A.G. Gancarski, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 15, 2017

Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche shocked many in local politics when she announced commencement of a process to remove Jacksonville’s Confederate monuments. “I intend to propose legislation to move Confederate monuments, memorials, and markers from public property to museums and educational institutions where they can be respectfully preserved and historically contextualized. It is important to […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville this weekend, which included one person killed by a domestic terrorist, protesters in Jacksonville renewed calls to remove Confederate monuments in the city. Such calls have increased in intensity in recent weeks, with interesting contretemps at Jacksonville City Council meetings between Confederate enthusiasts and progressives who believe […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

Early in the term of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Australian financial sector titans the Macquarie Group came to town. Jacksonville beat out other competitors in what was called a robust global search in 2015; in 2017, Macquarie doubled down with an expansion of its Southbank Riverwalk location. The incentive package driving that was rolled out in […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

When it comes to fundraising in Duval County 2019 races, the landscape comes down to two City Council candidates, then everybody else. As has been the case in recent months, Jacksonville City Council hopefuls Matt Carlucci and Ron Salem are the two declared candidates demonstrating fundraising traction thus far. Carlucci is in an especially impressive position; just […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

Certainly, this will be a different story in 2018. But in July 2017, fundraising for Northeast Florida State Representatives and Senators was slow. The two incumbent state Senators on the ballot, Republican Aaron Bean and Democrat Audrey Gibson, each raised under $10,000 in July. Bean raised $9,500 and spent $1,915 in July, giving him just under $31,500 […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2017

Taking advantage of budget relief after pension reform, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s new budget proposed raising the emergency reserve. When Curry came into office, there were worries that — absent pension reform — Jacksonville would have to tap into the reserve. Curry’s team proposes a bump up to 6 percent this year, and the hope […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2017

Monday saw post-conviction motion hearings for acquittal and for a new trial in the matter of Corrine Brown, the former Congresswoman who was found guilty on 18 counts in a fraud trial earlier this year. Rulings have yet to be rendered on either motion, yet the hearings were lively. Brown’s attorney, Orlando barrister James Smith, asserted Monday […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott joined a chorus of state and national politicians calling for the selection of Jacksonville as the best location for the next Air National Guard F-35 Base. Jacksonville is among five finalists for the base; Gov. Scott, well-connected in the White House, made his case Friday in a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis. “There […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2017

July continued a trend in the race for the 2018 GOP nomination for Attorney General: Ashley Moody‘s fundraising sizzled, and Jay Fant’s fizzled. Moody, a former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge, added $117,360 to her campaign account in July, giving her a total of $607,736 raised, with nearly $590,000 on hand. Combined with the roughly $109,000 in her […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2017

The eternal struggle for Jacksonville Public Library funding continued Friday in the City Council Finance Committee’s budget hearing. Budget cuts took effect in a major way in 2013, leading to cuts in hours and commensurate reductions in services. Since then, advocates have wanted expansion of hours and services. The major improvement in the last two […]

A.G. Gancarski

Hate mail won’t change Anna Brosche’s resolve to remove Jax Confederate monuments

Jacksonville pols, civic leaders urge Confederate monument removal

‘Jacksonville is hot,’ says Lenny Curry at Macquarie ribbon cutting

Matt Carlucci clears $100,000 on hand in 2019 Jax City Council race

Summer doldrums dog northeast Florida lawmakers’ fundraising

Reserve fund row rocks Jacksonville budget hearing

Audrey Gibson: ‘Corrine Brown says she’s innocent and that is that!’

Rick Scott wants F-35s in Jacksonville

Ashley Moody raises big money in GOP AG race; Jay Fant flounders

Jax Councilors tackle public library budget