Challengers in the 2015 Council Races

[mbwright]

I never liked Daniel or Pat.  Self-serving slime.

[urbaknight]

I never liked Daniel or Pat.  Self-serving slime.

What is Pat known for?

[sheclown]

Top Ten issues for urban core council seat?

1.) Full restoration of mobility fee
2.) Vibrant urban core parks including expansion of entertainment zone
3.) Reducing the maze of one-way streets by conversion to two-way

what else?

[JeffreyS]

4.) Easing Signage restrictions
5.) Reduction of Parking meters
6.) Brooklyn Skyway stop
7.) Hemming plaza public use

[Cheshire Cat]

Daniel Davis has his foot planted firmly into politics.  This is his campaign reporting to run again for the House.  This should interest Metrojacksonville readers in that Davis and his association to N.E. Florida Builders organization will be felt when it comes to legislation and voting habits.

@Mdixon55  TU

State Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, raised $95,353 during the first quarter of 2013, the most among the 147 filed House candidates, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday.

“I love Jacksonville and I’m honored to have so much support for our campaign,” Davis said.

He raised $21,100 from Jacksonville, records show, second only to the $22,500 he raised from Tallahassee addresses.

The only House candidate with more money in the bank than Davis is former state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, who has $123,635 cash-on-hand. He did not run for re-election after being drawn into the same seat with Majority Leader Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, but is again running for the House in 2014

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2013-04-11/daniel-davis-tops-all-house-candidates-95k-fundraising

[Jimmy]

And it's important to remember that Davis's name comes up, no matter who you ask, in the list of Republicans likely to run for Mayor in 2015.  He'll cruise to re-election for his House seat next year.

[Cheshire Cat]

Abel will not run.  I have spoken about this with him.  Frankly I don't blame him and know he will be involved in the betterment of our city in other ways.  Glorious is going to run for Warren Jone's seat and it would be blessing for Jacksonville to have her experience and independent attitude on the council.  I can say without reservation that she is both honest and serious about positive change in the City of Jax and doesn't play the special interest game.  I don't know Mike well but a lot of folks have been calling his name for a run at office.  What seat would that be?  Spiller the last time I heard was uncommitted for a run and more focused on his work within the Democrat organization.  He would be a very good rep on council if he did run.  Downtown advocates need to put some serious consideration into who will run for Gaffney and Redman's seats.  They will help make or break what happens regarding downtown growth and the serious independent efforts of folks in Springfield.  We need many more reps that are serious about our history and historic restoration.  We have lost to many opportunities and buildings in the past that would help make us great. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Daniel Davis in the office of Mayor would be a disaster and one sure way to inject city hall with the attitudes of the past that have supported special interests over citizens concerns.   I hope he stays with the house. He is a nice, attractive guy and definitely cut from the old style Republican fabric.   Lori Boyer would be a better choice for Republican's but would receive heat from the JFRD regarding pension issues.

[thelakelander]

I never liked Daniel or Pat.  Self-serving slime.

What is Pat known for?

Purchasing a monument for herself with taxpayer money....

[Cheshire Cat]

Pat gives me a headache when I think about her in office again.  She readily "plays the game" with the powerful while placating her supporters with T.V. sets and dinners.  The problem is the district she is running in could and may re-elect her unless a good opponent with positive name recognition is put in to run against her. 

[thelakelander]

Top Ten issues for urban core council seat?

1.) Full restoration of mobility fee
2.) Vibrant urban core parks including expansion of entertainment zone
3.) Reducing the maze of one-way streets by conversion to two-way

what else?

Thinking of urban core, I'm including everything north of downtown and South of the Trout River as well.  Major issues that stand out include:

A. Public education (the majority of schools mentioned as candidates for closure are on the Northside)

B. Public transportation (this includes better facilities and service for bus, bikes and pedestrian modes)

C. Context sensitive streets (every neighborhood has a commercial heart like Five Points or San Marco Square.  Improving the public realm in their center, encourages economic development and revitalization...In short, more streets should resemble JTA's recent Kings Road project near EWC)

D. Public ROW maintenance (its a shame how public ROW, parks, etc. are maintained in the working class urban core hoods)

E. Modifying zoning regulations (the code needs to be rewritten. Our autocentric zoning code is ripping apart the pedestrian friendly atmosphere and density of these neighborhoods. It makes access to critical services such as medical, retail, etc. more difficult without car ownership and the decreasing density makes it more difficult to attract new retail, new jobs, etc. within these neighborhoods.)

[Cheshire Cat]

Top Ten issues for urban core council seat?

1.) Full restoration of mobility fee
2.) Vibrant urban core parks including expansion of entertainment zone
3.) Reducing the maze of one-way streets by conversion to two-way

what else?

Thinking of urban core, I'm including everything north of downtown and South of the Trout River as well.  Major issues that stand out include:

A. Public education (the majority of schools mentioned as candidates for closure are on the Northside)

B. Public transportation (this includes better facilities and service for bus, bikes and pedestrian modes)

C. Context sensitive streets (every neighborhood has a commercial heart like Five Points or San Marco Square.  Improving the public realm in their center, encourages economic development and revitalization...In short, more streets should resemble JTA's recent Kings Road project near EWC)

D. Public ROW maintenance (its a shame how public ROW, parks, etc. are maintained in the working class urban core hoods)

E. Modifying zoning regulations (the code needs to be rewritten. Our autocentric zoning code is ripping apart the pedestrian friendly atmosphere and density of these neighborhoods. It makes access to critical services such as medical, retail, etc. more difficult without car ownership and the decreasing density makes it more difficult to attract new retail, new jobs, etc. within these neighborhoods.)

