Mayoral Debate

[Timkin]

Good.. The real whippin will come when she becomes Mayor Audrey

[Diane Melendez]

Hogan did well Lake, but the entire discussion will be overshadowed in media and on most blogs by the dust up between Mullaney and Moran.  Mullaney basically called Audrey a liar after she got him on his special pension deal. Then he tried to draw her husband and family into the fray. That was uncalled for.  I expect that News4Jax will post the debate online.  The forum itself was well run and Tom was so good delivering the questions, many of them geared to stir passionate responses.  This is one that most camps will declare as a win for their candidate.  You really must watch it for yourself.   

[Diane Melendez]

Mullaney is complaining to TU about Audrey.  I swear he comes across as a petulant child.  Audrey is jus an old meanie and I am gonna tell....  I actually got a kick out of Audreys response to him.  Took him down a notch or two and boy did he deserve it. 

[Jimmy]

So Hogan attended the debate?  What did he have to say?

He was there, but he was phoning it in.  When he spoke, it was in brief answers that revealed very little about his plans or character.

The most profound thing he said during the debate was his jab at gays.  

And Hogan plans to skip the final debate.  

[Timkin]

Only a Woman's touch can do that

[kells904]

I had a "what-what-WHAT?!?!" moment when I heard that, too, danno.  Maybe he plans on forging a partnership with Cobra Commander's military engineers? Now those guys could probably build a flying aircraft carrier for droppin' onto Cecil Field.  Anyway, watching a campaign meltdown as it happens is fun.


BTW tufsu...
Your point is well taken.  And it sounded to me (via the Interweb) that Audrey's response was well-received.

Hogan and Mullaney simply must not be allowed to win.  Git 'em Audrey!!

[AdamBeaugh]

Kells, I was amazed at Hogan's dismissive answer regarding the Human Rights Ordinance.  I understand that he caters to the far right, tea party, first baptist crowd, but he was so curt and rude that it was shocking to me.

[CityLife]

Hogan did well Lake, but the entire discussion will be overshadowed in media and on most blogs by the dust up between Mullaney and Moran.  Mullaney basically called Audrey a liar after she got him on his special pension deal. Then he tried to draw her husband and family into the fray. That was uncalled for.  I expect that News4Jax will post the debate online.  The forum itself was well run and Tom was so good delivering the questions, many of them geared to stir passionate responses.  This is one that most camps will declare as a win for their candidate.  You really must watch it for yourself.   

Hogan did well? Are you on his campaign team? He was awful.

The most substantive answer he gave the entire time was that he would not support gay rights. Other than that he said nothing specific. He would just say, "on my website we have a list of goals" or "that's something we'll have to take a look at", or "we need to cut our budget".

I wasn't the only one in the audience pulling my hair out after his responses.

[fsujax]

Hogan was very short on words. Which is scary, he gives no details. I don't understand how people do not have issues with that. That is his stratedgy, sit there quietly and let Mullaney and Moran duke it out. I actually thought Alvin Brown did a good job.

[dougskiles]

My favorite part of the debate was Steve Irvine's calling out of Rick Scott in response to what would you do if you were mayor and the news came out about cancelling school sports programs.  He admitted to voting for Scott and talked about how he now questions that decision.  He called on people to rally behind our education system and send a message to Tallahassee.  Steve comes across as very genuine.

Mike Hogan's response to the question was to talk about his high school days as an athlete and how that prepared him well in life.  Unfortunately, that wasn't the question.  The question was very specific - what would you do as mayor about the problem.  Very telling answer.

Mike also proudly stated that he was the only businessman running for office.  Really?  Sure he worked for AT&T in his first career, but the last umpteen has been in politics.  He is the longest tenured politician in the group.  In fact, he is the only tenured politician in the group!

I really scratched my head when Rick Mullaney got emotional about how he will be the first mayor to ever get involved and solve the problems in our education system.  But then no specific information is provided as to how he will do this.  Seems a little strange coming from someone who has a 34-point plan for fixing Jacksonville - which by the way never mentions anything about public education.

I liked Alvin Brown's responses, and if Audrey were not in this race, he would be my first choice.  But Audrey is so far ahead of Alvin in experience and can lead the city from day one.  I believe Alvin would eventually do a good job but would need a few years of learning.  I would love to see him challenge Corrine Brown for her congressional seat - but I don't know if he lives in the district.

[longhaul]

Does anyone know why Hogan is continuously labeled as the front runner by the TU?  Is this true, and if so on what basis? 

Go Audrey.

[Jimmy]

longhaul, I think you ask a fair question.  I've been assuming it's based on poll numbers the TU has access to.  Or maybe it's based on the "conventional wisdom."

If there's no basis for it, I'd like them to stop saying it.

[CityLife]

I also thought they lobbed some softball questions to the candidates. I was with two other urban planners and we all submitted very specific questions about transit, homeless, and downtown development and none were asked.

I know "the budget" is the main talking point of the election, but its a shame that downtown development, economic development, transportation, and other specific issues are on the back burner in the election.

I think the word downtown may have only been mentioned once or twice last night.

The words budget, fiscal responsibility, and taxes were mentioned close to 100.

The job of mayor encompasses a lot more than administrative duties....

[tufsu1]

Does anyone know why Hogan is continuously labeled as the front runner by the TU?  Is this true, and if so on what basis? 

Go Audrey.

well most of the polls seem to be showing this...even internal ones from the candidates (I've seen several)....which is why it is very important to GET OUT AND VOTE....FOR AUDREY!

[Jimmy]

If turnout stays low, it's bad news for Audrey.  This is the week when everyone should be piling up their friends, family, and coworkers into the car and hauling them to an early voting location to cast a ballot for Audrey.