No more Debates between Mayor Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry?

[Cheshire Cat]

I had promised to let folks know when and if any new debates in the upcoming runoff races would be.  JU who hosted the last debate received notice from the Alvin Brown campaign that Brown has declined to debate Lenny Curry.

[Tacachale]

So Brown's taking the Hogan strategy, eh? I'm sure that'll work well.

[coredumped]

OHHH that's bad, bad news. Why Mayor Brown, why???

Now I'm not sure of my decision at all...

Edit: Wait, it looks like he IS going to do a debate, just not all of them:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/politics/first-coast-votes/2015/04/02/bectcha-can-have-just-one/70823018/

[Cheshire Cat]

OHHH that's bad, bad news. Why Mayor Brown, why???

Now I'm not sure of my decision at all...

Edit: Wait, it looks like he IS going to do a debate, just not all of them:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/politics/first-coast-votes/2015/04/02/bectcha-can-have-just-one/70823018/

Good find.  Thanks for sharing this. 

[Tacachale]

He's going to do ONE debate out of the scheduled four. Nice, real nice.

[Cheshire Cat]

It's a foolish move.  Looks like he is backing down from Curry.  Shows weakness.  Who is advising him on this stuff?  Lord have mercy.

[mtraininjax]

"I regret to inform you that the Alvin Brown Campaign will not be able to participate in your proposed debate. Best wishes, Joshua Karp (communications director of the Florida Democratic Party)."

On March 25 -- the day after the fist election -- Curry told Kent Justice, moderator of the JU/WJXT events, that he would debate Brown anywhere at any time.

"With a record of failure, horrific crime increases, and financial disarray, it's no wonder Alvin Brown is afraid to stand up and defend his first term," Curry's communication consultant, Brian Hughes said in a statement Friday morning. "Just 4 years ago, Alvin Brown touted the importance of debates and public events with both candidates. Now, Brown wants to hide from voters and rejects public forums that would allow voters to understand the choice facing Jacksonville. It's disrespectful to Jacksonville's families."

JU is proposing the going forward with mayoral debate, scheduled to air May 12 on Channel 4, as an hour of questions for Curry.

No problem give Curry an extra hour for free air time to answer questions. Good PR. Looks like the shakeup at the top of Brown's campaign had something to do with it....reading between the lines.

I like that quote, "It's disrespectful to Jacksonville's families" - Amen!

[Dog Walker]

What debates?  They only thing either of them did in the previous debate was to spout platitudes and vague generalities.  That's not  a debate, just a campaign speech interrupted by questions.

[Cheshire Cat]

"I regret to inform you that the Alvin Brown Campaign will not be able to participate in your proposed debate. Best wishes, Joshua Karp (communications director of the Florida Democratic Party)."

On March 25 -- the day after the fist election -- Curry told Kent Justice, moderator of the JU/WJXT events, that he would debate Brown anywhere at any time.

"With a record of failure, horrific crime increases, and financial disarray, it's no wonder Alvin Brown is afraid to stand up and defend his first term," Curry's communication consultant, Brian Hughes said in a statement Friday morning. "Just 4 years ago, Alvin Brown touted the importance of debates and public events with both candidates. Now, Brown wants to hide from voters and rejects public forums that would allow voters to understand the choice facing Jacksonville. It's disrespectful to Jacksonville's families."

JU is proposing the going forward with mayoral debate, scheduled to air May 12 on Channel 4, as an hour of questions for Curry.

No problem give Curry an extra hour for free air time to answer questions. Good PR. Looks like the shakeup at the top of Brown's campaign had something to do with it....reading between the lines.

I like that quote, "It's disrespectful to Jacksonville's families" - Amen!

