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

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

As Hurricane Matthew churns north along Florida’s northern Atlantic coast, it is leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power as night prepares to fall on Friday. As of 3 p.m., 92 percent of customers (257,284) in Volusia lacked power, according to the governor’s press office. Flagler has 96 percent (over 57,000) of its customers […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

On Friday afternoon, as the worst of Matthew threatened his city with hurricane conditions through nightfall, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry briefed media and a home audience on the storm. At his last briefing Friday morning, the message was “hunker down.” In the afternoon, the message was similar. “We are in the middle of it, so my […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

In the GOP primary in House District 19, nominee Bobby Payne was overshadowed, ironically enough, by his defeated opponents. Former RPOF Chair Leslie Dougher and Katherine Van Zant, the wife of the incumbent, got the bulk of the coverage. And Van Zant dominated the fundraising race. However, Payne ended up taking the election, and the Palatka Republican’s fundraising […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

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Like his fellow Jacksonville Republican Clay Yarborough in House District 12, Rep. Jay Fant of House District 15 faces no serious competition in November. His opponent is a write-in. Despite not having a real opponent, odds are good those on Jacksonville’s Westside will see a Fant spot on television before Election Day. Fant spent $9,750 with Front Line Strategies […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

11 a.m. update: The city of Jacksonville sent an email saying the worst is yet to come. “Hurricane conditions are expected in 3-6 hours,” while water levels look poised to peak at “1-2 p.m. and 1-2 a.m. tonight.” Two bridges are closed, the Dames Point Bridge and Atlantic Boulevard Intracoastal Waterway Bridge. The Fuller-Warren is still open, for […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

House District 12 Republican Clay Yarborough faces write-in candidate Jerry Steckloff — whose sole distinction is being more socially conservative than the GOP nominee — Nov. 8. It’s uncertain whether Steckloff had a reason for getting in the race beyond the time-honored tradition of closing the primary. However, his continued position as an active candidate allows Yarborough to […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

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The sole competitive race for the state House in the Jacksonville area is the House District 13 battle. Democrat Tracie Davis was selected by acclamation of the Duval Democratic Executive Committee on Tuesday, replacing Reggie Fullwood, who resigned from the Legislature and abandoned his re-election race after pleading guilty on two federal counts in late September. Republican Mark […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2016

WJXT-TV anchor Tom Wills got deeply emotional on a Thursday telecast regarding the need to evacuate Jacksonville’s beaches during Hurricane Matthew. He got so emotional, in fact, that he got coverage statewide. The Tampa Bay Times‘ “Buzz” picked up on Wills comparing impacts from the storm to Hurricanes Katrina and Hugo, in an emotional plea Thursday afternoon that […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 6, 2016

Last updated: 5:45 p.m. When it comes to hurricanes, Jacksonville has had a lot of dry runs, false alarms, and close calls. Hurricane Matthew is different. NOAA said as much in its noon Thursday update: “A major hurricane has not impacted this area in 118 years, since Oct. 2 1898. There is NO local living memory […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 6, 2016

On Thursday afternoon, President Barack Obama signed an Emergency Declaration stating “an emergency exists in the State of Florida and [ordered] federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Matthew beginning on Oct. 3, 2016, and continuing.” This ensures federal action and oversight: as the media […]

A.G. Gancarski

Night of darkness awaits NE Florida seaboard in hurricane’s wake

Jacksonville braces for worst of Hurricane Matthew

Establishment money lines up behind HD 19 Republican Bobby Payne

Running against write-in, Jay Fant spends on TV shoot

Lenny Curry: ‘Hunker down’ as Hurricane Matthew moves north

Running against write-in, Clay Yarborough raises union and PAC money

HD 13 Republican Mark Griffin closes Sept. with $33K on hand

Jacksonville anchor’s emotive plea for storm evacuation gets statewide traction

Jacksonville preps for ‘catastrophic 100-year storm’ ; National Guard en route

President activates FEMA, issues Emergency Declaration for Florida