and How?
The Influence Network- Part IV: Who has a stake in the property tax debate?
The Influence Network- Part III: How board overlap can concentrate civic power
Who Makes Up the Jacksonville Civic Council? Inside the Network of CEOs and Civic Leaders
