Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 22, 2015

The First District Court of Appeal on Tuesday ruled against a Nassau County man in a “stand your ground” case. On behalf Nicholas Rudin, 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk‘s team contended that Rudin was immune from prosecution under state Statute 766.032 (the stand your ground law). Shirk’s external communications officer said the case was not […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

[Updated with comment from Matt Shirk‘s office] The question on the minds of Jacksonville political watchers: will Matt Shirk run for re-election as the 4th Circuit Public Defender? Though Shirk has yet to file for the office, Sam Shiver of the Public Defender’s office confirmed to FloridaPolitics.com on Friday that Shirk is in fact running. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 2, 2015

Fourth Circuit public defender Matt Shirk has been under fire so long it’s hard to remember when he wasn’t. A shower scandal will do that to you. He has yet to file for re-election, and he dodged one significant challenge when Mike Weinstein took a job in the Lenny Curry administration. Even after Weinstein demurred, Shirk still hedged […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

The Northeast Florida Accountability Forum Corp. plans a forum for constitutional officers and candidates called “Constitutionally, What’s *Your* Understanding Of Your Oath; and Of Your Duties, Obligations, and Responsibilities To Your Constituents?” at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Jacksonville, The forum will be held at the Legends Center at 5054 Soutel Drive. Event organizer Eunice Barnum said in […]

Guest AuthorAugust 5, 2015

Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney candidate, Nassau County Republican Wesley Forrest White, has a steep hill to climb if he hopes to knock off current and perhaps perpetual State Attorney Angela Corey. Corey started fundraising at the beginning of June. July numbers are not yet available, but that first month found her breaching the $125,000 […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 5, 2015

Florida Politics has learned that there is a movement among many influential people in the Jacksonville legal community to persuade current Duval County Judge Charles Cofer to step down from the bench and run for public defender in Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit. Cofer, a judge since 1998, has vast experience in the Public Defender Office. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 4, 2015

For more than a year, the only filed candidate for public defender in Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit was Mike Weinstein. The former Jacksonville mayoral candidate filed in March 2014, and his filing was active as late as last month. However, his filing has been withdrawn. Weinstein, the chief financial officer in Jacksonville for the Lenny Curry administration, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

The first week of Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa‘s budget reviews of city departments for the Lenny Curry transition team is in the books. However, there are limited schedules Tuesday through Thursday. The day starts off with the State Attorney and the Public Defender offices. Fun Fact: Mike Weinstein is a filed candidate for the Public Defender office for […]

Melissa RossMarch 11, 2015

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While most of the ink and attention right now is on Jacksonville’s upcoming mayoral race, another contest is brewing that looks to be a barnburner. Republican lawyer Wes White has officially filed to challenge 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Angela Corey in the 2016 Republican primary. White once ran the state attorney district office in Nassau […]

A.G. Gancarski’s 12 predictions in 2016 for Jacksonville politics

Matt Shirk’s office loses “stand your ground” case over father/son fracas

Confirmed: Matt Shirk is running for re-election

Charles Cofer says Matt Shirk is “all icing and no cake”

Mike Williams to highlight NO-FLAC constitutional officers forum in Jacksonville

A.G. Gancarski: Wrong way for Wes White?

Advocates urge Charles Cofer to challenge Matt Shirk for 4th District public defendery

No one now in running for 4th Circuit public defender

Lenny Curry Transition Team Budget Review: State Attorney and Public Defender

Challenger to take on Angela Corey in State Attorney race