Mayor Curry dishes GOP red meat, dings "liberal media" at Rep Sunshine Summit

[The_Choose_1]

Mayor Curry dishes GOP red meat, dings "liberal media" at Republican Sunshine Summit

ORLANDO, Fla. (Times-Union) — Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry served up a dish of red meat — and some media criticism — Friday at the Republican Party of Florida's Sunshine Summit in Orlando, an event that has attracted every GOP presidential primary contender and gave the first-term mayor a platform to draw attention to his recent campaign victory.

"I'm getting ready to tell you how conservatives win elections," Curry told the audience Friday.

"Be bold. Or be defeated."

He took office this summer after defeating Democratic former Mayor Alvin Brown, who remained popular even when locked in an expensive and, by Jacksonville's standards, highly partisan general election fight. It was the first time in the city's recent history an incumbent mayor was unseated.

Curry's short speech Friday centered on his election win, which he said he won running as an unapologetic conservative despite skepticism from a "liberal media."

"Republican conservatives can still win elections," Curry said. "We can win despite the attacks that are dominated by the liberal media."

Brown, Curry said, was the beneficiary of a "liberal, loving media that wrapped (its) arms around him." The Florida Times-Union endorsed Curry in the general election.

Curry ran on campaign promises that he would fix the city's finances — which he said were in disarray — and would get on top of a crime problem he said was spiraling out of control. His top campaign pledge was hiring 147 police officers, which he said he would do without raising taxes. For that, he said he was attacked by the media.

His budget this year included funding for 40 additional positions for police officers that will be filled over the course of the year. The budget also has funding for 40 community service officers - civilians who respond to minor incidents such as car accidents.

Curry ran a largely orthodox campaign, though many of his big-money backers — which include much of the Jacksonville business establishment — hold views on city taxes and spending that fall to Curry's left, a rift that caused Curry some behind-the-scenes headaches during the campaign.

And although Brown had strong ties to the Clintons, which Curry noted again Friday, the former mayor also ran essentially as a conservative. There were few local issues of substance upon which Curry and Brown disagreed.

Curry urged the audience Friday to become "evangelists for conservative principles."

"We can beat the tired old ideas of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton," he said. "We can beat those ideas nationally if we speak the truth."

Curry has not endorsed any of the Republican presidential candidates so far, though he has connections to at least two of them. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush cut a 30-second TV spot for Curry, and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio made a campaign appearance supporting him. Many of Curry's backers are also maxed-out Bush donors.

Nate Monroe: (904) 359-4289   http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/13/mayor-curry-dishes-gop-red-meat-dings-liberal-media-at-republican-sunshine-summit/75720278/

[InnerCityPressure]

BS

He won because of Alvin's blunders.  I like what Curry has done so far, but I didn't vote for him, because he gave me no clue what he was planning to do.  He won with a "say as little as possible" campaign.  I think he would have turned off a lot of moderates with an unapologetic conservative message.  Again, I like him, but that speech is just not factual.

[The_Choose_1]

Curry can only be Mayor of Jacksonville Florida twice he is on his first term. This GOP speech to this convention of Republicans is to toot his little horn for future public office. "The Florida Times-Union endorsed Curry in the general election." so much for this Liberal Media? 

[MusicMan]

Funny how he did not mention that he was Chairman of the Florida Republican Party when Obama won Florida, and the Presidency.

"Be bold. Or be defeated."   Curry's campaign was as bold as day old oatmeal.

"Attacks dominated by the liberal media."    He might as well endorse blood letting as a useful therapy.  The Republicans have been saying this sh!t for years, and no one believes them. Can they actually just discuss a policy or something......................  Think he's ever heard Rush Limbaugh, or FauxNews.  That's where the attacks come from. Or maybe Donald Trump. Ever heard him attack someone?  Like all the "stupid" Republican's running for President, or the "stupid" people dumb enough to believe Ben Carson. It's a farce.

[Tacachale]

I supported (and support) Curry, but he'd be wise not to let the win go to his head. Brown did, and he was ridden out after a single term.

That said, it *is* wise for him to be comfortable with his place in his own party. Brown was not (until he needed them again) and it didn't work out well for him.

[Jumpinjack]

Curry can only be Mayor of Jacksonville Florida twice he is on his first term. This GOP speech to this convention of Republicans is to toot his little horn for future public office. "The Florida Times-Union endorsed Curry in the general election." so much for this Liberal Media? 

Oh, yes! Forget that "One City" feel-good moment. Media folks you slobbered all over that one. Well time to get over it!

[I-10east]

That's funny that he's taking pot shots  at metro Jacksonville in orlando.

He didn't take any shots at 'metro Jax' at all.

[I-10east]

^^^That's better since you explained yourself more thoroughly. Please think of a new diss, because that whole 'walls peeling in the library' thing is truly 'hot dumb'.

[RattlerGator]

It's a big-time Republican event -- he is *supposed* to dish some red meat to the crowd. Good grief, people. Quit writing like virgins.

[The_Choose_1]

It's a big-time Republican event -- he is *supposed* to dish some red meat to the crowd. Good grief, people. Quit writing like virgins.

Curry has to repay all the Republican fat cats that put money in his campaign. When he governs the people of Jacksonville he does it knowing not everyone voted for him including Democrats. I didn't vote for Curry I think he is as slick as John Peyton.

[brainstormer]

It's times like these that I wish our local races were non-partisan.

[The_Choose_1]

It's times like these that I wish our local races were non-partisan.

This doesn't really matter even walking bare foot in the dark stepping on a pile of shit still smells and gets between your toes.   

[RattlerGator]

It's times like these that I wish our local races were non-partisan.

Non-partisan races most definitely remain partisan affairs.

A politician speaking at a big conference for party members giving them some red meat is completely unremarkable -- especially when said politician is commenting on the truth that most media in Jax and elsewhere in this nation are decidedly liberal. Who the heck cares if the editorial position of the Times-Union (or any other outlet) supported him? BFD !!! The reporters who write the stories local / state / national? The reporters who do the TV spots local / state / national? Get real.

[tufsu1]

It's a big-time Republican event -- he is *supposed* to dish some red meat to the crowd. Good grief, people. Quit writing like virgins.

that's fine when you aren't a government official elected to represent all people

[Tacachale]

While I wouldn't call the Jax press the "liberal media" or unfair to Curry, they did drop the ball on covering the various problems that occurred during Brown's term. Brown was effectively given a pass on things that would have been catostrophic for any other mayor. While the Times-Union  started reporting on Brown's troubles a bit more and the editorial board endorsed Curry in the end, it was quite late in the game. The local media in general simply didn't do their job throughout Brown's tenure. Obviously the national decline of print journalism and the TV networks has influenced that, but can we really say that bias wasn't a factor? Their coverage of Curry's administration will give us our answer.