Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2016

Steve Zona, the head of the Jacksonville branch of the Fraternal Order of Police, got some backup over the holiday weekend from leaders of the state and national FOP in the biggest debate his union has had in some time. They conveyed a clear message: the FOP has support in what looks to be a protracted […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 23, 2016

Tuesday saw the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters slamming a pension reform proposal from City Hall. Wednesday saw the Fraternal Order of Police doing the same, offering its own proposals for police and corrections that include raises for all employees, pension benefits rolled back to 2015 levels for extant employees, and the Florida Retirement System […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 19, 2016

Of the three debates WJXT ran this week, the 4th Circuit State Attorney debate was sui generis. It had, by far, the most passionate crowd, with vocal supporters of incumbent Angela Corey and her challengers, Wes White and Melissa Nelson. The auditorium was the most full of the three as well. Another unique point? The debate was not on live […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2016

On a sweltering Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry convened with local police and fire union heads and AFSCME members to receive the union’s backing for County Referendum 1, the Aug. 30 plebiscite that would extend the current half-cent sales tax from 2030 to 2060, with the revenue used to guarantee payoff of the $2.8 billion unfunded pension […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 22, 2016

A fundraiser is set for State Attorney Angela Corey Saturday afternoon, hosted by Sheriff Mike Williams and Joanna and Curt Pajcic. The fundraiser’s host committee is stacked with public safety employees and union heads. The local Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Fire Fighters are featured, as well as their respective heads, Randy Wyse and Steve Zona. Also featured: Tom […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 21, 2016

On Wednesday night, when the eyes of the political universe were on Cleveland, former RPOF chair and current Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry was closer to home, at Bistro Aix in San Marco. Curry, who’d been elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, stood down for an alternate. In fact, up until Wednesday evening, he hadn’t […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 19, 2016

Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford scored a key endorsement Tuesday from the the Fraternal Order of Police. That endorsement in the race for the GOP nomination in Florida’s 4th Congressional District, said the FOP, came along with the favorable recommendation of the FOP District 2 and Jacksonville’s FOP Lodge 5-30. “He will continue to serve the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 24, 2016

Fourth Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk is in real trouble. On Friday, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and the police and fire unions endorsed his challenger, Charles Cofer. Williams’ endorsing statement has to be considered damning for the two-term incumbent. “The Public Defender’s Office is an important part of our criminal justice system,” Williams said. “Charlie Cofer’s 36 years of […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 9, 2016

Attorney General Pam Bondi is in the news this week for soliciting a donation from Donald Trump concurrent with a considered, then scuttled, 2013 investigation of Trump University. Next week, she will be in the news for soliciting donations in a different context — the re-election campaign of Angela Corey, the incumbent Republican State Attorney in Florida’s 4th […]

Tag: Steve Zona

National politics, political legacies, & the Jacksonville pension debate

Jacksonville police union: defined benefit pensions are not ‘dinosaurs’

WJXT to air taped 4th circuit state attorney debate two days before election

AFSCME backing illustrates unique marketing of Jax pension tax referendum

Angela Corey fundraiser set for Saturday; police, fire dominate host committee

Lenny Curry, Tommy Hazouri sell pension tax to Jax ‘future leaders’

Police union backs John Rutherford in CD 4

Jax sheriff, public safety unions back Charles Cofer for public defender

Pam Bondi to fundraise for Angela Corey next week