Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

A message from Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams to the Fraternal Order of Police was conveyed Tuesday: take the city’s pension deal. Jacksonville has been in the process of renegotiating the pension plans of all of its unions, but police and fire have offered the most urgency. The real sticking point, beyond finding an appropriate level of […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2017

As with the morning collective bargaining session with the city’s fire union, the city of Jacksonville’s afternoon session with the police union saw a sweetened offer for police and corrections. But with the sweet comes the sour. The Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police held firm to the #YesToFRS position for new hires … and opened […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

Earlier on Monday, FloridaPolitics.com reported on bills filed in both chambers of the Florida Legislature that would foreclose the defined benefit plan of the Florida Retirement System to new municipalities. This bill is especially topical in Northeast Florida because a major sticking point in collective bargaining between the city of Jacksonville and its police and fire […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2017

The city of Jacksonville and its police union resumed collective bargaining for the first time since November on Tuesday, with the sides starting far apart. The daylight between labor and management was significant as last year closed. There’s less daylight after the Wednesday session. The city made an improved offer, one which offers a bigger city […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 14, 2016

The crossroads for pension plans for new hires in Jacksonville is here, and is casting a shadow over virtually every aspect of the city’s future. The latest bond rating trip for the city, for example, saw the pension issue – and whether or not Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will succeed in getting at least one […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 12, 2016

On Monday afternoon, FloridaPolitics.com caught up with Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and got his thoughts on an issue of key importance to the rank and file. Specifically, the pension negotiations currently underway between the city of Jacksonville and the Fraternal Order of Police. Sheriff Williams and Mayor Lenny Curry have messaged symbiotically on public safety concerns; however, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 1, 2016

“Who knew what when?” That’s the question posed by Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police head Steve Zona in a two-paragraph open letter regarding the latest in Jacksonville’s police and fire pension fund drama. On Tuesday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry expressed frustration over problems with calculations of a “waiver” from the Jacksonville PFPF that could result in an […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 23, 2016

Tuesday saw the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters slamming a pension reform proposal from City Hall. Wednesday saw the Fraternal Order of Police doing the same, offering its own proposals for police and corrections that include raises for all employees, pension benefits rolled back to 2015 levels for extant employees, and the Florida Retirement System […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 28, 2016

Up until now, the approach to campaign finance by Democrat Kim Daniels, running in heavily Democratic House District 14, has been unconventional. Throughout the primary period, Daniels contributed tens of thousands of dollars to her campaign, then refunded it, while eschewing meaningful fundraising. Daniels, a former Jacksonville City Councilwoman, found $10,500 of the establishment money that […]

Staff ReportsAugust 25, 2016

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In the mad dash for endorsements just days before the Aug. 30 primary, Republican Neal Dunn snagged the seal of approval from the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police. Dunn, a Panama City urological surgeon, is running for the 2nd Congressional District. “He will continue to serve the citizens of his district as an effective Congressional leader,” an FOP […]

Jacksonville sheriff backs Lenny Curry’s pension reform proposal

Jacksonville, police union haggle over body cameras, pensions

Jacksonville mayor ‘not surprised’ by FRS reform legislation

Lenny Curry sweetens pension offer to Jacksonville police, gives 30 days to respond

John Rutherford, a former Jacksonville sheriff, discusses police pensions

Mike Williams wants ‘competitive pay and benefit package’ for new police hires

Jacksonville FOP fires back against mayor’s office in pension flap

Jacksonville police union: defined benefit pensions are not ‘dinosaurs’

Democrat Kim Daniels finds establishment backing in HD 14 race

Endorsement Watch: State FOP for Neal Dunn