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

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Republican State Rep. Jay Fant has the safest of safe seats on Jacksonville’s deep-red Westside. However, in the even deeper-red Florida House, he found himself on the losing side of this week’s debate about Enterprise Florida. Fant spoke passionately and futilely about the need to maintain incentive programs, a position not shared by most of the […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Chaussee Gibson may not be a household name in the Jacksonville area. But Gibson, a native of Jacksonville who preaches at the St. Johns Baptist Church on Jacksonville’s Eastside, has name identification in Jacksonville City Council District 7. And he filed this week to run for the seat, currently held by first-term Democrat Reggie Gaffney … giving […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

12419170_530911230421286_7375527292676355205_o-1024x1024.jpg

In Jacksonville, friendships aren’t meant to last forever. But in the case of Friends of Hemming Park, they are renewable in six-month terms. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry wrote senior staff this week with the news that the once-controversial FOHP contract would be re-upped through the end of September. “Based on our discussions with Bill Prescott, it is […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Republican Ron Salem, running to replace termed-out John Crescimbeni in the Jacksonville City Council’s At-Large District 2, cleared $30,000 in February. Salem, an establishment favorite, had the kind of donations typically associated with that status. Among the $1,000 donors: local land use lawyer and lobbyist Steve Diebenow, whose wife hosted a Salem “meet and greet”; the Driver, McAfee, Peek […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

On Monday morning, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri will meet with representatives from the State Attorney’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and others with an aim toward eliminating the scourge of human trafficking. Hazouri, who was successful in a push to get a law through in 2016 (2016-130), which mandated awareness signs to be posted at […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

The numbers are stark for those who care about public policy in Jacksonville. And the need for solutions is urgent. Overdoses, at last count, end four times as many lives as homicides in Duval County, with 2016’s count of 464 casualties more than doubling 2015’s count of 201. Caucasians represent 86 percent of the deaths, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott sounded the alarm Thursday evening — again — on a bill that is the bane of his existence this session: HB 7005. “Tomorrow, members of the Florida House of Representatives will vote on HB 7005, a bill which eliminates a large majority of Florida’s economic development and jobs programs. The State of Florida […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

No Northeast Florida incumbents face competitive races in 2018. Yet the fundraising continues anyway, as February evidenced. Notable for performance: two Northeast Florida political committees that cleared the $100K threshold for February money. And one Clay County legislator who had a strong month. ____ One of the PACs that hit six figures: “Build Something That […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

The city of Jacksonville has thus far been frustrated by its dealings with CoWealth, LLC, the family business of Councilwoman Katrina Brown. Frustrations continue this week, with a curious legal filing from CoWealth on Wednesday that led to a sharp response from the city on Thursday. CoWealth LLC, one of the Brown family’s group of nebulously named […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

Screen-Shot-2016-03-07-at-2.01.56-PM-1024x1024.png

Countless young Floridian men were brutalized at the Dozier School in Marianna. Two Florida Democrats, Rep. Tracie Davis and Sen. Darryl Rouson, believe that it is time for the state to answer for the abuse conducted over a staggering 111 years. HR 1335/SR 1440 were filed, asserts a press release from the legislators, “to strongly condemn and apologize for […]

A.G. Gancarski
FEMA. Image via AP.

Jay Fant for Attorney General? Intrigue in Jacksonville

Pastor challenges ‘missing in action’ Reggie Gaffney for Jacksonville City Council seat

Jacksonville re-ups Friends of Hemming Park contract for 6 months, $415K

Ron Salem clears $30K in first month of Jacksonville council candidacy

Jacksonville to redouble efforts against human trafficking

Opioid overdose crisis becomes top priority for Jacksonville policy makers

Rick Scott: ‘Florida Lawmakers to vote on job killing legislation tomorrow’

Lenny Curry, Rob Bradley committees and Travis Cummings pace Northeast Florida February fundraising

Jax councilor’s family business, Jacksonville spar over eco dev default

Democrats Tracie Davis, Darryl Rouson file Dozier School apology bill