Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 12, 2018

With Jacksonville’s leading Republican officeholders all in for the Ron DeSantis campaign, October fundraising for their 2019 campaigns was on the back burner. And why not? Though Jacksonville has a Democratic plurality, and statewide candidates Bill Nelson, Andrew Gillum, and Nikki Fried all won here, local Republicans have no reason to doubt their ability to hold serve based on […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 11, 2018

New legislation filed this week to the Jacksonville City Council would impose a six-month moratorium on adult arcades. Ordinance 2018-680 would ban permitting for these so-called internet cafes, a bane to the existence of Jacksonville lawmakers. These establishments are predominately located in areas of town that have socioeconomic challenges already, and Council members have sought to […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2018

Fundraising for Jacksonville City Council 2019 races is in full swing, and here’s a look at the landscape. Unmentioned races have no filed candidates at this writing. In Jacksonville City Council District 1, Democratic incumbent Joyce Morgan filed at the beginning of August, with no appreciable fundraising. Her sole opponent, Republican Bill Bishop, raised $4,400 in July […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 9, 2018

State Rep. Baxter Troutman, in a competitive three-way race for Agriculture Commissioner, picked up a straw poll win at a meeting of the Jacksonville Young Republicans Monday — and scored five local endorsements while in town. Worth noting: all five endorsers were at the straw poll event, where Troutman and opponent Sen. Denise Grimsley both spoke. Troutman […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 12, 2018

A common thread in uncompetitive Jacksonville City Council races: June checks from the owner of a certain local NFL franchise. In District 2, challenger Jack Daniels has $115 on hand. The perpetual challenger is not exactly keeping pace with incumbent Republican Al Ferraro. Ferraro, a Mayor Lenny Curry ally, brought in $5,825 in June alone, with donations from Shad Khan […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 8, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilman Al Ferraro, a first-term Republican who aligns with Mayor Lenny Curry on issues, continued his slow but steady re-election fundraising last month. Ferraro brought in $5,500 off nine contributions in May, the lowest total of the four months he has been a candidate. However, Ferraro’s donations, typical of a reliable incumbent, include contributions from […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2018

Recent electoral setbacks weren’t last call for the peripatetic political career of Jacksonville’s Jack Daniels as he has again filed to run for the Jacksonville City Council. Daniels, who shares his name with a consumer product, has taken many shots at electoral office. Yet, despite his efforts, the glass has come up empty time after time. Still, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 6, 2018

Let the “four more years” chants begin for two first-term Jacksonville City Council members. On Tuesday, Democratic Councilwoman Katrina Brown launched her bid for re-election in District 8. Days before that, Republican Al Ferraro launched his re-election bid in District 2. Brown and Ferraro face different paths to re-election. Brown has issues other incumbents don’t. She has […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2018

Jacksonville’s relationship with its municipal utility, JEA, is on shaky ground. The office of Mayor Lenny Curry is, depending on who is telling the story, at least open to the possibility of selling off JEA to a private owner. Jacksonville City Council members have their concerns, which will be discussed in a public meeting on Tuesday […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2018

The race for Jacksonville City Council Vice President is on, and even before the first noticed pledge meetings on Wednesday, one candidate already has a pledge of support. Even as Republican Councilman Sam Newby sent in his pledge letter, word was he already had received the pledge of fellow Republican Al Ferraro. Ferraro confirmed his support of Newby […]

Tag: Al Ferraro

October slump: Governor’s race chills local political fundraising in Jacksonville

Game over: Jacksonville mulls adult arcade moratorium

July looks like previous months in Jacksonville City Council fundraising

Five Jacksonville City Councilmen back Baxter Troutman for Ag Commissioner

Is Shad Khan picking winners in Jacksonville City Council races?

Jacksonville Councilman Al Ferraro’s re-election bid gets Aaron Bean committee cash

One more round: Jack Daniels takes another shot at Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville City Councilors Katrina Brown, Al Ferraro launch re-election bids

Jacksonville Councilors want underground power lines in older neighborhoods

Sunshine Law concerns creep into Jax Council VP race