Lenny Curry resigns GOP post opening way to a run for Mayor 2015

[Cheshire Cat]

So after much speculation about his potential run for mayor, it looks like Lenny Curry has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Peter Rummell. 

https://www.facebook.com/MaryKelliPalka/posts/10202339593505852?notif_t=close_friend_activity

Lenny Curry, potential Jacksonville mayoral candidate, will announce he is steping down as Florida GOP chair Thursday
Move comes three days after Peter Rummell, GOP fundraiser and One Spark driver, threw his support behind Curry for mayor


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PfTcn7o

Lenny Curry, who is exploring a run for Jacksonville mayor, will announce he is stepping down as chairman of the Florida Republican Party on Thursday, according to party officials with knowledge of the situation.
He will send a letter to Republican Party leadership Thursday, officials said. He will stay on as chair through the end of May.


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PexxmYY

[Badfinger]

So after much speculation about his potential run for mayor, it looks like Lenny Curry has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Peter Rummell. 

https://www.facebook.com/MaryKelliPalka/posts/10202339593505852?notif_t=close_friend_activity

Lenny Curry, potential Jacksonville mayoral candidate, will announce he is steping down as Florida GOP chair Thursday
Move comes three days after Peter Rummell, GOP fundraiser and One Spark driver, threw his support behind Curry for mayor


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PfTcn7o

Lenny Curry, who is exploring a run for Jacksonville mayor, will announce he is stepping down as chairman of the Florida Republican Party on Thursday, according to party officials with knowledge of the situation.
He will send a letter to Republican Party leadership Thursday, officials said. He will stay on as chair through the end of May.


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PexxmYY

I'm shocked that after telling well placed Republicans for over two months that he was going to announce his intention to run on May 1 that he is announcing his intention to run on May 1. 

Just shocked.

But I guess it does answer the question of whether Gov. Scott thinks that Lenny is an important part of his re-election team.

[Cheshire Cat]

So after much speculation about his potential run for mayor, it looks like Lenny Curry has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Peter Rummell. 

https://www.facebook.com/MaryKelliPalka/posts/10202339593505852?notif_t=close_friend_activity

Lenny Curry, potential Jacksonville mayoral candidate, will announce he is steping down as Florida GOP chair Thursday
Move comes three days after Peter Rummell, GOP fundraiser and One Spark driver, threw his support behind Curry for mayor


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PfTcn7o

Lenny Curry, who is exploring a run for Jacksonville mayor, will announce he is stepping down as chairman of the Florida Republican Party on Thursday, according to party officials with knowledge of the situation.
He will send a letter to Republican Party leadership Thursday, officials said. He will stay on as chair through the end of May.


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PexxmYY

I'm shocked that after telling well placed Republicans for over two months that he was going to announce his intention to run on May 1 that he is announcing his intention to run on May 1. 

Just shocked.

But I guess it does answer the question of whether Gov. Scott thinks that Lenny is an important part of his re-election team.

To the comment on Rick Scott regarding Lenny Curry, resigning is the smartest thing Curry could have done when it comes to state politics.  He has been taking a lot of criticism within the party.  Things are not looking as bright as the GOP would like for Rick Scott in his bid for re-election.  He may well lose despite the money he is prepared to throw at a campaign.  If and when he does, Curry would be crucified for the loss, whether or not he was responsible for it.  He is a well enough known and liked in the party to get the funding and support of voters he needs to challenge Alvin Brown.  I don't see Bill Bishop being able to raise the funds that Curry will in the campaign either.  If we see no other candidates on the ballot before election, this race will come down to Curry vs Brown pretty much regardless of Curry's platform. 

[Charles Hunter]

What does this do to Bill Bishop's candidacy?  Will he step aside to ease the way for Curry?

[JeffreyS]

If Brown runs he should win. However he may be called as lieutenant governor

[Tacachale]

^No one in their right mind would turn down a major mayoral position for a figurehead LT governor gig. But maybe Brown has enough self-awareness to realize the hole he's dug himself into and will see it as a way to keep his career afloat awhile longer.

[Cheshire Cat]

If Brown runs he should win. However he may be called as lieutenant governor

What do you mean if Brown runs?  He is a filed candidate who is collecting campaign contributions.  Are you saying he may drop out?

[Cheshire Cat]

What does this do to Bill Bishop's candidacy?  Will he step aside to ease the way for Curry?

