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

A.G. GancarskiMay 18, 2017

On Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry took reporters’ questions, and primary among them was one about Moody’s offering mixed reviews of his pension reform package. Curry’s pension reform, covered exhaustively here, included moving new hires to defined contribution plans, imposing a sales tax extension to deal with legacy defined-benefit costs, and boosting the city’s contribution to […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 18, 2017

Jacksonville is flush with first-rate local breweries, and at least one world-class local distillery. And if a new bill passes the Jacksonville City Council, the local liquor scene downtown will flourish even further. Ordinance 2017-399, filed by Council President Lori Boyer at the request of the Downtown Investment Authority, would permit distilleries and breweries throughout the entire […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 18, 2017

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam continued barnstorming the state Wednesday evening, with a stop in Jacksonville Beach. Putnam — the first serious declared candidate on the GOP side — expected and got a warm reception from locals in Duval County, with 158 politicians and GOP insiders out in force. The sepia-tinged speech, revolving around themes of […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2017

In the week since President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, politicians have been grappling with an investigation that routinely is being compared to Watergate. President Trump is even seeing GOP support for him wane, with House and Senate Republicans calling for a special prosecutor. Despite the rocky road ahead for Trump, Jacksonville Republican Rep. John Rutherford stands […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2017

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson takes pride in his place on the Agriculture Committee, and has noted in in-district town halls the importance of that placement for North Florida issues. On Wednesday, Lawson followed up a hearing with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue with a letter denoting the concerns he’s observed in his North Florida district. One issue of importance: SNAP […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2017

Just as films and books have reviews, the municipal bond sector has its own critiques from bond ratings agencies. In the case of Moody’s, which dropped its report Wednesday on Jacksonville’s status after pension reform, the writeup boils down to six words: “buy now, pay later, assume risks.” And Moody’s also asserts that there may be […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee moved a number of key bills ahead of Tuesday’s meeting of the full legislative body. Among those bills: an extension of the Florida/Georgia football game contract, which would keep the game in Jacksonville until 2021; legislation impacting public service grants; and a long-mulled settlement of a city zoning decision […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2017

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg laid out some grievances about the “meek and mild” Duval County Legislative Delegation in the Florida Times-Union. “The most alarming and damaging issue is the additional Homestead Exemption. If passed by the citizens of Florida in the August 2018 election cycle, it would chop off about $27 million annually from […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2017

Rumors of the Jacksonville TRUE Commission’s demise look to be false, after serious pushback in a Jacksonville City Council panel against a bill that would sunset the body in three years. Councilman Tommy Hazouri has been unhappy with the Taxation, Revenue Utilization and Expenditures Committee for much of his term – and Hazouri filed a long-awaited bill […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2017

Shots were fired across the bow of the Duval County Legislative Delegation Tuesday by Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg. In the Florida Times-Union, Schellenberg said the “meek and mild” delegation brought home “crumbs … a huge disappointment.” He also said the delegation kowtowed to House leadership rather than bringing home the bacon, taking specific issue with the […]

A.G. Gancarski

Lenny Curry shrugs off Moody’s mixed review of pension reform

More downtown drinking to come to Jacksonville?

Adam Putnam pitches ‘Florida exceptionalism’ in Jax Beach

John Rutherford. Al Lawson diverge on Donald Trump’s woes

Al Lawson addresses SNAP, food deserts, North Florida farm goods with U.S. Ag Secretary

Moody’s on Jax pension reform: Buy now, pay later, assume risks

Florida/Georgia game extension ready for full Jacksonville City Council vote

Anna Brosche is ‘concerned’ about potential homestead exemption impacts to Jacksonville budget

Stay of execution for embattled Jacksonville TRUE Commission

‘Meek and Mild’ legislators dispute Matt Schellenberg’s Duval Delegation diss