Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 21, 2016

A radio ad in the Jacksonville market from 4th Congressional District candidate Hans Tanzler led to an interesting exchange of views between operatives for Tanzler and the other serious candidate in the CD 4 race, John Rutherford, this week. One line in Tanzler’s ad was of particular interest: “Politicians love to talk about creating jobs, but I’m not […]

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. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

The settlement agreement between the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund and the city itself, of what was to be pending litigation, exemplifies the politics of the possible. It isn’t pretty. But if (and it’s not really an “if”) the ordinance (2016-80) authorizing it, filed last week by the council president with a formal introduction […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

In Jacksonville politics in 2015, the game changed … perhaps for good. Big money went into campaigns: over $10 million, including soft money, in the mayoral race. Close to $2 million in the sheriff’s race. And even some City Council candidates who raised close to a quarter of a million dollars did so in vain. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 23, 2015

Florida Politics has learned the city of Jacksonville has sued has sued former Police and Fire Pension Fund executive director John Keane and the fund itself for a declaratory judgement and ancillary injunctive relief in the 4th Judicial Circuit. The complaint contends that “the board has exceeded its authority” in terms of administrating the fund, specifically with […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2015

The 2015 elections led to a lot of changes in Jacksonville’s city government. Alvin Brown and his appointees were, except for certain high-performers, out. Lenny Curry, and his appointees, in. Among those imports to the mayor’s suite: a number of City Council members from the previous class (Policy Director Robin Lumb; Blight Director Denise Lee; […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2015

On Monday, Jacksonville Councilman Bill Gulliford convened a fractious public notice meeting related to the Police and Fire Pension Fund involving the Board of Trustees, the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, and (by phone) PFPF trustee Bill Scheu, as part of a “cast of thousands” in attendance. Larry Schmitt, chair of the pension fund, noted irregularities, such as the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 8, 2015

As the Jacksonville mayoral campaign between Lenny Curry and Alvin Brown heated up, one of Curry’s vows was that he would institute a 90 day audit of the city’s financial situation. His rationale was summed up by an email from his campaign in late April in which he pledged to bring back “sound fiscal management.” “With news […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 29, 2015

Back in the days when soap operas dominated the daytime television landscape, casual viewers knew that the Friday episode was the one to watch, in terms of climactic plot resolutions. If only that were true for Jacksonville’s Police and Fire Pension Fund negotiations. On Friday morning in a conference room at city hall, PFPF Chief […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2015

The tortuous twists and turns of the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund deal continued in Wednesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, as the latest iteration of the Pension Deal (one that was approved, before a series of revisions from the PFPF and Council, by a 16-3 vote in December) failed to pass. Rejected on […]

Tag: Police and Fire Pension Fund

Hans Tanzler, John Rutherford ops trade barbs about government jobs

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

Jax Police and Fire Pension Fund settlement agreement goes to City Council this week

A.G. Gancarski’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Jacksonville politics

Jacksonville sues John Keane, police pension fund over Senior Staff Plan

Confirmed: Clay Yarborough enters HD 12 fray

Jax PFPF forensic audit pilloried in public notice meeting

The 90 day audit: Is Jacksonville on the fiscal brink?

The Friday episode of “As the Jax Pension Deal Turns”

Bill Bishop, the spiked Jacksonville PFPF deal, and election year politics