What's bizarre is this is JU who Brown tout's as one of the organizations he is most thankful to have belonged to.  Something changed apparently.  This on the heels of Rick Scott coming out in support of Curry after Brown making repeated statements about how well they worked together and the relationship they had founded.  It's all rather scary to me because with all of his faults, Brown if re-elected is a known quantity and one we would have to deal with for four more years at the most with a competent council.  An untested GOP hardliner with absolutely no experience backed by the likes of Scott, Perry and worse is a scary thought especially knowing we would be stuck with that person for eight years. With the likes of Lumb in the mix, the pressure that would be put on republican councilmembers to fall into line with the will of Curry would be immense and a real problem to the functioning of our city.

[mtraininjax]

An untested GOP hardliner with absolutely no experience

Which is obviously different from the "I'm With Alvin" campaign that got an untested person elected who was supported by the Clintons and whom has a wonderful track record to date.

If we're all about change, then the obvious choice is Curry, he has no track record in Jacksonville, same as Brown 4 years ago, and clearly deserves more of a chance. We know what we get with Brown, why not try with an unknown, same as people did 4 years ago?

[coredumped]

Does anyone else feel like WJXT ch4 is doing a bit of "shady reporting" by not including all the facts? I think they should say that Brown declined THEIR invitation to debate, but will still debate, just on a competing channel.

I usually trust Ch4, but this is disappointing.

[Cheshire Cat]

An untested GOP hardliner with absolutely no experience

Which is obviously different from the "I'm With Alvin" campaign that got an untested person elected who was supported by the Clintons and whom has a wonderful track record to date.

If we're all about change, then the obvious choice is Curry, he has no track record in Jacksonville, same as Brown 4 years ago, and clearly deserves more of a chance. We know what we get with Brown, why not try with an unknown, same as people did 4 years ago?

To some people it might be.  To me it is no different which I why I did not vote for him the last go round. Further I don't know that all people are asking for change but rather are asking for strong leadership, answers to questions and equal representation for all the citizens of Jacksonville.  All change is not good change and the need for changes in my view does not make Curry the obvious choice.  Right now Alvin has got to step up and convince the voters that he is prepared to lead differently and to answer the concerns of voters with facts and a plan that explains how he is going to accomplish what he promises.  Lenny is an unknown factor, Brown is a known factor and people have got to decide if they want to chance a totally new and untested guy who seems to be okay with getting ugly if it suits his agenda as well as remaining highly partisan or go with the incumbent.  The tone of all things Curry is very worrisome.

[Cheshire Cat]

Does anyone else feel like WJXT ch4 is doing a bit of "shady reporting" by not including all the facts? I think they should say that Brown declined THEIR invitation to debate, but will still debate, just on a competing channel.

I usually trust Ch4, but this is disappointing.

I agree. 

[mtraininjax]

As reported last night by WJXT, the last time a Mayoral Candidate declined to debate a challenger was Jake Godbold when he was running against John Delaney. Of course Delaney went on to win the election, and he used the time of the debate to discuss his plans and sell people on himself as Mayor.

By the way, Brown received the support from Goldbold for this race.....perhaps he is getting advice from him as well....perhaps history will repeat itself.

Right now Alvin has got to step up and convince the voters that he is prepared to lead differently and to answer the concerns of voters with facts and a plan that explains how he is going to accomplish what he promises.

Brown has had 4 years with which to stand up, take responsibility for his own actions. Why does anyone believe he can change in 60 days? Where are all the "I'm with Alvin" crowd, the same who asked for change in 2011, but are not happy with the change of Brown, but who are unwilling to give Curry a chance to lead? We want change, just not that change, so we will stand on the sidelines and not vote when in fact we are trying to get people out and vote, just not in this election. Nice

Just to remind all those who did not vote for Hogan, but did vote for Brown.......Mike Hogan just successfully beat Democrat Tracie Davis soundly, so apparently he is qualified to be Supervisor of Elections. Now that Brown has come out officially as a Democrat, perhaps the Republicans can get the vote out and send Brown back to hang out with the Clintons.

[carpnter]

I am not pleased with either choice, but I know what I have in Brown and that does not impress me.