Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2018

A federal court in Jacksonville sided Wednesday with the city of Jacksonville over a challenge filed by former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane because of cuts in his pension benefits. Keane saw his benefits boosted to $234,000 a year by the board instituting the Senior Staff Voluntary Retirement Fund. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 18, 2016

An ongoing saga of the Lenny Curry administration in Jacksonville has been how to deal with the Senior Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan of the Police and Fire Pension Fund. Earlier this year, the Curry administration opted to scuttle the plan. Though it’s taken some time, a legal challenge may yet manifest from one of Florida’s top lawyers. The […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 26, 2016

In emails Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and General Counsel Jason Gabriel issued striking criticisms of the “arrogance and disregard for taxpayers” and “a blatant disregard of public records law” exhibited by the Police and Fire Pension Fund. At issue: the PFPF counsel circumventing the ultimate authority of General Counsel Gabriel by contacting Attorney General Pam Bondi for her opinion on […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2016

On Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry made an audacious move. He ordered that former Police and Fire Pension Fund (PFPF) head John Keane’s pension be cut. In doing so, as readers will see, the mayor reasserted the primacy of the executive branch over the PFPF, in a quest to protect taxpayer dollars, and to finally bring closure to this ongoing […]

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 3, 2016

In a wide-ranging interview Thursday morning, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg talked about Uber and the taxis, the John Keane deal and John Delaney’s role in it, and Katrina Brown. Schellenberg, the chair of the Vehicles for Hire committee, was lambasted by a cab company executive for pushing back the next committee meeting date until March 22, with […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2016

When it comes to former Jax PFPF head John Keane, City Council is ready to “lawyer up,” and a March 7 “litigation shade meeting” will address strategy. The guidelines were laid forth by Council President Greg Anderson in a memo Friday. Attendance is “urgent” for all members of Council, as they discuss legal strategy in the wake […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

State Attorney candidate Wes White had strong words about former Police and Fire Pension Fund executive director John Keane this week on social media. “It’s time for the City to stop bowing down to John Keane – and start standing up for Tax Payers,” White wrote. “If I were the State Attorney this highway robbery of tax dollars […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Notable about Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, in which a settlement agreement with John Keane and the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund was “indefinitely postponed,” were the comments of Councilman Matt Schellenberg. They were laden with direct address toward Keane. And they were personal, almost to the point of calling in question Council’s stance as good-faith […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s big bill involved attempting to finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane with a settlement agreement. Instead, they “postponed indefinitely,” after a long and tortuous process of discussion and amendments. The goal is to get answers to questions and, seemingly, to show Keane […]

Tag: John Keane

Fed court sides with Jacksonville in pension challenge

Jacksonville may face legal challenge on phasing out special pension plan

Lenny Curry, Jax General Counsel take aim at pension fund perfidy, subversion of authority

Lenny Curry orders John Keane’s pension cut, litigation dismissed

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

Matt Schellenberg talks Uber, John Keane, “Teflon John” Delaney, and Katrina Brown

Jax City Council plans closed meeting on John Keane dispute

John Keane looms as wedge issue in 4th Circuit State Attorney’s race

Matt Schellenberg’s evolution on John Keane worth noting

Jax Council “postpones indefinitely” John Keane settlement