Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 11, 2016

When T.S. Eliot said “April is the cruelest month,” he likely didn’t have Matt Shirk‘s fundraising in mind — but the maxim applies nonetheless. The 4th Circuit public defender brought in just $1,800 in April, with no notable donors in the mix for the Jacksonville Republican. Shirk has brought in $26,975 during his re-election campaign, and has $25,665.80 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 4, 2016

The 4th circuit Public Defender race will have a closed primary between GOP incumbent Matt Shirk and challenger Charles Cofer, as write-in candidate Roland Falcon entered the contest Wednesday. If Shirk and Cofer had remained the only two on the ballot, all voters could have cast their ballots and the race would have been decided by the Aug. 30 primary. Falcon, a […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2016

Matt Shirk is in trouble in his re-election bid for 4th Circuit Public Defender. And he blames an unlikely coalition for his troubles. “It’s no surprise to me that with the support of Angela Corey and the liberal trial bar, my opponent has outraised me,” Shirk said in a statement dictated over the phone by […]

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 […]

Tag: Charles Cofer

Public Defender Matt Shirk’s fundraising hit a trough in April

Write-in candidate Roland Falcon enters 4th circuit Public Defender race

4th Circuit PD Matt Shirk attacks opponent Charles Cofer, and Cofer issues a devastating response

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