PerspectivesA.G. Gancarski Jacksonville Today Contributor
A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly.
Featured image for “OPINION | In defense of Ron Salem”
Ron Salem is a member of the Jacksonville City Council. He was reelected in March 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2023

OPINION | In defense of Ron Salem

Ron Salem, a Republican of Palestinian descent, is taking hits for his no vote on a City Council resolution offering…

Featured image for “OPINION | Donna Deegan’s stadium conundrum”
EverBank Stadium has served as the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars since their inaugural season in 1995. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 9, 2023

OPINION | Donna Deegan’s stadium conundrum

The mayor isn’t going to be able to make everyone happy. Will anyone be smiling at the end?…

Featured image for “OPINION | Where did Deegan go wrong? Lessons from the failed Ferraro and DeFoor nominations”
September 18, 2023

OPINION | Where did Deegan go wrong? Lessons from the failed Ferraro and DeFoor nominations

Two failed nominations reveal a surprising lack of understanding of how the City Council actually works and thinks.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The ultimate pragmatist: E. Denise Lee’s inclusive politics”
September 4, 2023

OPINION | The ultimate pragmatist: E. Denise Lee’s inclusive politics

We need Denise Lee’s clarity of vision to be actualized by a new generation, her ability to unify people who…

Featured image for “OPINION | Jacksonville isn’t Ron DeSantis’ town anymore”
August 21, 2023

OPINION | Jacksonville isn’t Ron DeSantis’ town anymore

What’s clear is that Ron DeSantis has taken his eye off Jacksonville — like the rest of the state — and…

Featured image for “OPINION | Is it a purge? Donna Deegan separates from the Lenny Curry era”
August 7, 2023

OPINION | Is it a purge? Donna Deegan separates from the Lenny Curry era

Mayor Donna Deegan has made some moves that show a dramatic break with the previous administration. But not all of…

Featured image for “OPINION | VP Harris exposed DeSantis’ weakness ”
Mayor Donna Deegan welcomes Vice President Kamala Harris to Jacksonville on July 21, 2023. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
July 23, 2023

OPINION | VP Harris exposed DeSantis’ weakness 

VP Harris spoke truths about Gov. Ron DeSantis that Florida’s disempowered Democrats lack the platform to fully get over on…

Featured image for “OPINION | Covering Deegan: News media will face special challenge in covering a friendly face”
Donna Deegan was inaugurated as the 45th Mayor of Jacksonville on Saturday, July 1, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 10, 2023

OPINION | Covering Deegan: News media will face special challenge in covering a friendly face

Donna Deegan presents a unique challenge for local media, many of whom have known her as a friend for a…

Featured image for “OPINION | End of an era: Lenny Curry exits stage right”
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is a mainstay at Jacksonville Jaguars games. The Jaguars hosted the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL Super Wild Card Weekend. The Jaguars trailed 27-7 at halftime, its largest halftime deficit of the season, before winning 31-30 | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 25, 2023

OPINION | End of an era: Lenny Curry exits stage right

The Curry era, unlike any other in Jacksonville history, was one in which partisan Republicanism prevailed.…

Featured image for “OPINION | ‘DeSantismander’ deserves a legal challenge”
The Florida Legislature passed this new congressional district map in April 2022 after Gov. DeSantis vetoed the previous attempt. | Florida Legislature
June 11, 2023

OPINION | ‘DeSantismander’ deserves a legal challenge

Florida’s congressional district map is a fraud, and the most glaring example is my district.  No offense to Aaron Bean,…

Featured image for “OPINION | Transition volition: Why Donna Deegan needs a fast start”
May 29, 2023

OPINION | Transition volition: Why Donna Deegan needs a fast start

Mayor Deegan will deal with a GOP supermajority City Council. She is going to have to score early victories before…

Featured image for “OPINION | ‘Love over fear’: An epilogue for the 2023 election”
Donna Deegan celebrates winning the Jacksonville mayoral election on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 16, 2023

OPINION | ‘Love over fear’: An epilogue for the 2023 election

Donna Deegan met the negativity from Daniel Davis’ campaign with a positive vision, managing to rebuff insipid and dishonest attacks.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The campaign we deserved? Looking back on the 2023 Jax mayor election”
Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis
May 15, 2023

OPINION | The campaign we deserved? Looking back on the 2023 Jax mayor election

What the Donna Deegan vs. Daniel Davis’ race says about Jacksonville voters and what kind of politics people here really…

Featured image for “OPINION | Romanticizing law enforcement is a no-win game”
Photo: Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
May 1, 2023

OPINION | Romanticizing law enforcement is a no-win game

For all of their differences, Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis are on the same page when it comes to giving…

Featured image for “OPINION | What Donna Deegan must do in Thursday’s debate”
Daniel Davis and Donna Deegan debate at Jacksonville University before the March 2023 election. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 17, 2023

OPINION | What Donna Deegan must do in Thursday’s debate

Donna Deegan shouldn’t approach this debate like she’s eight points ahead; rather, she needs to act like she’s eight points…

Featured image for “OPINION | Are local parties a factor in the Jax elections?”
Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis
April 2, 2023

OPINION | Are local parties a factor in the Jax elections?

Candidates like Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis can’t necessarily rely on the Duval Democratic and Republican parties to help them…

Featured image for “OPINION | Federal case could threaten local LGBT protections”
March 19, 2023

OPINION | Federal case could threaten local LGBT protections

A Catholic bookstore’s suit against Jacksonville’s LGBTQ protections will cast a shadow over the mayoral campaign.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The debate we deserve”
March 5, 2023

OPINION | The debate we deserve

Mayoral candidates are headed to a debate this week, courtesy of WJXT, host Kent Justice, and Jacksonville University. What can…

Featured image for “OPINION | What the Donna Deegan surge means”
Donna Deegan | Submitted by campaign
February 20, 2023

OPINION | What the Donna Deegan surge means

Donna Deegan has raised a fraction of the money her opponents have. So why is she polling better?…

Featured image for “OPINION | LeAnna Cumber’s political peril”
February 2, 2023

OPINION | LeAnna Cumber’s political peril

With the political establishment lining up with Daniel Davis, the ultimate insider, LeAnna Cumber is vulnerable.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Is Daniel Davis opening Pandora’s Box?”
Daniel Davis speaks at the opening of the Beyond Van Gogh exhibit in Downtown Jacksonville in September of 2022. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 29, 2023

OPINION | Is Daniel Davis opening Pandora’s Box?

Republican Daniel Davis issued the most audacious proposal of the campaign mayor campaign: pension reform.…

Featured image for “OPINION | A tale of two parties”
Sheriff T.K. Waters, a Republican, has retained his job unchallenged in the 2023 election. Dan Scanlan | WJCT News
January 16, 2023

OPINION | A tale of two parties

It looks from the outside like Urban Meyer is coaching the Duval Dems and Doug Pederson the GOP, but it’s…

Featured image for “OPINION | The 2023 mayoral race is getting real”
Photo: WJCT News
January 2, 2023

OPINION | The 2023 mayoral race is getting real

It is now 2023, and city elections are all but upon us. If you’re in the mayoral race, you’d better…

Featured image for “OPINION | ‘Citizen of the year’: Notes on Kent Stermon”
Kent Stermon was a member of the Board of Governors. | State University System Of Florida
December 18, 2022

OPINION | ‘Citizen of the year’: Notes on Kent Stermon

Warning: This essay addresses the topic of suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, dial 988 for…