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‘This Week in Jacksonville’ with PPI director Rick Mullaney

Rick Mullaney, the JU Public Policy Institute’s founding director, discussed presidential politics, the proposed Jacksonville human rights ordinance expansion and other topics Sunday, Dec. 30 WJXT-TV 4′s “This Week in Jacksonville” hosted by Kent Justice.  The show was a year-in-review of local and national political news stories.

Addressing the 2012 presidential campaign, Mullaney said that President Obama’s campaign staff outperformed Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s staff, including in north Florida.

“It energized the volunteers and it got those folks to maybe make that extra phone call and knock on that extra door …” Mullaney said of the Obama campaign. “His ground game was extraordinary and he did well in north Florida.”

Also on the television show, Mullaney lamented the Jacksonville City Council’s 10-9 decision in August to reject a bill expanding the city’s human rights ordinance to protect gay people from discrimination. He also said he doubts the discussion is over.

“I think in the end it’s a bit of a self-inflicted wound for Jacksonville …” Mullaney said. “I don’t think this is the end of it. I think you will will see this ordinance come back  and I think you’ll see a little bit of a different discussion.”

Click here to watch the entire Dec. 30 “This Week in Jacksonville” show.

The JU Public Policy Institute, which will begin offering four master in public policy graduate degree programs in August 2013, seeks to prepare students for diverse leadership opportunities in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The Institute will offer the first MPP degree in Florida and the first MPP-JD (juris doctor), MPP-MBA (master in business administration) and MPP-Marine Science joint degree programs in Florida.

To learn more about the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute or to apply, visit www.ju.edu/ppi or e-mail ppi@ju.edu.