Discussion about the Candidates, and some political rhetoric

[Timkin]

I personally would not have a problem with raised taxes , If it resulted in seeing our City move out of the stalemate it has been in for over a decade.   

Audrey Moran for Mayor !

[jcjohnpaint]

Moran never mentioned she was going to raise taxes...she just is not choosing to lie like the other candidates.  All the other candidates are doing is saying what ignorant people want to hear...led my Hogan.  Look: I am an educated person and I know when someone is feeding me crap.  Unfortunately for them I have done my homework and have found Audrey to be the brightest and most truthful candidate to lead this city.  I would prefer a candidate that does not intend to take us back to the stone age with glowing pride.

[Timkin]

Agree JC

[dougskiles]

What would be very interesting to me would be a poll of people who have taken the time to spend at least 15 minutes in an open-minded dialogue with each candidate.  And then find out who they are supporting.  For the first time in an election, I started out completely neutral between the front running candidates (Hogan, Moran and Mullaney).  I was fortunate to have time with Mike and Audrey.  I had a meeting scheduled with Rick but he cancelled it at the last minute.  I tried several times for another meeting but never got a response from his campaign.  I have had conversations with him in the past, but none since he started running for mayor.  I sincerely wish I had, because then I would qualify for the poll I am suggesting.  So, I had to make my decision based on past experiences and what I heard from his supporters and on the campaign trail.

I didn't have any bias coming in.  If anything, from a business standpoint, it would have made the most sense for me to support either Hogan or Mullaney because two of my biggest clients are big supporters of theirs.

The end result for me is that I am 100% behind Audrey.  The reason is that she took the time to listen to us (my wife and me) and our concerns about education and transportation.  We aren't big-money insiders in Jacksonville, so she had no real political benefit from taking an hour out of her schedule to meet with us.  She did this because she cares to know what the people want.  She is not beholden to powerful groups who will direct her administration.  I believe she will involve more people in the direction of our city than any mayor has in history.  She will truly be the people's mayor.

To any who have not already made a decision about who they are going to vote for, I encourage you to make your decision based on what your own gut tells you about the person.  Please don't base the decision on any fear-based propaganda that is coming from any of the campaigns.  Let the candidates actions and words speak for themselves.

[Debra Reid Vining]

Twenty three years ago, I met Dick Mullaney, Rick's father.  He helped hundreds of people in this community as well as my husband and myself.  When Dick became ill with ALS, we started seeing Rick more often as he helped his father help others.  Dick was one of the finest men we had ever met.  Rick is a fine man also.  He loves this city and has a vision that is attainable.  Rick's experiences in the private, public and nonprofit sectors make him uniquely qualified to lead Jacksonville in these tough economic times.  Both Rick and Audrey have great goals for this city but very different ways of achieving them.  Rick doesn't believe it's a revenue problem but a spending problem and will not raise taxes.  Audrey has stated she is willing to raise taxes and seems to favor larger government.  Rick has a specific plan to grow jobs focusing on the port and a medical school downtown, just to name a few.  Growing up in a naval family helped Rick develop a devotion to our military and all our military families.  Long before Rick Mullaney ran for mayor, I wanted a mayor who would cut wasteful spending and use the taxpayers' money wisely without demanding more.  I prayed for a mayor who cared about prayer in schools and improving our children's education.  I hoped for a mayor who understood how to grow jobs and understood small business owners' unique challenges. So when I say Rick Mullaney will not raise taxes, will grow jobs, will address the unions fairly but realistically, will respect all our beautiful and natural resources, and operate with a strong work ethic and moral character, it is not political rhetoric but, who he is.  Please consider voting for Rick Mullaney for Mayor.

[hillary supporter]

All the candidates are good, well meaning and sincere people. As Tom Wills said, "Why would one want to be mayor?" All had good general reasons. For Rick Mullaney, he runs the liability of the past 8 years of the Peyton administration. Jax voters want a change, as most voters commonly do. His explanation of his pension as put a literal bullseye on his back.
I think all of Jacksonville should note how "conservative" John Peyton lived up to his promise in running the city "as a business." Accordingly, he didnt hesitate to raise taxes to his "customers" the citizens of this city. And his "business" came up $60 millon short this year. And his "customers" will pay the price, be it out of their pockets or a loss in their standard of living. The posters here at Metrojax weigh these issues every day. They know the truth.
The conservatives have taken the city in a bad direction i plan on voting to change.

[stjr]

I think all of Jacksonville should note how "conservative" John Peyton lived up to his promise in running the city "as a business." Accordingly, he didnt hesitate to raise taxes to his "customers" the citizens of this city. And his "business" came up $60 millon short this year. And his "customers" will pay the price, be it out of their pockets or a loss in their standard of living. The posters here at Metrojax weigh these issues every day. They know the truth.
The conservatives have taken the city in a bad direction i plan on voting to change.

