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

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

In an effort to comply with SB 7026, the school safety bill passed after the Parkland massacre, Duval County decided to use “school safety assistants.” A group of plaintiffs including the League of Women Voters filed a legal challenge Thursday, arguing the plan is illegal and discriminatory. The LWV suit says the plan puts “thousands of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

On Thursday, a Jacksonville City Council subcommittee continued what is billed as a “comprehensive crime reduction inventory.” However, crime reduction may not be the only law enforcement concern for the legislative panel: A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report this week revealed that Duval County ranks 66th in terms of crimes solved. Its clearance rate hovers […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

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State Sen. Rob Bradley is renewing for the second straight year his quest to protect Floridians’ vegetable gardens — local ordinances notwithstanding. This year’s bill (SB 82) by the Fleming Island Republican would eliminate as “void and unenforceable” local jurisdiction over front yard gardens. The goal: Facilitating “the development of sustainable cultivation of vegetables and fruits at […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

One of the knocks against Jacksonville’s government is a lack of long-range planning. Jacksonville City Council members are working to change that, via the institutionalization of plans extending out as far as five years. These plans have been pushed before in the early 2000s, and are up again. A bill under consideration in the Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2018

Earlier this year, a suspect shot and killed Fang, a 3-year-old Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9. The German Shepherd chased the suspect into the woods, and that was his last chase. A 9 mm handgun saw to that. JSO and the larger community grieved. And now, via area state Sen. Aaron Bean, a legislative remedy: A bill […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2018

On Tuesday, the board of Jacksonville public utility JEA voted to make interim CEO Aaron Zahn permanent. Mystery shrouded the process for some observers, leading JEA board chair Alan Howard to decry notions that the board was not independent of the Mayor’s Office. A review of the seven-person board’s scoring matrixes backs up at least part of that […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

A bill voted down 8-0 last week in the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee nonetheless got its hearing in front of the full Council this week. However, the result was no different, as the full Council followed the lead of Rules and the Council President and turfed Ordinance 2018-570 by a 3-16 vote. The bill, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council approved a bill that would change conditions under which part of the local utility could be sold. All committees voted the bill up without a no vote, pushing the bill onto the consent agenda. Charter previously required City Council approval of any transfer of more than 10 percent of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

Electricity was in the air Tuesday, as the board of Jacksonville municipal utility JEA picked its new CEO. It turned out to be the guy who had been in that role for some time. Some members of the Jacksonville City Council and the media thought it was a done deal well ahead of the meeting, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

For the second straight year, Northeast Florida Republican Rob Bradley will chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. With Rep. Travis Cummings chairing the House’s budget panel, that means Clay County has two lawmakers overseeing statewide spending decisions for the 2019 Legislative Session. Bradley replaced Jack Latvala ahead of the 2018 Legislative Session, when the Clearwater Republican quit the Senate amid sexual misconduct […]

A.G. Gancarski

Safety first: Lawsuit challenges Duval County school guard plan

Jacksonville Council members won’t blame Sheriff for low crime clearance rates

Garden party: Rob Bradley renews fight for front-yard horticulture

Long-range plan: Jacksonville City Council members delve into budget priorities

Fang death inspires Aaron Bean to protect police K-9s, horses

Gravitas, financial acumen, and stakeholder management sealed the JEA CEO vote

Jacksonville City Council downs transparency bill

Jacksonville City Council imposes further restrictions on JEA sale

Temp to perm: Jax insider Aaron Zahn locks up JEA CEO gig

Back again: Rob Bradley returns to chair Senate Appropriations