Bill Bishop endorses Mayor Alvin Brown for re-election

[carpnter]

Bill Bishop just lost my vote in any future election.  He should have not endorsed anyone. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Tell me carpenter.  Do you think no one should endorse another candidate ever?  lol This is the way politics works when there are big stakes.  Like or not, there will always be people endorsing and each individual has to do what is right for themselves I suppose. 

[Noone]

Bill Bishop earned an apology from his former election staff just about two weeks ago for implying in e-mails that he endorsed Brown.  Yet today he is actually doing what was suggested.  It is politics, nothing more.  He has learned a lesson from this past primary and will be playing these political moves more and more.  Some of us had hoped for more from him, but this is how things work.  Can't blame him one bit.  Doesn't make Brown nor Curry any better of a choice for Mayor.

I can't see that anything Curry and those behind him can do is any worse that what Brown and those behind him are doing and will do.  And fours years only?  No, I think we have had years and years of the same stuff through several Mayors and will have the same stuff regardless of who gets elected in the future.  I now firmly believe there is very little we can do about all of the big stuff.  The facts seem to be that Sleiman will get his new Landing, Khan will get his Shipyards deal and ...well, I'm sure there will be many more things just like them happening in the next four years.  Frankly, the only positive that we tax payers get from those types of deals are incidental to the power people's plans.

That leaves the small stuff and I do truly think that we can affect the small stuff in many places.  The one I am going to focus on is the new appointees.  If Brown is elected, the appointees who do most of the street level decision making and work will still be here for at least four years.  If Curry gets elected, then I believe the majority of those appointees will be new.  If Curry replaced Scott and Prado, then there will be hope for a new and improved MCCD.  That in itself may be enough of a reason to vote for Curry.

+1
Environmental Ethics- Vince Seibold

[strider]

Bill Bishop earned an apology from his former election staff just about two weeks ago for implying in e-mails that he endorsed Brown.  Yet today he is actually doing what was suggested.  It is politics, nothing more.  He has learned a lesson from this past primary and will be playing these political moves more and more.  Some of us had hoped for more from him, but this is how things work.  Can't blame him one bit.  Doesn't make Brown nor Curry any better of a choice for Mayor.

I can't see that anything Curry and those behind him can do is any worse that what Brown and those behind him are doing and will do.  And fours years only?  No, I think we have had years and years of the same stuff through several Mayors and will have the same stuff regardless of who gets elected in the future.  I now firmly believe there is very little we can do about all of the big stuff.  The facts seem to be that Sleiman will get his new Landing, Khan will get his Shipyards deal and ...well, I'm sure there will be many more things just like them happening in the next four years.  Frankly, the only positive that we tax payers get from those types of deals are incidental to the power people's plans.

That leaves the small stuff and I do truly think that we can affect the small stuff in many places.  The one I am going to focus on is the new appointees.  If Brown is elected, the appointees who do most of the street level decision making and work will still be here for at least four years.  If Curry gets elected, then I believe the majority of those appointees will be new.  If Curry replaced Scott and Prado, then there will be hope for a new and improved MCCD.  That in itself may be enough of a reason to vote for Curry.

Except there is no knowing whether Curry would replace either.  I am very conflicted over all of this actually.  Bill has learned that you have to make some moves you might rather not in order to work toward a larger goal.  If Curry is elected there will be no taking him on in four years as an incumbent.  The question is what will the influence of the likes of Rick Scott, Romney, Rubio, Rick Perry and his ilk have on our city?  The possible negatives connected to those politicalyl biased players concerns me greatly, that in tandem with what will be a majority republican council.

As to the Sleiman and Khan deals.  They better not get everything that are banking on.  That would be a major sell out of the taxpayers current and future interests.  I am not saying the landing and the shipyard do not need investment or attention.  I am saying we the taxpayers better not see the greatest interest of these projects simply being to enhance the wealth of private business.  As to the rest after Khan and Sleiman being small stuff.  I don't agree at all.  We have crime, infant mortality, Aids epidemic, crumbling infrastructure and citywide blight issues, closed libraries etc. 

At the time of the emails in support of Brown issue came up, Bill had not made his decision to publically support Brown.  His staff was right to apologize at that point.  What is former campaign staff did after the first election cycle was not in his control.  The key is they were "former" staff speaking as individuals

No, we have no way of knowing who Curry would replace nor who he would appoint.  We know who Brown has appointed and promoted and how well those appointees have done or not done.  It is time for a change and the fates have dealt that the only hope of change at this point is Curry. I still say the influence of everyone you mentioned is not going to be any worse for Jacksonville than the influence of Corrine Brown and everyone else behind Alvin Brown. 

