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

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2018

In Jacksonville Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott fielded questions about his Senate campaign financing, which is still under scrutiny by political opponents. Two points were of specific interest. The first: a report from Capital and Main asserted that donations to Scott’s “New Republican” Super PAC by two company CEOs after business from the state pension fund went to their […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilman John Crescimbeni introduced a resolution Tuesday night that would solicit the opinion of the State Attorney on local regulation of nicotine vapes. The specific question to be considered via 2018-282: “Whether the City of Jacksonville has the ability to regulate the sale of nicotine products and nicotine dispensing devices” as reflected by Florida Statute […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Lori Boyer has been pushing The District development in recent weeks, and another stakeholder meeting occurred Wednesday with fellow Councilman and former Council President Greg Anderson. Anderson had questions for Boyer on the proposed development, four years in the making, with construction proposed to wrap by the end of 2022. Politically connected developers Peter Rummell and Michael Munz have a […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is still the frontrunner in the money race on the Republican side of the primary, even as U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis is effectively even in the polls. As Putnam has done since he launched what he called a “complete campaign” months ago, his Jacksonville appearance was full of familiar anecdotes, but also featured […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

On Tuesday evening, the Jacksonville City Council pushed back to committees a resolution making all city property “hit-free zones.” Resolution 2018-171 would create “areas in which no adult shall hit another adult, no adult shall hit a child, no child shall hit an adult, and no child shall hit another child.” A noble goal. A seemingly innocuous […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

Concert tickets became the source of a controversy in Jacksonville City Hall this month, illustrating (again) the distrust between City Councilman Garrett Dennis and Mayor Lenny Curry. At issue: the distribution of free tickets for concerts by comedian Kevin Hart and country artist Tim McGraw. On Apr. 3, Dennis’ assistant sent the Mayor’s staff “a public records request on […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

A saga that began with a 2011 business development deal for a BBQ sauce plant and saw one of the business principals elected to the Jacksonville City Council along the way descended into drama and non-performance. An FBI raid and a subsequent series of legal actions and personal and corporate bankruptcy filings led to a reorg, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

Political veteran Tommy Hazouri, currently a Jacksonville City Councilman, on Tuesday endorsed fellow Democrat Tracye Polson in her bid for State House. Polson is the sole Democrat in the race to succeed outgoing Rep. Jay Fant in House District 15, a Westside Jacksonville seat. “As a former state legislator, having represented this district for twelve years, I know […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

In a memo to JEA employees Monday, interim CEO Aaron Zahn hailed “a new dawn” for the Jacksonville utility. The point of the memo was clear. It framed Zahn, a board member for one month who leveled-up into the CEO chair, as an agent of stability for the utility, which has been rocked for months by […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine has moved, within the space of a few months, into the first tier of Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Building on that momentum, Levine rolled out the hire of Manny Orozco as the new Statewide Youth Outreach Director and the promotion of Robert Julien to Statewide Outreach Director. Per campaign manager Matthew Van Name, Orozco’s “organizing experience will be an asset as we implement […]

A.G. Gancarski
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Rick Scott dismisses gripes about disclosure delay, ‘pay to play’

Jacksonville City Councilman wants Pam Bondi’s opinion on local regulation of vape devices

Jacksonville District development moves closer to City Council consideration

Adam Putnam delivers general election pitch, disarms protesters in Jacksonville

Jacksonville City Council smacks down ‘hit-free zone’ bill

Concert ticket kerfuffle creates sour notes in Jacksonville City Hall

Jacksonville to get pennies on the dollar from Councilmember’s family biz bankruptcy deal

Tommy Hazouri endorses Tracye Polson for State House

‘New dawn for JEA’, asserts Jacksonville utility interim CEO

Philip Levine ramps up outreach efforts in Governor bid