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

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2016

In recent months, a bill designed to increase the value of property that can be donated to non-profits and for-profits from $25,000 to $50,000 has been moving through Jacksonville’s City Council. The goal of the bill: to spur development in areas prone to blight. The bill moved through Finance Monday, and had Recreation, Community Development, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

Tuesday afternoon finds Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry “headed back over to Tallahassee” to sell the pension tax bill, he told FloridaPolitics.com. Though the “Discretionary Sales Surtax” bill is not up for any committee hearings this week, Curry plans “individual meetings” with lawmakers. The next stop for the bill, Jacksonville’s plan to deal with the unfunded pension liability, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is more identified with his love of commercial rap than jazz, so one might have wondered what his first jazz festival would have held. The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, held on an annual basis since 1981, has featured a wide range of artists, ranging from Dizzy Gillespie in its first year, to a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

On the Florida Baptist Witness website, Roger Gannam of the Liberty Counsel said that while he was “pleased” that Tommy Hazouri would withdraw his bill to expand Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance, the fight is not over. “We are pleased that our efforts have shown that the city council can’t pass this bill right now,” Gannam said to the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

Discussed toward the end of Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Finance meeting, the Council Auditor’s quarterly summary raised concerns in the committee. There also were concerns that weren’t discussed by the panel. One such concern discussed within the committee: stress on various subfunds related to stadium improvements. The stadium subfund is projected to incur a $644,502 […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday OKd the settlement with John Keane, while it OK’d the JEA Agreement, and increased property donation limits. The settlement between the city and John Keane, a bill described as the “gorilla in the room,” was the big talker. The settlement version of the plan would pay Keane $225,000 in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

Ron DeSantis will co-introduce the Non-Discrimination of Israel in Labeling Act, according to a news release from his office, a response to a Customs and Border Protection policy re-issuance regarding country of origin marking requirements for goods manufactured in the West Bank and Gaza. The bill will reaffirm the original intent of labeling requirements and defend […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

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Monday saw George W. Bush emerge in Charleston, South Carolina, to help prop up his brother’s flagging Presidential campaign. Trump, who has broken the tacit agreement among Republicans to hew to the “Bush kept us safe after 9/11” line, seemed to be betting that W’s counterarguments would fare no better than those of Jeb Bush, the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

There are some things that are quintessentially American. A bowl of poutine, while listening to Leonard Cohen or Glass Tiger, or while watching Hockey Night in Canada. What’s that you say? Those things are Canadian? Yes. And so, apparently, are key images in the new “Morning Again in America” ad from Marco Rubio. Shots throughout the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

The simmering tensions between Duval County School Board member Connie Hall and Superintendent Nikolai Vitti boiled over last week, after months of deterioration. As Melissa Ross wrote last week: Records of emails and texts of Hall and two other Duval School Board members were first requested by a Miami law firm. WJCT obtained a copy of those documents and […]

A.G. Gancarski

NW Jax pushback stalls housing donation bill in Council committee

Lenny Curry, pension tax on his mind, heads back to Tallahassee

Jacksonville Jazz Festival unveils 2016 lineup

Roger Gannam celebrates “temporary victory” on HRO

Jax Council Auditor quarterly financial summary raises concerns in Finance Committee

Jax Finance Committee reluctantly OKs John Keane settlement

Ron DeSantis co-introduces non-discrimination of Israel in labeling act

George W. Bush campaigns for Jeb Bush, doesn’t mention Donald Trump once

Buzzfeed: Marco Rubio’s “Morning Again in America” ad uses Canadian stock footage

Jason Fischer says Connie Hall should “immediately” resign Duval School Board seat