Mayor Alvin Brown Re-election Hopes in trouble?

[-jerrycornwell]

I still believe Brown will win but this definitely shows that Brown's strategy of non spending winning over the fiscal conservatives to be flawed. In todays political climate it is hard to win votes across party lines.  Brown should benefit from it being a presidential year.

It is a presidential year. A number of Republican candidates have declared for Curry. Rubio and Gov. Rick Perry. And Sen. Ted Cruz is coming to keynote speak at the Feb 20th Lincoln Day Dinner ($120 a plate). Sen. Ted's coming to "test the water" but he wont be at the beach.
Diane, is Rummel backing Lenny? In the TU article last year, I read Rummel condemned Brown for lack of leadership with his non support of HRO in particular. Didnt Rummel himself support HRO word for word?
I agree with this article, the election is a complete toss up and its very possible Mayor Lenny could take this election in March.

[fieldafm]

I take exception to the idea that there's no path to victory for Bill Bishop.  We have Mayor Brown with his built in base.  Then we have Lenny Curry, who I would argue is to the right of Mike Hogan, who lost last time out.  Bill Bishop is the choice of middle-of-the-road types.  His is the vote that was split last time by Audrey Moran and Rick Mullaney, who apparently had a Mutual Assured Destruction factor going on.  There's a lot of race to be run between now and March.

Are there any Mayoral debates scheduled?  There were 3 debates before the First Election in 2011.

Curry is not to the right of Hogan. Clearly, you've never spoken with him.

[Cheshire Cat]

Yes Jerry, Rummell is backing Lenny Curry in a big way. It is considered an election year the year the election actually is held. That will be in 2016, so this year is not actually a presidential election year. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Mike, Lenny having received the endorsement of Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Pam Bondi and others does indeed place him firmly to the right as did his position as chairman and fundraiser to the GOP of Florida.  I believe it is Rubio who has caused Lenny to affirm that he would not back any trade with or engage the Cuban government in spite of Obama's recent actions.  For a town in Florida on the east coast with a focus on shipping this is a questionable position for someone to take who is running for Mayor.  Brown has said he will wait to see what congress does.  lol  As usual he is taking no position on the issue as that would require independent thought and leadership.  The only candidate who says he would support engaging Cuba is Bill Bishop.  The other interesting thing that is not on the radar of most is the reality that there is a rift between Peter Rummell, who backs Curry and Shad Khan who is financially backing Alvin Brown.  It leads one to wonder what if any impact that disconnect would have if Curry should take office.  The reality is that all the candidates back the Jaguars and the team really has no worried regardless of who is elected. 

[-jerrycornwell]

Mike, Lenny having received the endorsement of Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Pam Bondi and others does indeed place him firmly to the right as did his position as chairman and fundraiser to the GOP of Florida.  I believe it is Rubio who has caused Lenny to affirm that he would not back any trade with or engage the Cuban government in spite of Obama's recent actions.  For a town in Florida on the east coast with a focus on shipping this is a questionable position for someone to take who is running for Mayor.  Brown has said he will wait to see what congress does.  lol  As usual he is taking no position on the issue as that would require independent thought and leadership.  The only candidate who says he would support engaging Cuba is Bill Bishop.  The other interesting thing that is not on the radar of most is the reality that there is a rift between Peter Rummell, who backs Curry and Shad Khan who is financially backing Alvin Brown.  It leads one to wonder what if any impact that disconnect would have if Curry should take office.  The reality is that all the candidates back the Jaguars and the team really has no worried regardless of who is elected.

Yeah, that condemnation by Curry of Cuba in no uncertain terms rocked the boat hard hard starboard. Those words wont be taken back. Its strong rhetoric. And, as you described, makes NO sense.

[Cheshire Cat]

^Exactly.  It only makes sense if your are courting "just" hard right conservatives as do his endorsements.  Lenny is definitely on the right in supporting the view of Rubio on this and not at all moderate, at least during this campaign.  I like Lenny as a person mind you but am not a fan of most GOP leadership though I have on occasion voted Republican as a Democrat for the right candidate. 

