Delores Weaver now backs Brown for Jacksonville mayor

[Diane Melendez]

I don't know about past voting on that issue Jimmy.  As you know I am deeply committed to historic preservation and will always be.  Public trust must first be restored and the way to begin to do that is to have people feel confident that the taxes currently collected are being spent well. That means tearing into the budget.  Years of investigation have proved to me personally that we have wasted and continue to waste massive amounts of tax dollars via lousy contracts and politcally motivated dealings.  I know there is a sentiment out there that people want services but don't want to pay for them.  I don't believe that is true.  I think for those who have enough to live on and still enjoy some extra's in life it is easy to imagine that others just don't want to pay more, when the fact is they just can't pay more right now.

I also think that Mullaneys stance on no new taxes was very telling.  He is nothing if he is not calculated in his thinking.  He has been on the inside for years and knows very well how our budgeting is handled.  He would never have come up with a no new taxes platform if he did not know in advance that there was money in the budget to make that a viable position.  The time to fix and debug the budget is now and once people are satisfied with how their money is used, they are more than open to paying their fair share.

[Timkin]

I have not asked him that specific question Timkin.  I do know he and his family are very engaged in local history, but have no specific answer about where he stands on preservation.  My take on the issue, as someone who gets the importance of preserving historic structures, is that working toward a balanced and workable budget will make the idea of historic preservation one that everyone can embrace.  That is my hope.  Our history is who we are and is of paramount importance.

I do appreciate your honest answer on that Diane, and I do know that you value Historic Preservation.. and I sincerely appreciate you for that.  

It is unfortunate that this debate seems heated among people that know each other well.. While I support Brown and you support ( I presume) Hogan .. it is not carved in stone that either will solve all of Jacksonville's issues.   I hope if Brown wins that we aren't disappointed with him as a Mayor, and that if Hogan wins, that you and alike supporters of him will not be disappointed , as well.  

Its a toss up.  Unfortunately my gut instinct is that of the two while Hogan may NOT be a cut of the same cloth as Scott , who is a MONSTER , and nothing less , IMO .. he comes closer to the appearance of Scott, and the main reason why is , he basicly is evading us , the body , the citizens of Jacksonville who want ANSWERS, true answers , as to his intentions.   Marriage rights, gun control , and cutting taxes , I'm afraid does not win me over.    Personally I don't see how EITHER person could promise no tax increases.   As we all know , Peyton promised this .. and need I go further with that?  Peyton pledged to me PERSONALLY in a letter ( which I will hold on to from now on) Pledging to work with Councilman Corrigan  on Preserving Annie Lytle.   Well.. the School hasnt fallen into a pile of bricks yet, so in that regard he made good on his promise.. but a hell of alot more COULD HAVE been done... it just was not important.  And my gut feeling is it will not be for EITHER of these two either.  

 Regardless of where this ends up, I can only speak for myself when I tell you , I am and will always be your friend.. but Diane, your choice as Mayor , is not showing me much .. With all due respect.

[Diane Melendez]

I hear you Timkin and value your right to your own views and opinions about the candidates.  Personally I am not offended by the fact that people have different views of the same situation.  That is as it should be. Everyone should support whom they think can do the job the best.  I can tell you this much.  No matter who is elected, a whole bunch of people will be disappointed.  Nothing will change that.  

[Timkin]

No Stephen.. I am certain he will not stand up for our rights at all ,sadly... and even more sad is , neither will our new Governor. 

[Timkin]

I do however , hope that when this is said and done ,we can all move forward together.

[Timkin]

good point.

[Jaxson]

Make downtown the issue, make downtown the issue. He'll lose the southside if he does this. Glover made downtown a major issue and lost to Peyton. As downtown loses more and more voters, since there are only a couple of thousand residents there, there are not enough critical masses to vote downtown. Only when it costs more to live/work in the burbs, will downtown come back into view, this is simple economics. We still have too much available land in Jacksonville.

Mike Hogan referring to downtown as 'the most important neighborhood'?  If Alvin Brown is such a loser for backing a stronger downtown, why is Mike Hogan walking back his comment about downtown being just another neighborhood in Jacksonville?  It sounds like the suburbs are not so anti-downtown after all.  Can a mayor wear flip flops into City Hall? 

[Jimmy]

If someone has the backing of the tea party and some public sector unions, pay very close attention to anything he says.  To form a coalition like that, he's lying to someone.  IMHO.

Flip-flopping and backtracking on other issues would be child's play.

[Jaxson]

Excellent point.  Which one is Mike Hogan willing to throw under the bus to pacify the other?  I hope we never have to find out. 

[Charles Hunter]

Excellent point.  Which one is Mike Hogan willing to throw under the bus to pacify the other?  I hope we never have to find out. 

Hard to say, but my bet would be on the Unions, unless there is a significant backlash against the Teapublicans in 2012.  ("Teapublicans" borrowed from someone else, but I like the term)

[Jaxson]

It's funny how the tea people are in cahoots with the tax man.  It's even stranger that the local unions are also on his bandwagon.  But you are right, Charles, these strange bedfellows are ultimately going to have to realize that there is only room in the bed for two - and the tea party people are not going to roll over for anyone.

[FayeforCure]

It's funny how the tea people are in cahoots with the tax man.  It's even stranger that the local unions are also on his bandwagon.  But you are right, Charles, these strange bedfellows are ultimately going to have to realize that there is only room in the bed for two - and the tea party people are not going to roll over for anyone.

Well, here is to the police and firefighter unions seeing the light.

Who was it again who wants to cut their pensions?

[futurejax]

Anyone seriously looking at both these men and concluding that Hogan is best man for the job is either not capable of rational thought or lying to themselves.  Neither is admirable.  I say this as a long time Republican voter who supported McCain in 08.  The city council that will be installed will be right of center.  A farther right Mayor that is socially to the right of Pat Robertson is not the answer to Jacksonville's problems.  I think cutting waste out of the local government is crucial and vital.  But it is not the only problem the city faces.  We need someone with vision who can speak to company executives about why Jax is a great place to do business.  We need someone who understands that without a vibrant downtown the city's fortunes will always slam right into a shallow glass ceiling.  We need someone who can sell the city to foreign and out of state investment.  This really aint about right/left when it comes down to it as most things in politics usually are not.  It it about competency plain and simple.  And while railing against illegals, ensuring Obama doesn't take our guns, and believing without question anything one's pastor says makes for good campaigns particularly amongst a specific group of the electorate it by no means makes a good mayor.  The best argument FOR Hogan I've heard is the pragmatic by way of omniscient "He's going to win".  Says something, and it's not much.

[mtraininjax]

It's even stranger that the local unions are also on his bandwagon.

You might want to clarify that statement. On election night Brown was at the Longshoreman's Union Hall. So there are some local union members in each camp.

[Timkin]

Were you at the Union Hall function , M?