Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 21, 2015

In a Wednesday evening memo, Jacksonville General Counsel Jason Gabriel took issue with City Council for a variety of deviations from best practices regarding text messages during the budget deliberations, and their slow responses to public records requests. Gabriel was explicit in contending that willful violations of Florida’s Sunshine and public records laws carry potential criminal […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 16, 2015

Does Shad Khan need an even bigger scoreboard? It would seem that way, given the free and easy access Jacksonville City Council members apparently have to the owner’s box as indicated by an email by Ethics Director Carla Miller. She sent the missive to local Jags-and-everything-else lobbyist Paul Harden and General Counsel Jason Gabriel over owner’s […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 13, 2015

The Text-ghazi scandal may have initially be considered “much ado about nothing,” but the General Counsel’s office, in light of a lawsuit from the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, disagrees. Greg Anderson closed the Jacksonville City Council agenda meeting Tuesday by reaffirming the memo he sent last week banning cellphone use in meetings. He said […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 12, 2015

[UPDATED: In the wake of this memo, The Florida-Times Union reports on Monday night that Lenny Curry has sought resignation letters from every other member of the JEA Board “The mayor felt it necessary to communicate with the five remaining board members given the recent admonishment by the general counsel of the city of Jacksonville and further revelations […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

During Monday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, a resolution authorizing an inquiry into the legality and the validity of the Police and Fire Pension Fund Senior Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan was up for a vote. This measure got through Finance and Rules Committees last week on a 6-to-1 vote after it was pushed back to committees at the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2015

Confirming persistent speculation, Jason Gabriel has been picked to continue as the city of Jacksonville’s general counsel, after a public search by a high-profile search committee led by former mayor John Delaney. Gabriel has been with the Office of General Counsel for more than five years, and has acted as general counsel since July 1, 2014. Mayor […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2015

As promised no later than June 30 by Mayor Alvin Brown, Jacksonville’s General Counsel released his review of anti-discrimination legislation. A quick read of this indicates that there is room to legislate against discrimination, such as in a Human Rights Ordinance, without creating undue enforcement burdens or burdens against religious groups. Should City Council be looking […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

Jason Gabriel has been with the city of Jacksonville’s General Counsel office since 2010. And, at least in the first few months of the Lenny Curry administration, Gabriel, the current General Counsel, will continue. Mayor-elect Curry said Thursday that he has appointed the current Jacksonville general counsel to stay on up to 90 days as […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

Wednesday’s slate of Jacksonville Transition Budget Reviews continues with the General Counsel and Military Affairs offices. 10:53 a.m.: The budget is pretty stable, except for one salary reduction. 10:56 a.m.: Talk of the Jacksonville Electric Authority having its own in-house legal charter. This would drop their demand for OGC services, but there will “always be […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 8, 2015

A fascinating little subplot has emerged in the Jacksonville mayor’s race. It involves incumbent Democrat Alvin Brown and his team’s recent skirmish with Action News Jax over what is “campaign time” and what is “city time.” The discussion matters right now given that Brown, in service to the news cycle and the exigencies of endorsements and scheduling, has […]

Tag: Jason Gabriel

Jax general counsel smacks down City Council for budget night “Text-Ghazi”

Jags box tickets “flowing” to council members draw ethics slap

Jax council president, counsel discuss texting, lawsuit, possible shade meeting

Jax general counsel issues “Sunshine Law” memo to JEA board, before Lenny Curry requests resignations

Jax City Council OKs probe of pension fund senior staff retirement fund

Jason Gabriel reappointed COJ general counsel

Jacksonville General Counsel releases review of anti-discrimination laws

Lenny Curry picks Jason Gabriel as acting General Counsel

Jax Transition Budget Review: General Counsel and Military Affairs

“City time” versus “campaign time” dispute ratchets tension in Jax mayor’s race