[fieldafm]

Mike, Lenny having received the endorsement of Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Pam Bondi and others does indeed place him firmly to the right as did his position as chairman and fundraiser to the GOP of Florida.  I believe it is Rubio who has caused Lenny to affirm that he would not back any trade with or engage the Cuban government in spite of Obama's recent actions.  For a town in Florida on the east coast with a focus on shipping this is a questionable position for someone to take who is running for Mayor.  Brown has said he will wait to see what congress does.  lol  As usual he is taking no position on the issue as that would require independent thought and leadership.  The only candidate who says he would support engaging Cuba is Bill Bishop.  The other interesting thing that is not on the radar of most is the reality that there is a rift between Peter Rummell, who backs Curry and Shad Khan who is financially backing Alvin Brown.  It leads one to wonder what if any impact that disconnect would have if Curry should take office.  The reality is that all the candidates back the Jaguars and the team really has no worried regardless of who is elected.

Not sure what a decades-old federal trade embargo has to do with the Jacksonville's mayors race, the mayor of Jacksonville has zero influence on federal trade policy. I could also care less what a mayor's position is on things like abortion, marijuana and social security.. As neither of those are influenced by the mayor of Jacksonville either.

The first time I ever met Alvin Brown, I heard a lot about Bill Clinton. I could care less about who Clinton endorsed for mayor.. Just as I could care less who Rick Perry endorsed for mayor. I care about who is the best leader for our city.

[Cheshire Cat]

Mike the raising of that embargo with Cuba opens up new and interesting opportunities for Jacksonville if we are smart.  Sure it was a Federal trade policy but that does not mean that our city cannot court independent corporations and business in Cuba now and encourage trade agreements.  I think what you are missing is that Lenny is not just some guy who is a Republican.  He was in fact and remains a part of the state GOP power structure.  The GOP is looking to secure it's hold on local state governments and those Florida counties that generally vote Republican.  Duval is huge and what happens here impacts what happens at the state level when it comes to presidential elections.  It would behoove them to have a Scott supported candidate in the office of mayor for a variety of reasons at the state and federal level.  The support of heavy weights along with their financial backing does not come to local candidates because they are nice guys.  It comes with a price and that price is a seat at the table that governs Jacksonville.  I would completely agree that national discussions like abortion have no place in a discussion about local government, however in a port city trade policies definitely do. 

[Charles Hunter]

Not sure what a decades-old federal trade embargo has to do with the Jacksonville's mayors race, the mayor of Jacksonville has zero influence on federal trade policy. I could also care less what a mayor's position is on things like abortion, marijuana and social security.. As neither of those are influenced by the mayor of Jacksonville either.

fieldafm, have you noticed that Jacksonville is a port city?  One that does a lot of trade with Latin America?  Opening up trade with Cuba could have economic benefits for Jacksonville, if the leadership is willing to embrace it.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

.... I care about who is the best leader for our city.

They're not running.

[Cheshire Cat]

^+1

[Cheshire Cat]

.... I care about who is the best leader for our city.

They're not running.

There is a competent individual with experience challenging Alvin Brown.  As far as who is best, as in all things that depends on what ones hopes for the city are.  If it is GOP control, Lenny is best, if it is experience and a record to back it up, Bill Bishop is best.  If it is ribbon cutting, media appearances and big talk tagged with a "D", Alvin Brown fits the ticket. 

[JeffreyS]

Not sure what a decades-old federal trade embargo has to do with the Jacksonville's mayors race, the mayor of Jacksonville has zero influence on federal trade policy.

I can get on board with your point that the Mayor may not have much influence on the Cuba embargo. However I wouldn't be at all comfortable with someone who put partisan national politics(if that is the reasoning) ahead of an opportunity this great for Jacksonville and all of Florida.

[Cheshire Cat]

^Therein lies the rub Jeffrey.  The endorsements Lenny has received along with the money is an indicator that there will be great expectations put upon Curry's commitment to a partisan GOP platform.  As I stated earlier there are reasons for this type of support.  If Lenny should win and fail to adhere to the wishes of those whose support and finance got him in office he will be finished with the GOP and politics connected to them should he ever want to run for a higher office.  Alvin Brown found out first hand what failing to meet the expectations of heavyweight Republican Peter Rummell did to him.  He turned on Brown big time and looked to Lenny instead. Rummell's financial return on his investment wasn't a good one.  When you look at figures like Rubio and Jeb Bush it is not financial investments they are making with Lenny, it is political and the expectation is to keep supporting the State GOP platform.

[Cheshire Cat]

Regarding upcoming debates.  Jim Piggot just told me JU is holding some.  Will try and get that info to share tomorrow.