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

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. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

It appears that there will be a competitive race after all in Jacksonville City Council District 9 . Incumbent Garrett Dennis faces a challenge from within his own party by way of Marcellus Holmes. Holmes, who played professional football for the New England Patriots from 1997 to 2001 as both a practice and active squad member, is about […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 23, 2018

Sen. Marco Rubio has made moves in the last week to re-establish his bona fides with the conservative movement, concerns of which have been somewhat eclipsed despite Republican control of the Presidency and both houses of Congress. Last week, Rubio brought forth one of the most prominent members of the movement, Mike Needham, as a chief of staff. Needham […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 23, 2018

The Republican campaign for Florida Governor, as it stands now, is a two-man race between Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Rep. Ron DeSantis. Each candidate is betting on different paths to the nomination. While DeSantis’ press shop sends out regular media advisories spotlighting DeSantis hits on Fox News and Fox Business, Putnam is running a more traditional […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown filed weeks ago to run in the Democratic primary versus Senate Democratic Leader-designate Audrey Gibson. Yet he’s living a double life of sorts, as he remains on the Council. If Brown were running for a federal office, Friday would have been “resign to run” day. But as it is, he’s both an active […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2018

On Friday, WJCT broke the news that “Data Targeting, Inc., a Gainesville firm that worked to elect Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, conducted a focus group study in late February asking participants whether they support selling municipal utility JEA.” The claim was that “a private group of investors” who are “nonpartisan” were paying for the focus group, which saw participants […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2018

On Friday, St. Johns County Commissioner Jimmy Johns opted to withdraw rather than stay in the race for Florida’s 6th Congressional District. The “resign to run” law compelled the choice. And faced with two self-financing Republican opponents in Michael Waltz and John Ward, Johns stood down. “This decision was a difficult one. I was torn between taking my […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2018

Alvin Brown, the former Jacksonville mayor running in the Democratic Primary for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, may be positioning himself to do the unthinkable and capsize incumbent U.S. Rep. Al Lawson. Brown enjoyed a two-to-one fundraising advantage during the first quarter of 2018: $167,088 to $83,866. Lawson had $100,000 cash on hand at the end […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said last month that he wanted the city to have a “mature conversation” about JEA valuation and whether privatization was the way forward. However, after yet another series of bad news cycles in which Curry, a popular mayor for most of his term, has seen that conversation and his mayoralty pilloried in […]

A.G. Gancarski

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

Philip Levine ramps up outreach efforts in Governor bid

Former NFL player launches campaign against Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis

Marco Rubio looks to ‘reinvigorate’ conservative movement in challenging political environment

Adam Putnam’s latest Jacksonville visit shows difference with Ron DeSantis

Jacksonville City Councilman’s ‘community fest’ raises questions, as he is running for Senate

JEA privatization focus group not funded by Lenny Curry’s political operation

Jimmy Johns withdraws from race to replace Ron DeSantis in Congress

Is Al Lawson in trouble? Re-election to Congress may be in doubt

Is Jacksonville’s ‘mature conversation’ about JEA privatization over?