Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 6, 2016

“The people made it clear what they wanted,” a re-elected politician said. “I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and I intend to spend it.” That politician: George W. Bush, in 2004. Bush 43 learned about the finite power of political capital the hard way: seeing his father go from 91 percent approval ratings to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

The holiday break is officially over at Jacksonville’s City Council. The Monday Finance Committee meeting: highlighted by Jax Mayor Lenny Curry introducing his pension unfunded liability payoff plan, ahead of the Legislative Session in Tallahassee this month. Curry discussed his “proposed solution for funding unfunded pension liabilities,” one he said does not involve a new tax, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees selected Willard Payne as its fifth member on Friday during its final meeting of 2015. Larry Schmitt nominated, noting his experience with the Jax Chamber, the Port Authority, and other boards. “I think his experience and expertise in business dealings would make him a good […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2015

Jacksonville’s unfunded pension liability: the crisis of our time. Mayor Lenny Curry has a plan to solve it. But it will need buy-in from Tallahassee, Curry said on Wednesday at the JAX USA quarterly luncheon. Telling the pro-business crowd at the Hyatt Regency that on issues like “job creation, it’s exciting and encouraging to see how […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2015

A packed Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting Monday included what Chairman Bill Gulliford described as a “dog and pony show” related to Jaguars stadium upgrades and an update on the Police and Fire Pension Fund imbroglio, among other issues. If this were pro wrestling, it would be a supercard. Paul Harden, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ superlobbyist, was on […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 20, 2015

The big story from the Friday meeting of the Jacksonville Police & Fire Pension Board of Trustees: the appointment of an interim executive director and administrator: Beth McCague. McCague, a veteran finance professional, was approved by a vote of the board to start on Dec. 1, and to serve for up to a year, or […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 10, 2015

At the end of the Jacksonville City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Councilman Bill Gulliford pressed for executive branch cooperation on getting PFPF reform, which would start with getting a new director in place and putting the controversial tenure of former director and current consultant John Keane into the history books and out of the present tense. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

Not every Jacksonville City Council member could make it to Monday’s public notice meeting where Councilman Bill Gulliford faced down the Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees Chairman Larry Schmitt. With that in mind, the PFPF (courtesy of hourly consultant John Keane) sent an email to the previous City Council group email list […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 30, 2015

Emails from city officials indicate that the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund board knew the forensic audit was complete on Tuesday, making their silence on the matter notable in consideration of that fact. “The media has reported that the forensic audit is complete and that you have scheduled a news conference for 1:00 p.m. […]

Tag: Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund

Lenny Curry, the pension tax, and political capital

Lenny Curry unfunded liability payoff plan highlights Jax Finance committee meeting

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

Willard Payne voted onto Jax police, fire pension fund board

Lenny Curry calls for JAX USA crowd to press Tallahassee on pension solution

Jax Finance Committee OKs amphitheater deal

Jax pension board’s interim director called “breath of fresh air”

Jax Council tensions on post-audit PFPF come to light

Jax Police and Fire Pension Fund countermessages forensic audit

Why hasn’t Jax PFPF commented on forensic audit?

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.