Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 29, 2016

The most interesting part of the State of the Franchise event for the Jacksonville Jaguars, for this writer, came at the end. In a press gaggle, where the same sports reporters went through the same tired questions about London and relocation, this reporter was finally able to push forward and get a question in. There […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 29, 2016

A bit less than a year ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars held 2015’s State of the Franchise; what a difference a year makes between then and the edition Friday morning at 11. “The State of the Franchise address is invariably a political affair,” I wrote last February, “and this year was no exception. A clue to […]

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. GancarskiDecember 21, 2015

On Monday morning, members of the Jacksonville City Council wrestled again with Consolidation Task Force recommendations. Just a few of the highlights: • A Jacksonville Strategic Planning Commission was discussed, with Finance Chairman Bill Gulliford pushing for it to be considered in Rules. Rules Chairman Matt Schellenberg then renewed his call for three terms, discussing […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

After a grueling round of committee hearings, the only question regarding the Jacksonville City Council’s approval of a $45 million investment into EverBank Field upgrades was this. Would it be 19 to 0? Or would dissident Danny Becton stand his ground and vote against the measure, as he did in two Committees? It turned out that […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 22, 2015

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The Ku Klux Klan, arguably the first domestic terror group, has weighed in on Jacksonville’s community conversations on HRO expansion. Weighed in literally, according to reports, putting flyers from “the Loyal White Knights of the KKK” in bags and throwing them, mixed in with rice, in people’s yards. This is on the heels of a bomb threat just […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

Count Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry as one of the supporters of Rick Scott‘s effort to create a create a quarter billion dollar fund that the governor can use to lure companies to the Sunshine State. On Monday, following in the footsteps of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Curry’s office issued a news release expressing his support for the Enterprise Florida […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2015

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In a Friday conversation, Neil Henrichsen, chairman of the Duval County Democratic Party, rendered specific criticisms of the $90 million capital improvement deal proposed to improve the EverBank Field part of the Sports Complex, which includes, among other things, a proposed amphitheater. Henrichsen’s take: Lenny Curry, in attempting to push through the deal via legislation last week, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2015

The news media has raised questions lately about the Lenny Curry administration’s ambitious $90 million capital improvement plan for EverBank Field, which includes a covered practice facility and an amphitheater. Shad Khan would pay $45 million as the private half of the public-private partnership and $45 million would be paid by the city, financed and […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 5, 2015

When dealing with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, some things are bargains. For example, the appraised value of attending a party on his yacht is great value at $63.20. However, other Khan-related expenses come with a more significant price tag. Consider Jacksonville City Council Bull 2015-781, “amendment #14 to the Jacksonville Jaguars lease agreement,” which […]

Tag: Shad Khan
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

How Shad Khan is moving Jacksonville forward in spite of itself

The state of the Jacksonville Jaguars … a year ago

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

Jax Council members discuss term limits, committee structure

Jax City Council approves EverBank Field upgrades 19-0, a “legacy for this council”

The KKK flyers and the Jax HRO

Lenny Curry joins Bob Buckhorn in backing Rick Scott’s request for $250 million fund for Enterprise Florida

Neil Henrichsen calls Jax amphitheater proposal “another broken promise”

For Lenny Curry administration, amphitheater is “quality of life” issue

Amphitheater proposed for EverBank Field in $90M upgrade deal