In fairness to John Peyton, the City mostly came up short with a perfect storm of the global economic meltdown, the history of incremental tax rate REDUCTIONS each year by prior mayors, and the mandated property tax reductions forced upon the City by Tallahassee (so much for local governance).  Add the etched in stone pension obligations and that 50% of the budget is for the ever popular public safety sector. This would leave Peyton (or any other mayor) with very few significant cards to play in balancing the City budget other than adjusting the millage rate (and which a militant city council was forced to swallow as well despite much blustering they would never succumb to such action).

It is exactly why I think it is dangerous to paint one's self in a corner saying "Absolutely no tax increases."  It may get you elected once but you are you may very well be eating crow and be booted out of office for broken promises come the next election.  Just ask H. W. Bush when he made such promises.

It's just plain silly and irresponsible to act like you can predict the future and start taking major options off the table.  Anyone who does so is just endangering their credibility and forcing bad decision making.  I think that's why Hogan and Mullaney lost so much respect with those who know better or refuse to just blindly believe in fairy tales.

[CS Foltz]

Too true stjr! Allways need options to select from!

[mfc]

This is Rick mullaney's problem. He is playing politics. He has decided to go down the path of no new taxes and making social issues like abortion an issue. He is a very brilliant man. No debate there. However, if he does not make the run off, in his heart of hearts he knows, in my opinion, that Audrey has taken the most courageous path. In other words, she does not want to raise taxes. However, you never know what the future holds and as mayor you are the mother of the family and must keep a level of services available to the entire city(family). Because of his strong stand against taxes does he endorse hogan?? I don't think so. Does he support Moran? He should but he has made it difficult because of his rhetoric. If he wins, (which I do not believe he will) he will have no money to do the things necessary to move Jacksonville ahead. Let's get real here. Last year the jacksosnville city council could not plug a 20 million hole in the budget. They got so desperate they tried cutting the veterans day parade out. Did not go over well in our military town. This year the hole could be 40 to 60 million. Yet Rick says he will "cut our taxes".  I believe time will show that mayor Peyton has left our city in better financial condition than mike hogan and Rick mullaney say he has. Rick is in a self imposed dilemma. It is easy to boldly
proclaim you will cut taxes. Believe me when I say this, it's a whole other thing to do it. Mayor Peytons best years
have been the ones he has made the most unpopular decisions. I commend him for growing into the job! We
just do not as a city need to go down a narrow minded no new taxes promise again.  Audrey as mayor may never
raise the first tax. I believe she is committed to living within our means. You just never know. It takes courage
and maturity to stake out the position she has. That is exactly why I believe she will be our next mayor!! People
want honesty.  Signed, matt Carlucci sr

[jcjohnpaint]

Personally I wouldn't be totally destroyed if Rick Mullaney won.  He is by far not my favorite candidate, but I think he is better than some.  I am not trying to single out any party and rain on their parade, but I do not feel that a candidate should run on a promise that would be almost impossible to keep at this point and in this financial climate (as well as for Rick Scott). All I am saying is I appreciate honesty.  I am not saying the other candidates are bad people because I am sure they are really good people.  I am just weighing out my facts and making a decision that Moran is the best candidate by far!

[buckethead]

Twenty three years ago, I met Dick Mullaney, Rick's father.  He helped hundreds of people in this community as well as my husband and myself.  When Dick became ill with ALS, we started seeing Rick more often as he helped his father help others.  Dick was one of the finest men we had ever met.  Rick is a fine man also.  He loves this city and has a vision that is attainable.  Rick's experiences in the private, public and nonprofit sectors make him uniquely qualified to lead Jacksonville in these tough economic times.  Both Rick and Audrey have great goals for this city but very different ways of achieving them.  Rick doesn't believe it's a revenue problem but a spending problem and will not raise taxes.  Audrey has stated she is willing to raise taxes and seems to favor larger government.  Rick has a specific plan to grow jobs focusing on the port and a medical school downtown, just to name a few.  Growing up in a naval family helped Rick develop a devotion to our military and all our military families.  Long before Rick Mullaney ran for mayor, I wanted a mayor who would cut wasteful spending and use the taxpayers' money wisely without demanding more.  I prayed for a mayor who cared about prayer in schools and improving our children's education.  I hoped for a mayor who understood how to grow jobs and understood small business owners' unique challenges. So when I say Rick Mullaney will not raise taxes, will grow jobs, will address the unions fairly but realistically, will respect all our beautiful and natural resources, and operate with strong work and ethic and moral character, it is not political rhetoric but who he is.  Please consider voting for Rick Mullaney for Mayor.

Thanks, Debra.

The Mullaney family are smart and hardworking people from all observations.

I rather like his idea of putting a Medical University in the urban core.

Where do you most see wasteful spending?

No fair asking such questions.

Rick is awesome! Audrey is a commie.

No need to investigate any further. 

[CS Foltz]

buckethead your killing me big guy!

[tufsu1]

Debra...I too care about prayer in schools....especially public schools..I am 100% opposed...its called separation of church and state

[fsujax]

Debra, I care about prayer in schools..I am all for it...and I am voting for Audrey!

[thelakelander]

Does the mayor have any control over whether prayer happens in schools or not?