Jacksonville Mayoral election 2015

[vicupstate]

Can someone explain the lack of Democratic representation in this race? It seems like there should've had atleast one more registered Democrat running in the election.

Brown is a Democrat. In name only, perhaps.  As he  is the incumbent and in the weakest party, the Democrats would discourage any inter-party competition.

[Cheshire Cat]

Brown was "ordained" to be in this race by the Dem party.  No help would be forthcoming to any democrat that would enter this race.  Money and support was locked down big time.  I am going to do some sharing about party manipulations in our local government very soon.

[Cheshire Cat]

Another meaningful endorsement for Bill Bishop. 
Bill is grateful to have just received 71% of the vote in the Southside Businessmen's Club(SBMC) Mayoral straw poll! ‪

[CityLife]

^Bishop definitely seems to have some momentum building. He's probably going to end up being a bigger factor that it looked like early on.

[Cheshire Cat]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The city's elections are six weeks out with the candidates for mayor including the incumbent busy stumping for votes.

Four people are in the race including Mayor Alvin Brown who wants another four years.

"People know my heart, my compassion to do what is right for the city," said Brown following an official event in Arlington when asked questions about the problems plaguing the city Downtown following the Liberty Street collapse. Brown said he could not comment on the campaign since he was on official business.

City councilman Bill Bishop is also in the race. Eight years on the council, he says, gives him perspective on what needs to be done in Jacksonville.

"What we are talking about ought not be a popularity contest or beauty contest," said Bishop who compared the election to the voters interviewing the next CEO of the city.

Lenny Curry who joins Bishop as the other Republican in the race has raised the most money more than $2 million so far. Curry is the former head of the Florida Republican Party and is undertaking his first bid for public office.

"Folks want to know they can get a good job, kids go to good schools and they want safer streets, " said Curry on Tuesday at a campaign function.

Omega Allen is also in the race with no party affiliation. She says wants to be the "People's Mayor" with jobs and economy the big issues facing the city.

The primary election is March 24 with a candidate needing to get 50 percent plus one vote to be the outright winner. Otherwise the candidates who place first and second advance to the May general election.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/02/11/jacksonville-city-elections-mayors-race/23244051/

[JHAT76]

We have been very disappointed in Curry's negative ads both on TV and mailings.  I don't love Brown's tenure, but I am looking for someone with ideas/vision.  Curry doesn't look to be that person.

[Dog Walker]

Who's Lenny Curry?  Had anyone outside the Republican Executive Committee ever heard of him before the TV ads started?

Stephan Dare and I both are more qualified to be Mayor than Lenny Curry and we are NOT qualified enough.

[Jax native]

Lenny Curry was the head of the Florida Republican Committee until he stopped and pretended to be "NOT" a "politician".  All the heavy weights (figuratively and literally) in Republican party in Florida is pouring money in his campaign, strictly because he has represented R forever. 

Yesterday, on my twitter feed was a photo of Curry in a tie, putting his sign in a front yard, with the caption....."Person to Person"....I'm still trying to find my eye balls after that eye roll.

He is following in Brown's steps of getting as many 'photo ops" as possible.   

I was a strong Brown supporter...and volunteer four yrs ago, and I'm strictly in Bill Bishop corner now.  I truly think he has the experience Curry doesn't and will take our city places, Brown will never go. 

[Scarlettjax]

I'm leaning heavily toward Bishop, too.  Can't wait to see the debates!

[brucef58]

To really look at the issues Brown has not meet his obligations as Mayor.  He has failed to provide the a balanced budget to City Council from all three years he has been responsible for the budget.  He promised not to raise taxes in spite of the fact that the tax base had fallen and there was not enough funding for basic city services.  We cannot afford four more years of Brown.

I would rate the candidates as follows:

1. Bishop
2. Curry
3. Brown 

[ronchamblin]

I rate the candidates as follows:

1) Bishop

[ronchamblin]

All actions, changes, or improvements in any system ... organic or societal ... begin with the needs therein.  A clear understanding of the needs of any system, along with the understanding of the related mechanisms to affect, will encourage the proper action to their satisfaction.  Our city has for too long accepted only politicians as leaders.  Only when the voting public ends the habit of electing politicians according to the number of expensive media ads ...  supported by moneyed special interests ... will we begin to see real leadership, and thus progress, in our city.  Only when we discard our habit of giving credibility to a candidate because he or she is supported by the moneyed wealthy ... the powerful groups ... will we move to a candidate able to address the needs of the majority in our city. 

[ronchamblin]

Who, among the three candidates, actually understands the needs and mechanisms in our city government?  Who is moved by sincere dedication and concern for our city's future, and not only moved by a wish to "be mayor"?  Who is free of constraints shaped by the wishes of the wealthy or powerful ... free of debt to large contributors, and thus free to focus on the real issues, and the mechanisms to their solution?  Freedom from obligations to special interests ... even freedom from blind adherence to the dogma of one's political party ... gives one the freedom to do what is right for the majority.  And the majority, as I recall, is what democracy is all about.

1) Bishop

[tayana42]

Jumping on the Bill Bishop bandwagon!

[spuwho]

Alvin Brown operatives were working our neighborhood on Saturday. They looked a little forlorn in their Tshirts holding their materials.

Someones operatives were attempting to do handouts on the 295 exit ramps at Atlantic this evening.