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A.G. GancarskiJanuary 18, 2017

While Rep. John Rutherford, who collapsed last week in the U.S. House of Representatives, did not suffer heart issues as was feared, he nonetheless is still hospitalized recovering from a severe allergic reaction. There currently is no specific discharge date set, asserted his chief of staff Wednesday. “Congressman Rutherford is much improved and thanks everyone for […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2017

Congressman John Rutherford, the first-term Jacksonville Republican who had a medical emergency in Washington Wednesday, is “on his way to a full and swift recovery,” his chief of staff said. Expectations are that Rutherford will be out of the hospital next week. Kelly Simpson, Congressman Rutherford’s Chief of Staff, said, “Congressman Rutherford’s recovery continues to go very well. […]

Scott PowersJanuary 10, 2017

With a bipartisan gathering of other Florida congressional members, Orlando’s former police chief Val Demings, now a congresswoman from Orlando, led the House of Representatives in a moment to remember and honor Orlando’s fallen officers Monday night. “I rise today to honor the lives of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton of the Orlando Police Department and Deputy Norm Lewis […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2017

Freshman Congress members, led by Rep. John Rutherford (a former Jacksonville sheriff), called for President Barack Obama to “light the White House blue” on Monday. The significance is obvious: the blue light denotes support for law enforcement on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which is Monday. This support is especially critical in the wake of the assassination of a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 3, 2017

For those watching to see how Rep. John Rutherford will function in Congress, the Jacksonville freshman congressman may have passed his first test. Rutherford opposed Monday’s move by House Republicans to eviscerate the independent Office of Congressional Ethics. That move has already been reversed, vindicating Rutherford’s position. Rutherford committed to working across the aisle during a primary […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2016

Subpoenas with a side of sauce. That’s one way to sum up the year. In Jacksonville politics, 2016 started with subpoenas being delivered to Rep. Corrine Brown and her clique at a barbecue place on the Northside. And it ended with a raid on Councilwoman Katrina Brown’s familial barbecue sauce plant on the Westside. Katrina […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 27, 2016

When 2016 kicked off, the world was different, and our political prognoses reflected those false assurances. We didn’t imagine President Donald Trump on a national level. We figured Hillary Clinton would end up taking on Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio in the general election. And we expected the rhetoric would sound like the previous two or three campaigns. Regarding #jaxpol, we had a pretty good […]

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 14, 2016

On Wednesday, Congressman-elect John Rutherford addressed Jacksonville’s Southside Business Men’s Club at their weekly meeting. Well before the program began, Rutherford was talking to club members like old friends. And people at tables were swapping Rutherford stories. Not a surprise, given the former Jacksonville Sheriff’s deep roots in the community, and fourteen years in the club. One […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2016

The Republican Party of Duval County continues to fracture after Monday’s surprising leadership elections, which saw longtime chair aspirant Karyn Morton topple Cindy Graves. The establishment, the donor class, and incumbent politicians all have a comfort level with Graves. However, it was Morton who scored a coup over Graves on Monday night. And it’s Graves […]

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Image via AP.

John Rutherford remains in the hospital

John Rutherford recovering ‘very well’ from allergy to antibiotic

Val Demings, Florida members, lead moment in Congress to remember Orlando’s fallen officers

House freshmen to Pres. Obama: light the White House blue

John Rutherford opposed controversial House ethics changes

Subpoenas with a side of sauce: The 10 biggest #JaxPol stories of 2016

A.G. Gancarski surveys the wreckage of his 2016 predictions

John Rutherford, a former Jacksonville sheriff, discusses police pensions

In homecoming speech, John Rutherford addresses Jacksonville business club

Civil war embroils the Duval GOP after race for chair