Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 11, 2016

4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk faces an unenviable task of battling a well-funded primary opponent, Charles Cofer, who has unimpeachable credibility in Jacksonville. For the second straight month, Cofer scored more than $25,000 in donations. His $25,430 brought his total raised up to $85,385, against only $17,688 spent. Combined with a $7,000 loan earlier this year, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2016

A $31,670 February for Charles Cofer, 4th Circuit candidate for public defender, brings Cofer up to almost $60,000 raised during his three months in the race. The majority of Cofer’s 92 contributions came from the legal community, a base Cofer expected to provide such support. Among the names are Jim Rinaman, Holland and Knight, Harrell and Harrell, and […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 10, 2016

Fourth Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk filed for re-election in mid-January, and he’s “pleased” with the $9,100 raised thus far. Among maximum donors in the early going: Delores Kesler, a local Jacksonville legend who’s on the JEA Board, and Marty Fiorentino‘s Fiorentino Group, which will be handling the fundraising going forward for the Shirk campaign, including weekly meetings between […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2016

Charles Cofer, running to unseat fellow Republican Matt Shirk as 4th Circuit Public Defender, raised nearly $21,000 in January. Cofer’s cash on hand is just under $27,000 He spent $5,758 in January, and has spent $8,765 against $28,285 raised and a $7,000 personal loan. Most of his money has come from the Jacksonville legal community, with […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 8, 2016

Former Judge Charles Cofer has a message that resonates with many in the Jacksonville legal community as he seeks to unseat incumbent 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk. In Cofer’s first month of fundraising, the money came in slowly. The $7,510 raised was offset by just over $3,000 in expenditures, which went to John Daigle for consulting services. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

There’s no doubt 2015 was an amazing year in Jacksonville politics. A new mayor, 11 new members of City Council, and intrigue in Corrine Brown’s redistricting saga were among a few top-level highlights. While we have a reasonable sense of what happened in Jacksonville politics in 2015, the next question is what happens in 2016. Hence, a […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

[Updated with comment from Matt Shirk‘s office] The question on the minds of Jacksonville political watchers: will Matt Shirk run for re-election as the 4th Circuit Public Defender? Though Shirk has yet to file for the office, Sam Shiver of the Public Defender’s office confirmed to FloridaPolitics.com on Friday that Shirk is in fact running. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 2, 2015

Fourth Circuit public defender Matt Shirk has been under fire so long it’s hard to remember when he wasn’t. A shower scandal will do that to you. He has yet to file for re-election, and he dodged one significant challenge when Mike Weinstein took a job in the Lenny Curry administration. Even after Weinstein demurred, Shirk still hedged […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 5, 2015

Florida Politics has learned that there is a movement among many influential people in the Jacksonville legal community to persuade current Duval County Judge Charles Cofer to step down from the bench and run for public defender in Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit. Cofer, a judge since 1998, has vast experience in the Public Defender Office. […]

Tag: Charles Cofer
Image via Senate office.

4th Circuit Public Defender candidate Charles Cofer scores with Jax establishment

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

4th Circuit public defender 4 hopeful Charles Cofer nears $60K raised

Matt Shirk “pleased” with $9,100 haul in first 2 weeks of fundraising

Charles Cofer raises $20K in January

Charles Cofer December fundraising numbers underwhelm

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

Confirmed: Matt Shirk is running for re-election

Charles Cofer says Matt Shirk is “all icing and no cake”

Advocates urge Charles Cofer to challenge Matt Shirk for 4th District public defendery