Good question Charles.  I don't see Bill stepping away from a run at this point.  I think he is still going to see how he does in the way of contributions.  If he stays in the race there will be a primary anyway and there will be an R on the ticket opposing Brown.  I am thinking that R will not be Bishop.

[edjax]

^No one in their right mind would turn down a major mayoral position for a figurehead LT governor gig. But maybe Brown has enough self-awareness to realize the hole he's dug himself into and will see it as a way to keep his career afloat awhile longer.

But isn't the Lt Governor position pretty much a photo op position?  Our mayor has been well groomed for it.

[Cheshire Cat]

^No one in their right mind would turn down a major mayoral position for a figurehead LT governor gig. But maybe Brown has enough self-awareness to realize the hole he's dug himself into and will see it as a way to keep his career afloat awhile longer.

In their right mind but that is if Brown is not being outplayed which is likely.  Rummell took him out at the knees with his recent criticisms.  Brown now knows he has two well known Republicans running against him which means the GOP does not want to let him float through another term.  I would not be surprised if Rummell doesn't visit Brown and "talk" to him about another position in another office, in fact I fully expect some conversations along those lines are already taking place and will soon be delivered to Brown, perhaps after the next campaign funding cycle. That will be the indicator of how receptive Brown will be to an alternative office.  It will also be interesting to see if money from Shad Khan shows up in the campaign accounts of either challenger.  Today ended the most recent funding cycle.  Tomorrow is Curry's big announcement which may have him leaving the GOP position and opening a campaign account to run for mayor as the next funding cycle begins.  I bet we see some hefty numbers.  Rummell will make sure of that.

[vicupstate]

Other than running the FL GOP, what has this Curry guy done with his life?  Is his background primarily (OR EXCLUSIVELY) as a GOP party operative?

[Charles Hunter]

^No one in their right mind would turn down a major mayoral position for a figurehead LT governor gig. But maybe Brown has enough self-awareness to realize the hole he's dug himself into and will see it as a way to keep his career afloat awhile longer.

But isn't the Lt Governor position pretty much a photo op position?  Our mayor has been well groomed for it.

+1000

[Badfinger]

So after much speculation about his potential run for mayor, it looks like Lenny Curry has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Peter Rummell. 

https://www.facebook.com/MaryKelliPalka/posts/10202339593505852?notif_t=close_friend_activity

Lenny Curry, potential Jacksonville mayoral candidate, will announce he is steping down as Florida GOP chair Thursday
Move comes three days after Peter Rummell, GOP fundraiser and One Spark driver, threw his support behind Curry for mayor


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PfTcn7o

Lenny Curry, who is exploring a run for Jacksonville mayor, will announce he is stepping down as chairman of the Florida Republican Party on Thursday, according to party officials with knowledge of the situation.
He will send a letter to Republican Party leadership Thursday, officials said. He will stay on as chair through the end of May.


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-04-30/story/lenny-curry-potential-jacksonville-mayoral-candidate-will-announce-he-steping#ixzz30PexxmYY

I'm shocked that after telling well placed Republicans for over two months that he was going to announce his intention to run on May 1 that he is announcing his intention to run on May 1. 

Just shocked.

But I guess it does answer the question of whether Gov. Scott thinks that Lenny is an important part of his re-election team.

To the comment on Rick Scott regarding Lenny Curry, resigning is the smartest thing Curry could have done when it comes to state politics.  He has been taking a lot of criticism within the party.  Things are not looking as bright as the GOP would like for Rick Scott in his bid for re-election.  He may well lose despite the money he is prepared to throw at a campaign.  If and when he does, Curry would be crucified for the loss, whether or not he was responsible for it.  He is a well enough known and liked in the party to get the funding and support of voters he needs to challenge Alvin Brown.  I don't see Bill Bishop being able to raise the funds that Curry will in the campaign either.  If we see no other candidates on the ballot before election, this race will come down to Curry vs Brown pretty much regardless of Curry's platform.

Known yes, liked, not so much, respected, not a bit.

Scott let him know earlier this year that he would not support him for Chairman in January should Scott be reelected.  Therefore, Lenny found himself in a no win no lose situation.  He will be vilified within the party for abandoning the Governor seven months before Election Day but will not share in the blame for any decisions made after he leaves should Scott lose.

No win, no lose.

[Tacachale]

This is damning, because Rick Scott is so well liked and respected.

[Cheshire Cat]

This is damning, because Rick Scott is so well liked and respected.

Ahahahaha, I know right?  The fact that Rick Scott didn't want to support him will be a positive in the eyes of many.