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

A.G. GancarskiNovember 22, 2016

In the wake of a contentious negotiation session between the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters and city negotiators, Mayor Lenny Curry called a Tuesday afternoon presser to reiterate his team’s negotiating position on Jacksonville’s pensions. Essentially, it boils down to a commitment to 401(k)-styled defined contribution plans for new employees. And it rules out the Florida Retirement System. Curry […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 22, 2016

In 2015, the city of Jacksonville’s annual bond rating trip to New York City was a success, one which improved the city’s credit ratings and allowed the Lenny Curry administration to trumpet its successes well into 2016. Among the accomplishments: Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax revenue upgrades in February to A+ from S&P and Fitch, with a […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 22, 2016

In Jacksonville, the TRUE Commission (Taxation, Revenue, and Utilization of Expenditures) advises the city on fiscal policy. A recent email to city leadership shows that, while you can take a commissioner off of the TRUE Commission, that doesn’t necessarily divest that person of vigilance. Patti Anania, a former TRUE Commission member and wife of a […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

The Duval County Democratic Party is seeking a new chair and the frontrunner is Sen. Audrey Gibson. Yet Gibson is facing one challenger who is calling her out for putting “politics over people.” Jimmy Deininger, Gibson’s opponent in the December election, notes that “our local party is in a state of dysfunction, and to overcome this […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

More transparency. More community engagement. More meetings. More body cameras. And higher millage rates. And that August pension reform referendum? Spoiler: that sales tax extension is not going to provide enough money to pay for what’s needed. Such insights abounded in the long-awaited final report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office‘s strategic initiative task forces. It […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

Jacksonville is wrestling with a pension crisis decades in the making. And national media and political pressure groups are taking notice. The venerable American Spectator magazine — a bible of movement conservatism — waded into the Jacksonville public pension debate last week, throwing sharp elbows at the Northeast Florida city’s pension crisis. The Spectator hit on Jacksonville is […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

With Gov. Rick Scott in Jacksonville announcing record-setting tourism numbers and attributing them to VISIT FLORIDA, it was only natural that Paul Astleford, who heads up Visit Jacksonville, would have his say on the “big numbers.” With Visit Jacksonville under scrutiny for travel expenses, and with its contract due for renewal in a year, Astleford took advantage of the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

Last March, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and members of the Duval delegation convened at Jacksonville’s City Hall, to discuss “what winning looks like.” The city got 90 percent of its appropriations goals. Jacksonville got money for public safety, such as the COPS program, and infrastructure needs, asking for $2 million and getting $1.8 million. And […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Two heads of Jacksonville departments are being promoted from within, it was announced Friday by the office of Mayor Lenny Curry. Diane Moser, chief of Talent Management, has been promoted to serve as director of Employee Services. Stephanie Burch, chief of Real Estate, has been promoted to director of Neighborhoods. Curry described these roles as “critically important” […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Did 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk have a #FridayFeeling? He allowed his Jacksonville employees to leave early on Friday afternoon. Informed sources confirm people were allowed to leave at 2:45 p.m. Those same sources contend that wasn’t an coincidental time to have been chosen. PD-elect Charles Cofer was set to arrive at the PD’s office at 3 […]

A.G. Gancarski
Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

Lenny Curry: Yes to defined contribution, no to FRS

Agenda set for city of Jacksonville bond rating trip

Former TRUE commissioner blasts Jacksonville for post-hurricane cleanup

In Duval Dems chair race, Audrey Gibson assailed for putting ‘politics over people’

Transparency, taxpayer money billed as solutions to Jacksonville police problems

Jacksonville’s pension reform efforts get national attention

Paul Astleford says Visit Jacksonville gets results

New Duval delegation members face a learning curve

New Jacksonville department heads are promoted from within

‘Early out’ from Matt Shirk’s office raises questions