And everything past the money deals is certainly small stuff to the level of politicians we find ourselves dealing with. Just seeing 2 million raised per candidate tells us that.  But I have been part of effecting change in the small stuff in the last years and so that is where I see hope. Hope to help with the HRO issues, the blight issues and to stop some of the nonsense.  To do that however, we must also have change. We can't get that change under Brown.

Isn't saying that the incumbent is so hard to beat that if  Curry got elected he automatically will get 8 years and we should fear that a bit ironic when you are promoting the re-election of Brown giving us 4 more years of the status quo?  It is a self fulfilling prophecy.  Proving in a way that the incumbent, no matter how bad, can't be beat.  So I say instead, what if we vote for change?  Every four years.  Maybe some day, we will get it right.

[mtraininjax]

I assume it's because: (1) he hated not being in the spot light anymore

+1, Bishop is a publicity hound. Hey Bill, can you call a press conference to discuss Global Warming?

This was a total sellout of two people. Bishop threw his support behind Brown who hopes to win Avondale, Riverside and urban areas. People who wanted change, but now have their former candidate throwing support behind.....4 more years of the same. That's great change!

[Tacachale]

Interesting development, but we'll see what kind of impact it will really have. Many people who voted for Bishop were voting less for the man himself than what he represented. He was seen as the candidate who best reflected the moderate perspective on a number of issues but there was clearly a limit to how much of that he he could carry. The moderate business Republican vote was enough to get 37% combined for Moran and Mullaney in 2011 (more than any single candidate pulled in), but Bishop only carried 17% this time. We'll see how much his endorsement really carries with the folks who voted for him.

At any rate, Bishop has pretty effectively sealed his fate in the 2019 elections, especially if he does takes a job with Brown. He'll be dead to the party, and he'll have the same fundraising trouble he had this time, probably worse.

[vicupstate]

Interesting development, but we'll see what kind of impact it will really have. Many people who voted for Bishop were voting less for the man himself than what he represented. He was seen as the candidate who best reflected the moderate perspective on a number of issues but there was clearly a limit to how much of that he he could carry. The moderate business Republican vote was enough to get 37% combined for Moran and Mullaney in 2011 (more than any single candidate pulled in), but Bishop only carried 17% this time. We'll see how much his endorsement really carries with the folks who voted for him.

At any rate, Bishop has pretty effectively sealed his fate in the 2019 elections, especially if he does takes a job with Brown. He'll be dead to the party, and he'll have the same fundraising trouble he had this time, probably worse.

meh.  well see about that.

And frankly if the republicans keep teeing up right wing extremists like Hogan and Curry to run for mayor, and decide things the way that they did by anointing Curry despite the actual vote for Bishop, then what the Party thinks might not amount to a hill of beans in four years.

I agree with Tacachale.  Putting principle above party is NEVER rewarded or overlooked in the GOP, which is one reason I don't support them.  To put the greater good ahead of narrow partisan interest is heresy.   Bishop is clearly hitching his wagon to a Brown victory, which I don't have a problem with,  but if Curry wins, Bishop will be dead politically.   

[Tacachale]

^Yep, it's over for him in electoral politics, at least at this level. No matter who wins, at this point, I sincerely doubt he'll be going anywhere in 4 years, or 8.

However, I'd seriously challenge that this was about "the greater good" in any way, shape or form. The move was political, or maybe personal. There's no "greater good" in supporting a terrible mayor who just may have a job waiting in the wings for you. Unfortunately for him (and us), the most he can probably hope for is a job under Brown for 4 years.

[MEGATRON]

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/182165-bill-bishops-endorsement-and-the-lost-decade-claim

[Tacachale]

^Oh wow, I missed that. If that's true it definitely casts a bad light on this endorsement.

[Tacachale]

That's great, but the real questions are about what Bishop has said and done, not Curry. Gancarski's questions are the right ones:

Consider that Bishop was telling me and other people a few months back that Brown was a "lousy mayor." Then consider the footsie his campaign staff played with the endorsement email that Bishop didn't seem to mind all that much. Then consider the language of Thursday's endorsement, in which Bishop referred to it as a "unilateral exercise," and indeed it was exercise, as Bishop spent a good fifteen minutes strenuously walking back the claims he spent an entire year making on the campaign trail.

Even the question as to whether or not there was a quid pro quo in exchange for the endorsement was not exactly answered.

