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

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2017

Jacksonville Rep. John Rutherford, new to D.C., told Roll Call he was surprised by both ideological and strategic divisions in the GOP caucus itself this week. The caucus, said Rutherford, could be more unified: “to come from the executive side, or at least what feels like the executive side, to the legislative branch, is a […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 477 on Wednesday, a bill that would subject opioid dealers whose toxic product killed the end user to murder charges. HB 477 targets fentanyl and similar drugs by adding them to the Schedule 1 classification, along with heroin, MDMA, LSD, and cannabis. The potential death penalty for traffickers already existed for cocaine, opium, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 14, 2017

Less than a year ago, Corrine Brown and Ronnie Simmons were yoked at the hip, as Congresswoman and Chief of Staff. Less than six months ago, both were off the federal payroll — yet yoked as co-defendants in the One Door for Education fraud case. Much has changed since then. Simmons struck a plea deal with the feds […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 14, 2017

Wednesday morning saw the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department discuss particulars of the upcoming budget with the Mayor’s Office. JFRD faces a number of pressures: a staffing shortfall, challenges from the uptick in opioid overdoses, and equipment needs. As was the case with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, enhancements were certainly going to be […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2017

In Jacksonville, Florida Gov. Rick Scott took questions from local media, including some on the interesting role of being a diehard Donald Trump supporter at a time when his administration careens from scandal to scandal, and Senate hearing to Senate hearing — with embattled Attorney General Jeff Sessions taking the stand today. We asked Scott, who just formed a […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott found his way to Jacksonville Beach Tuesday — his fifth stop of the day — to take a victory lap after a session where he ended up getting what he wanted. And by his side: Reps. Cord Byrd, Jason Fischer, and Travis Cummings — three State Reps. he pilloried as the State House panned his economic […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2017

Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, a freshman on Capitol Hill, was appointed to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. Rutherford is “excited” about the appointment “to a strong committee focused on upholding the Constitution,” per a statement from his office. “As a former Sheriff, I have committed my life to strengthening the justice system in Northeast […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2017

As the office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry gears up to release its third budget, an interesting area of inquiry is the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. A real tension in Curry Administration planning in preceding years has been balancing an austerity-level city budget with the need to ramp up public safety. In 2016, some items were crossed […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2017

May was a pivotal fundraising month for Jacksonville Rep. Jay Fant, locked in a primary battle for the Republican Attorney General nomination. Fant emerged with $79,575 of new money; of that sum, $8,000 came from Fant, and $3,000 came from his political committee, “Pledge This Day,” which raised $9,000 in May. A number of familiar names […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2017

Embattled Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown has a challenger in her expected 2019 re-election bid: Diallo-Sekou Seabrooks. Seabrooks (generally referred to, and referred to herein, as “Diallo Sekou“), is a legit community activist who operates an urban farm, is pivotal in the activist group The Kemetic Empire, and who also operates summer camps for youth, […]

A.G. Gancarski

Divisions in House GOP ‘frustrating’ John Rutherford

Murder charges for fatal fentanyl dealers: now Florida law

Corrine Brown’s motions will fail, says Ronnie Simmons’ lawyer

Jax Fire and Rescue wrestles with staffing, equipment shortfalls

Rick Scott mum on Jeff Sessions testimony being bad for GOP brand

Local legislators laud Rick Scott in Jax Beach

John Rutherford lands on House Judiciary Committee

Jax Sheriff seeks budget enhancements in next fiscal year

Jay Fant tops $79K raised for Attorney General bid

Diallo Sekou challenges embattled Katrina Brown in Jax Council District 8