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

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

U.S. Representative Al Lawson may have had good intentions when choosing to spend the first part of an off week in Jacksonville. But intentions are one thing. And delivery is another. Lawson’s itinerary, arrived at last week, was pretty straightforward. Among other things: the first-term Democrat from Tallahassee was to go to Eureka Garden on Tuesday […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

On Tuesday, the Florida Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee heard from the Agency for State Technology. The AST, legislated into existence in 2014, appears on the outside to be in flux. A recent audit of the AST hammered it for a lack of internal controls. Meanwhile, CIO Jason Allison is on his way out the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

On Tuesday morning, a Jacksonville City Council committee mulled the impact of auto repair shops, internet cafes, nightclubs, and liquor stores in certain neighborhoods. Such questionable businesses exacerbate the city’s pervasive blight issues, legislators agree. The fix, it turns out, may be in zoning. But there is no clear consensus on what that fix may […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford has no plans for an official town hall while in his Jacksonville-centered district this week. Yet those interested in catching the first-term Republican have an opportunity Tuesday evening, when Rutherford addresses the Young Catholic Professionals at St. Joseph’s Church in Mandarin. The event, which will be held at the “Cody Family Enrichment Center” on […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council will enter a week of committee meetings on Tuesday morning. Below, some of the bills we are watching work through the process. Ex-offender employment: The most compelling legislation starts cycling through the committees on Wednesday morning, beginning with Councilman Garrett Dennis’ bill strengthening requirements that companies doing business with the city […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 20, 2017

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson visited Eureka Garden in Jacksonville on Presidents’ Day, and expressed optimism for the building’s current ownership, while suggesting that more comprehensive reform of HUD is needed. Speaking to tenants in the 400-unit Section 8 complex’s community center, Rep. Lawson addressed the need for federal help allowing tenants to “make a different […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 20, 2017

Democratic Rep. Al Lawson will begin the week in Jacksonville, ascertaining the priorities of the eastern flank of Florida’s far-flung Congressional District 5. Lawson plans to spend Monday through Wednesday working in town, with the following tentative itinerary. Monday will see Lawson working out of his new Jacksonville office on N. Davis Street in LaVilla. He will […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2017

The phones were lit up Friday morning when FloridaPolitics.com visited the office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. The subject: Curry allowing the city’s Human Rights Ordinance to become law, albeit without his signature. When asked Wednesday about not signing the HRO into law, the mayor cited his position that he did “not believe that legislation was necessary” […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2017

Bob Graham chaired the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee as it dealt with the events of Sept. 11, 2001, helming the Joint Congressional Inquiry into that sequence of terror attacks. On Friday, he called for the same type of investigation into the events of Nov. 8, 2016. Graham’s concern: Russian involvement in the 2016 United States […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2017

On Friday, the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund held its monthly meeting of trustees. It was the first such meeting since the city agreed to tentative pension deals with the police and fire unions last weekend. As part of that deal, the city will no longer be obligated to the terms of the 2015 […]

A.G. Gancarski

Schedule confusion characterizes Al Lawson in Jacksonville

Agency for State Technology gets softballs in Senate committee

Jacksonville council panel weighs blight impacts of sketchy businesses

John Rutherford to meet constituents at Jacksonville Catholic Church on Tuesday

Jacksonville City Council tackles body camera cost, ex-offender jobs

Al Lawson talks HUD reform at Jacksonville’s Eureka Garden

Al Lawson begins week in Jacksonville, will visit Eureka Garden

Religious right to Lenny Curry: ‘keep your promise’ on HRO

Bob Graham: Investigate the Russians!

Jacksonville PFPF trustees throw cold water on Lenny Curry’s pension deal