Bill Bishop has every right to endorse a candidate; let's be clear on that. The T-U report raises serious questions about the integrity of that endorsement and how much it actually means though. And those questions should be answered.

What has changed in the last few months to change Brown from being a "lousy mayor" in Bishop's eyes to a man worthy of four more years? Would Brown's reelection be tantamount to a "lost decade" for Jacksonville or not?  Have there ever been any conversations between Bishop and Alvin Brown, or his representatives, about a concrete role in the Brown Administration should there be a second term? These are the salient questions emerging from Thursday's endorsement event, and Jacksonville voters deserve straight answers.

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/182165-bill-bishops-endorsement-and-the-lost-decade-claim

[Tacachale]

Regardless of whatever Curry has said, Bishop has some 'splainin to do. He was always so good at answering questions on the campaign trail, but now he won't answer the question as to whether or not Brown or his people have had discussions with him about a new job in the administration. What has made Alvin go from "lousy mayor" to "endorsable candidate" in the last few weeks?

[Tacachale]

Regardless of whatever Curry has said, Bishop has some 'splainin to do. He was always so good at answering questions on the campaign trail, but now he won't answer the question as to whether or not Brown or his people have had discussions with him about a new job in the administration. What has made Alvin go from "lousy mayor" to "endorsable candidate" in the last few weeks?

Bishop isn't running for office. Curry is. And this kind of chicanery is over the top.  No wonder Bishop endorsed Brown.  Curry is apparently exactly the kind of snake that people keep describing privately.

You can believe him when he says he did it for the best interests of the city.

No, I don't think I'll be taking his word on that until he makes a clear statement about whether he had discussions with Brown's team about a job in the administration. And, you know, about what makes Alvin a supportable candidate all of a sudden.

[Tacachale]

Deflection, deflection. Something tells me your tune would be different if Bishop had endorsed Curry amid suggestions of quid-pro-quo discussions.

[Cheshire Cat]

This is simple really and the surrounding drama over this endorsement is bemusing.  We all understand that politics at this level is all about strategy, finances and political backing.  Bill Bishop entered this race based upon his experience and desire to lift the dialog of local political candidates by actually giving facts and answering questions put to him about all manner of issues.  He tested the waters with this approach and in spite of being the most competent and experienced candidate he did not win.  The reason was largely because of  available finances to run his campaign.  Both Curry and Brown have sizable financial war chests and their campaigns have been driven by rhetoric, buzz words and a lack of concrete plans or viable platform.  Bishop's equity in this race is in his votes garnered the last elections cycle.  He like all the others that entered this race had a vision and hope for Jacksonville.  Now here's the deal.  A person like Bill who has a real interest in the direction this city is taking down the road will do what they can to influence that future and make our city better.  Some blog to do that, others attend meetings, others become activists, others run for political office and the list goes on.  Bill worked hard the last election cycle, put himself and his ideas out there and the result was that his ideas resonated with enough people that he ended up with over 30,000 votes in equity. He decided to use it!  Yes, he initially said he would not endorse, but after further discussion and thought perhaps he understood that there was another way he have an impact on the direction Jacksonville takes going forward as well as play a viable roll in that future once off the council. He decided to use his vote equity to influence the current run off for mayor and he has every right to do so.  This faux outrage over endorsements and him possibly planning a future with him bringing his honest commentary and straightforward way of handing city business forward, in conjunction with giving factual answers to important issues is something this city sorely needs.  Think about it.  No one cares that nearly 5 million dollars is being used to decide this race and no one questions either candidate using those funds to make a case for themselves as mayor to take Jacksonville forward, no one questions their flimsy platforms of last minute policies, yet Bill uses his vote equity politically and everyone thinks it a scandal.  lol  It's politics people and the truth of the matter is, if Alvin Brown is re-elected I will feel much better knowing Bill Bishop has a voice in what is to come whether standing on the parameter or working in the administration going forward.  Further, it also amazes me that no one can imagine a guy who was dissed and shunned by his own party for the sake of the GOP power hold would not take the opportunity to show them that when you wrong those loyal to you it's folly to think that they will not take the opportunity to politely say "in your face"!  To my view knowing Bill he gave this serious thought and decided to change course on an endorsement which by the way is what good leadership is, evaluate the facts and change your approach if necessary.  You have to take all the facts into consideration when you are involved in politics and planning a future run for office.  You must stay relevant and involved.  He made the right moral and tactical decision and people are complaining about it while chocking down the attack ads and posturing of the remaining two candidates.  Get over it. lol