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

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

Last Saturday, I checked out a protest against President-elect Donald Trump — the Jacksonville iteration of the #NotMyPresident movement. As protests go, it was as Shakespeare wrote: “sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Those in attendance – 150, maybe 200 – were peaceful, by and large. The signs and speakers were all earnest, in that young, leftish, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

Jacksonville’s epidemic of gun violence in 2016 (106 homicides thus far) has been bookended in 2016 by the deaths of two of the youngest, most innocent victims imaginable. In January on Jacksonville’s Eastside, 22-month-old Aiden McClendon was gunned down as the toddler sat in a car with relatives. Another car drove by, and bullets sprayed […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

The revival of the Jacksonville Journey was a signature campaign pledge of Mayor Lenny Curry. But over 16 months into his term, violent crime continues in Jacksonville, with a spree of shootings over the weekend. Though the Jacksonville Journey has never been represented as a quick fix for violent crime so much as a program to drive […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

Jacksonville has changed a lot since the late 1970s. But the city’s tourist development plan remains as it was when originally implemented almost 40 years ago. With that in mind, Council President Lori Boyer brought forth a bill Monday morning to the Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services Committee with some revisions to charter language regarding the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 11, 2016

There will be Florida input on the Donald Trump transition team, with Attorney General Pam Bondi named as a member of the transition team’s executive committee. The team will be chaired by VP-elect Mike Pence, with campaign surrogates Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Newt Gingrich, Gen. Michael Flynn, Rudy Giuliani, and Sen. Jeff Sessions as vice-chairs. “I’m honored to serve President-elect Donald […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 11, 2016

A Republican lawyer with an interest in Second Amendment rights. A GOP UPS HR manager who, when president of the Jacksonville City Council, led a quixotic effort to remove a nude photograph from the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art. And who fought against the appointment of a university professor to the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 11, 2016

On Friday and Saturday, Jacksonville residents who take umbrage with the outcome of the presidential election will have chances to express that displeasure in public parks. Friday at 5:30 p.m., Riverside Park will be the staging point for a “CommUNITY Vigil.” This event will offer “solidarity against oppression and Trump.” Vigil attendees will have the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 11, 2016

For the city of Jacksonville, every week is a week to honor and celebrate its military veterans. “The people of Jacksonville pride themselves in being the most military- and veteran-friendly city in the United States,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “Our Military Affairs and Veterans department at City Hall has a team of dedicated personnel to […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 10, 2016

The score of last Saturday’s Navy/Notre Dame game in Jacksonville was Midshipmen 28, Fighting Irish 27. But the big numbers for the city of Jacksonville went beyond the scoreboard. Hotel occupancy at 90 percent. Over 50,000 people in the stands. Economic impact of $30 million. Jacksonville has seen sports and entertainment as a major part of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 10, 2016

In the northeastern part of Florida, one high-profile state Senate race was in doubt almost to the end. The Senate District 8 slugfest between Democrat Rod Smith and the Election Night winner, Republican Keith Perry, was the marquee matchup and a boon, via advertising, for mass media companies. Perry narrowly won, 119,284 to 107,394 — a margin of 52 […]

A.G. Gancarski

How Jacksonville can benefit from Donald Trump

Murder of Jacksonville infant illustrates a larger struggle

Jacksonville Journey discussion reveals fissures on council panel

Jacksonville council panel OKs revision of tourist development plan

Pam Bondi to join Donald Trump transition team executive committee

Election turnover brings real change to Duval Delegation

Protests against Donald Trump to begin in Jacksonville

Jacksonville’s military affairs department fulfills a necessary role

Big local ROI for Jacksonville’s Navy/Notre Dame game

Rob Bradley committee’s late-October $100K contribution to FRSCC paid off