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

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2018

In a campaign capacity in Jacksonville Wednesday afternoon, Agriculture Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Adam Putnam helmed an opioid roundtable. Putnam heard about Jacksonville’s own efforts on this front, as the city deals with an overdose crisis that has led to action on the local level. But even with that action, the problem is crippling the […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2018

Lost in all the drama and metadiscourse regarding Jacksonville’s potential sale of local utility JEA: whether the sale is good for the city or not. A meeting at 1 p.m. at Jacksonville City Hall between City Council members moved to resolve that question. Councilman Matt Schellenberg (the Council liaison to JEA, who is as open to […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2018

Amendment 2 was approved by 71 percent of Florida voters in 2016, yet nearly two years later, the Office of Medical Marijuana Use is still workshopping rules. The road show came to Jacksonville Tuesday afternoon, to a Southside hotel in the absolute doldrums of renovations. From peeling wallpaper in the single-occupancy bathroom to a stale, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2018

Travis Cummings, the Republican incumbent in House District 18, has drawn a familiar Libertarian challenger, Ken Willey, in his re-election bid. The odds are with Cummings, who won more than 81 percent of the vote when the two faced off in 2016. Willey also ran in the 2014 race which produced the same result, give or […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2018

John Rutherford is a favorite to win re-election in Florida’s 4th Congressional District. After all, he was elected in 2016 with 70 percent of the vote. He already has $183,000 cash on hand. Yet Democratic candidates are lining up to run against him. A third Democrat in the CD 4 race, Joceline Berrios, filed to run […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2018

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum addressed a crowd of Jacksonville Democrats Monday evening, his second Northeast Florida foray in three days. Gillum is no stranger to the region; in fact, he was campaigning here even in his pre-candidate phase. Though Gillum’s remarks were familiar to those who have heard his stump speech, they were welcome expressions for Democrats […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 19, 2018

On Monday morning, Democratic state Rep. Jared Moskowitz and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (both representing Parkland) charged that Republican gubernatorial candidates Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis are in fact representing the NRA in their opposition to gun control. Putnam famously described himself as an “NRA sellout” and broke with Gov. Rick Scott on the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act.” DeSantis […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 19, 2018

Committees run Monday and Tuesday for the Jacksonville City Council; high-profile measures ranging from cannabis regulation changes to a JEA sale straw ballot have already been deferred in Monday committees. JEA Referendum: Ordinance 2018-141 would set a public straw vote referendum on the November 2018 ballot regarding selling more than 10 percent of JEA. The […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 19, 2018

Joseph Peppers‘ bid for the CEO slot in Jacksonville’s Kids Hope Alliance has been controversial, given he was on the new board. A resignation tendered Sunday evening should remove some of that controversy. “After careful prayer and consideration,” Peppers wrote, “I have decided to submit my resignation from the Kids Hope Alliance Board. I am […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 19, 2018

A representative of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department noted in a Monday meeting of a City Council panel that ‘fentanyl-laced cocaine’ is an emergent overdose trend. Jacksonville currently has a pilot program treating overdose victims. The program tests for 17 different adulterants, spanning a wide pharmacological range. Previous concerns have been fentanyl-based heroin, suggesting […]

A.G. Gancarski
Image via Kaley Mantz.

Adam Putnam: ‘Opioids are eroding our state from within’

Jacksonville City Councilor seeks $5B net for JEA electric sale; colleagues skeptical

In Jacksonville, Christian Bax defends medical marijuana rulemaking process

A familiar opponent files to run against Travis Cummings

Joceline Berrios becomes third Democrat challenger to file against John Rutherford

Andrew Gillum rallies Duval Democrats with familiar themes

Adam Putnam staff slams Jared Moskowitz for ‘untruths’ about Parkland reaction

Jacksonville City Council committee defers JEA sale straw ballot bill

Joseph Peppers, CEO hopeful, resigns from Jacksonville Kids Hope Alliance board

‘Fentanyl laced cocaine’ an emergent overdose trend in Jacksonville