Challengers in the 2015 Council Races

[JayBird]

Looks like Districts 7 and 8 so far will be the ones to watch. Anyone have any knowledge of who Tiffany Wingo is?

Mayor   Alvin Brown (DEM)   
Mayor   Tiffany Wingo (IDP)   
Sheriff   Tony Cummings (DEM)   
City Council, Dist. 1   Mike Anania (REP)   
City Council, Dist. 3   James Nealis (REP)   
City Council, Dist. 4   Scott Wilson (REP)
City Council, Dist. 5   Howard Barnes (DEM)   
City Council, Dist. 7   Richard Cuff (DEM)
City Council, Dist. 7   James Eddy (DEM)   
City Council, Dist. 7   Marc A. McCullough, Sr. (DEM)   
City Council, Dist. 7   Wendell Sams (DEM)   
City Council, Dist. 8   Sebastian Alexander (DEM)   
City Council, Dist. 8   Terry Fields (DEM)   Filed
City Council, Dist. 8   Pat Lockett-Felder (DEM)
City Council, Dist. 9   Glorious J. Johnson (DEM)
http://www.duvalelections.com/electioncandidates.aspx?eid=77

[Cheshire Cat]

Mike Weinstein (R) has decided to run for an at large seat on the City Council. Weinstein has gone from political pillar to post since he ran for mayor against John Peyton several years back.  I have some thoughts on this but would like to know what others think before I comment.  Thoughts folks?

http://news.wjct.org/post/weinstein-files-run-jax-city-council

and

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2013-07-24/former-state-rep-mike-weinstein-running-jacksonville-city

[Charles Hunter]

You mean when he "ran" for Mayor for a couple weeks, before the Powers That Be promised him a safe seat in the Legislature if he dropped out of the Mayor's race?

[Cheshire Cat]

You mean when he "ran" for Mayor for a couple weeks, before the Powers That Be promised him a safe seat in the Legislature if he dropped out of the Mayor's race?

Yes Charles, this would be that Mike.

[tufsu1]

I like Mike Weinstein a lot...that said, was seriously disappointed when he ran against Aaron Bean recently and they were trying to out-conservative each other

[spuwho]

Stephen, have you officially filed for the council election yet? Seems WJXT showed that you can put on a public face. Don't wait for someone else to make up their mind. Go for it.

Don't you think you have something to add to the issues that are worth voting on? Or at least debating? I would think after some 30,000 posts on MJ, you have something worth debating, yes?

[Cheshire Cat]

I like Mike Weinstein a lot...that said, was seriously disappointed when he ran against Aaron Bean recently and they were trying to out-conservative each other

May I ask what you mean when you say "you like him a lot"?  Do you mean as a personality or as a politician?

[tufsu1]

^ I think he was one of the more intelligent public servants we've had in Jax. in a long time

[Cheshire Cat]

^ I think he was one of the more intelligent public servants we've had in Jax. in a long time

I think it is a good thing that you framed your response to state it is how you perceived him as a public servant as what drives your opinion of him.  I have some commentary, but I want to wait until others have shared their thoughts on him as a candidate for an at large council seat. 

[Uh Duh]

Perhaps, the City Council will be a brave new world after the 2015 Elections.  At least 10 Council members will not be returning. 
The open seats on the Council are:  District 1 - Clay Yarborough is term limited out.  It is rumored he may run for Supervisor of Elections.  District 2 - Bill Bishop is term limited out.  District 3 - Richard Clark is term limited.  District 4 - Don Redman is term limited.  District 7 Dr. Johnny Gaffney, District 8 E. Denise Lee, and District 9 Warren Jones will also be open seats. District 11 - Ray Holt will be open.  In reality the district no longer exists, it has moved from the northside to the Southside.  District 13 - Bill Gulliford said he would only serve one term.  Only one of the At-large Council Members is term limited, Group 3 member Stephen Joost. It is this seat that Mr. Weinstein has filed papers to run in. 
SOE Jerry Holland and Property Appraiser Jim Overton are also term limited. 
Rumors of opposition for those incumbents who are not term limited pop up every day.  After Tuesday's votes to raise taxes and reject the mediated pension agreement all 19 seats could have a new representative in July of 2015.

[Cheshire Cat]

Perhaps, the City Council will be a brave new world after the 2015 Elections.  At least 10 Council members will not be returning. 
The open seats on the Council are:  District 1 - Clay Yarborough is term limited out.  It is rumored he may run for Supervisor of Elections.  District 2 - Bill Bishop is term limited out.  District 3 - Richard Clark is term limited.  District 4 - Don Redman is term limited.  District 7 Dr. Johnny Gaffney, District 8 E. Denise Lee, and District 9 Warren Jones will also be open seats. District 11 - Ray Holt will be open.  In reality the district no longer exists, it has moved from the northside to the Southside.  District 13 - Bill Gulliford said he would only serve one term.  Only one of the At-large Council Members is term limited, Group 3 member Stephen Joost. It is this seat that Mr. Weinstein has filed papers to run in. 
SOE Jerry Holland and Property Appraiser Jim Overton are also term limited. 
Rumors of opposition for those incumbents who are not term limited pop up every day.  After Tuesday's votes to raise taxes and reject the mediated pension agreement all 19 seats could have a new representative in July of 2015.

Yes, Weinstein is going for Joost's seat.  Thanks for posting the breakdown on who is going and who "may" be staying.  Now the question is will we get some honest, concerned, hardworking and committed folks to run for those empty seats?  Lord, I hope so.  It will also be the job of the voters to check into the qualifications and background of those running for office. Who are they, who is behind them, who do they owe?  A simply they are a nice person and can spin a poetic yarn about the future of Jacksonville is not enough for anyone to lay down their vote.

[tufsu1]

Thankfully our sheriff is also term limited....Ken Jefferson will be running for the office

[Cheshire Cat]

Thankfully our sheriff is also term limited....Ken Jefferson will be running for the office

Why do you say "thankfully"?

[urbaknight]

I think there are too many DEMS running in districts 7 and 8. maybe some of them would consider running in the suburban districts? Schellenberg has got to go! Thank God Gulliford isn't running again! Lumb has also got to go, along with Daniles. I'm in district 9, I can't forgive Johnson's support for Hogan in the last mayoral election, besides, she's been on council before. And while we're at it, let's get rid of Love as well!

[Jaxson]

Speaking of council races, I would really like to see city council elections become non-partisan.  Perhaps this is something that could be up for review by the group that is looking into our consolidated government.