These are all questions that Metrojacksonville folks should put to candidates running for office.  Having an answer on record would be great when it comes time to vote.

[vicupstate]

D. Public ROW maintenance (its a shame how public ROW, parks, etc. are maintained in the working class urban core hoods)

I didn't know they WERE maintained.

[Cheshire Cat]

This is a great piece from Jim Bailey of The Daily Record.  I agree with his sentiments completely and echo two of them which I have also stated myself.  One, that the financial help of Republicans and Peter Rummell is what bought Alvin Brown the office of mayor, not his politics or promises.  Second, The folks who really understand the importance of having a person of deep insight, understanding and the ability to address the serious problems of Jacksonville is terribly important to our city and the fact of the matter is we don't have that in Brown.  What we have is a guy who tags onto the efforts of others and loves the spotlight.  Other than selling himself as a salesman for the city, there is little of substance to the man or his efforts.

To read Jim's thoughts in his own words the article is posted below.

James F. Bailey Jr.
Brown’s bid for 2nd term raises funds â€" and questions
Monday, April 4, 10:39 AM EDT

From the publisher: James F. Bailey Jr.
There are 560,324 registered voters in Duval County.

With about two years before we head to the polls for the 2015 local elections, my guess is that fewer than 1,000 of those 560,324 registered voters are remotely paying attention or even care about the next mayor's race.

As one of those who pay attention, I found the first finance report filed by Mayor Alvin Brown in his re-election campaign interesting on several levels.

While nearly all first-time office holders plan to seek a second term, Brown has started his campaign earlier than most incumbents.

He's made it clear from Day One he expects to serve eight years, but there was some surprise when Brown opened his campaign account March 6.

Finance reports must be made at the end of each quarter and general political wisdom is that a candidate starts a campaign at the beginning of the quarter to take full advantage of the full three months to raise as much money as possible.

The mayor pulled the trigger with just three weeks remaining in the quarter.

Despite the short time period, many political watchers expected him to raise at least $300,000. So, when you look at his cash total of just more than $104,000 you can think Brown should have raised more â€" but the mayor collected almost $35,000 a week.

If he maintains the same pace in the second quarter he will have at least $500,000 by July 4 and he will collect almost $4 million by Election Day at that pace.

Of course, Brown is hoping to discourage potential opposition with his early fundraising start.

I think the political ideal for the mayor will be to raise a huge war chest and have a nominal opponent. That way, Brown can own the airwaves to promote his image and lay out his second-term agenda without fear of defeat.

This first finance report gives Brown traction, but does he have momentum?

Brown reported 233 contributors â€" including 33 attorneys or law firms.

Attorney and former Democrat gubernatorial candidate Steve Pajcic, along with nine other Pajcics, gave Brown $500 each.

Developer and Jacksonville Landing owner Toney Sleiman and three other Sleimans each contributed $500.

Several of Brown's appointed aides made contributions, but absent is the mayor's most visible aide, Chris Hand, Brown's chief of staff.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan is on the list for $500.

But there are many folks missing.

It's well documented that in 2010, Brown pretty much snaked the election from Mike Hogan when many high-powered Republicans, uninspired by Hogan and led by Peter Rummell, threw their backing to underdog Brown.

Rummell's name shows up toward the end of this Brown campaign report â€" contribution 232 of 233 â€" with a $500 contribution March 31, the last day of the quarter.

Others, like Ed Burr, Steve Halverson, Marty Fiorentino and Preston Haskell also contributed $500.

But a number of the GOP's big guys, some who followed Rummell's lead in the last election, are absent.

Are they keeping their powder dry to see if anyone else enters the race?

Or, are they just planning to contribute to Brown later?

Perhaps there's a better question. Are those Republicans who contributed only a single check of $500 to Brown just trying to buy some time?

After all, some of these people are referred to as "bundlers" for their ability to amass large numbers of contributions for their favored candidates.

Brown's administration has made some financial blunders, but he's been fiscally conservative and refused to raise or impose new taxes.

But to say that the local Republican infrastructure is impressed by Brown's conservative ways or wants to see him re-elected is a gross overstatement.

While 12 of the more than 50 members of the Jacksonville Civic Council gave Brown money, rumors are persistent that many in that group want a credible candidate to run against Brown in 2015.

Yet, the old adage, "You can't beat somebody with nobody," certainly applies here.

Brown is an incumbent with reportedly high popularity poll numbers and now he appears to be on his way to banking big campaign dollars.

That makes Brown SOMEBODY.

There are a lot of folks who think the mayor has never stopped campaigning since winning in May 2010.

He generally receives high marks for self-promotion and making headlines.

He consistently shows up anywhere two or more people and news cameras are gathered.

Though, when people who pay attention to local politics come together, Brown's leadership is continuously questioned.

As we approach the end of his second year in office, many insiders question just what the mayor has accomplished.

If he wants to avoid a serious opponent in 2015, Brown should keep raising money, but he also needs to change the water-cooler conversation with strong leadership that produces concrete results.

jbailey@baileypub.com

(904) 35602466

[Charles Hunter]

Well said, Mr. Bailey.
Now, who is the Credible Candidate?  And the Powers That Be need to settle on one, or the opposition will be diluted.
I may vote for Mr. Brown, again, depending on who the opposition is.  For example, if it is a Mike Hogan clone, I will be back with Alvin.