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

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

Could self-driving shuttle buses come to Jacksonville in the near future? A bill filed in the Florida House may make that happen sooner than later. HB 3831, filed by Rep. Jason Fischer, seeks $500,000 for a local deployment of the Olli minibus, a Local Motors vehicle made in part with 3D printing and powered by IBM Watson technology. The […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

On Wednesday, a Florida House panel took the baton from a Senate committee, addressing a problem-riddled Auditor General’s IT audit of the Agency for State Technology. The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee discussed a January Auditor General report about the Agency for State Technology and State Data Center operations. Despite the findings of that […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

Floridians can vote and enlist in the military when they’re 18, but a new Senate bill would have them wait until they’re 21 to go to Marlboro Country. SB 1138, filed Wednesday by Democrat Darryl Rouson, would raise the smoking age from 18 to 21. Rouson’s bill would amend Florida Statute 569.008, which currently restricts the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

On Wednesday, Florida State Rep. Jason Fischer filed HB 3799, an appropriations bill calling for $2 million to go to FloridaMakes. That would be a five-fold increase in state funding, which was $400,000 in 2016. The goal: to help Florida maintain its competitive edge in the manufacturing sector. FloridaMakes is a nonprofit public-private partnership and Florida’s affiliate […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council’s Public Health and Safety committee cleared three bills with a public safety impact on Wednesday morning. Ex-offender jobs: PHS passed Councilman Garrett Dennis’ bill (2017-35) strengthening requirements that companies doing business with the city of Jacksonville hire ex-offenders that have gone through rehabilitation programs funded and authorized by the city. The city […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. John Rutherford addressed a group of young Catholic professionals at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jacksonville. Though the speech was about faith, there were some intersections with the political world — including Rutherford discussing his ongoing recovery from a January medical episode (he collapsed in the cloakroom of the House of Representatives), and […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

The long and winding battle of KJB Specialties, a business owned by the family of Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown, may be reaching a denouement. In response to a foreclosure action was filed in Duval County by Florida Capital Bank on a property associated with “KJB Specialties.”, KJB filed a motion this week to extend time to file a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

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2016’s race for Jacksonville City Council VP was full of twists and turns and betrayals. John Crescimbeni pulled it out, after a pledge for opponent Doyle Carter flipped. On Tuesday, 2017’s race for the slot — a prerequisite for the presidency — started in earnest, with Southside Republican Scott Wilson declaring his candidacy. In his letter to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

Pastors from Jacksonville’s First Baptist Church took a provocative position in the wake of Jacksonville expanding its Human Rights Ordinance to include the LGBT community. They claimed that the expansion of the ordinance, which allows for civil fines for discrimination against the LGBT community in housing, employment, and public accommodations, turns Christians into “targets.” And they […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

The Arlington area of Jacksonville has seen better days, and the enclave of mid-century apartment buildings on Justina Road is no exception. That’s where Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry went on Tuesday afternoon, on one of his regular neighborhood walks in areas that have localized challenges. “There’s a lot of people that come to my office on any […]

A.G. Gancarski

Automated shuttle to Baptist Health? Yes, if a Florida House bill passes

Agency for State Technology audit scrutinized by Florida House panel

Darryl Rouson wants to raise the smoking age to 21

Jason Fischer seeks $2M for FloridaMakes, five times the previous year’s funding

Jacksonville council panel clears ex-offender bill, body camera and rape test kit funds

John Rutherford: ‘I thought I was facing death’

KJB Specialties hires attorney specializing in bankruptcy cases

Scott Wilson launches run for Jacksonville City Council VP

Under fire from the right, Lenny Curry responds to HRO critics

Arlington residents express crime concerns to Lenny Curry