Jacksonville Mayoral Election 2023

[vicupstate]

Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would be a big step in the right direction. So would bringing back the ownership limitations that use to be in place. 
Neither of these would be censorship nor an infringement on free speech but would return some sanity. 

[jaxlongtimer]

Perhaps I should be deported... or censored. Sheesh... I will continue to rely on my good judgement to determine who is lying... or cheating... or misrepresenting, or assassinating character. If you want editors and news anchors to do it for you... go for it.  I know better...

Based on your representation, your talent (i.e. the ability to exercise extraordinary and uncanny good "judgement") is surely superior to probably 99% of the population.  Congratulations .  But, for the greater good, I am not buying your faith in the populace to share such talent.

Hmmm... So you don't trust the populace?  Perhaps it is your approach that is the problem in this country.

Based on how many people have been duped by Trump & Co's lies and who admit Facebook and like social media sites are their sole source of "news," you are damn right I don't trust the instincts of much of the populace in the present. 

The main problem is the lack of diversity in "news" sources most people take in which is somewhat ironic given the internet opens the doors to thousands of sources.  But, people can be intellectually lazy and, often, many only listen/follow sources that reinforce their existing beliefs and don't ferret out other view points that might offer alternatives.  The perfect storm for propaganda on steroids.

A significant portion of the population doesn't follow the "news" at all.  You would be amazed how many don't know a a day or two ahead that a hurricane is potentially headed our way.  If they don't know that, you can imagine how little they know about anything else happening locally, statewide, nationally or globally.  Now ask them about a Kardashian and they could tell you what they ate for breakfast today.  A sad commentary on our society.

[BridgeTroll]

Rofl... you certainly make a great case for the Electoral College. I  appreciate your insight... lol

[jaxlongtimer]

I hadn't gotten around to reading the news today when I made my earlier post, but Mark Woods actually put out an article this morning that pretty well sums it up. In short, the article describes an outsider political consultant (this one is affiliated with local Republicans) whose company put out a mailer clearly and blatantly misrepresenting an opponent's quote on a controversial subject (defunding the police). This same consultant had previously admitted in an interview about the JEA scandal, "As you're probably getting the sense here, I'm not into the weeds of what goes on in Jacksonville day to day."

Worth a read, even if the content isn't surprising.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/columns/mark-woods/2022/02/11/politics-jacksonville-city-council-race-replace-hazouri-like-game-out-context-howland-polson/6650480001/

Woods said the Paulson quote was taken out of context from a News4Jax discussion and used in a flyer.  Howland is also using the clip out of context in television ads he has run during the Olympics on Ch. 12/NBC/First Coast News.  FYI, Paulson used similar wording to the Ch. 4 debate in a debate she had with Howland on Ch. 47 last Sunday.  As soon as I saw the TV ad, I knew it was out of context, having seen her say those words in context.  Was shocked and disappointed that Ch. 12 would agree to run such a blatant misrepresentation/low blow.  A real disservice to the community and their viewers.

Would never vote for Howland or any other candidate that gets that down and dirty (or, for that matter, has Baker as their manager/consultant).  If they are that dishonest before being elected, imagine what they would do if empowered by the office they seek.  Clearly, they are running not to serve the public but only themselves and the special interests that back them.

By the way, in my view, Paulson blew away Howland in the debate.  Clearly, he is not up to her level so it's probably why he plays dirty politics.  He can't win on his own merits.

Nate Monroe calls out Nick Howland's supporters and cronies (including Sherriff Williams) for effectively defunding the police.  It is not Tracye Paulson.  Howland's hypocrisy is showing through.  Ironic that his low-blow and grossly misleading out-of-context ad regarding defunding by his opponent actually applies to his own base of support yet he ignores it.  He also appears to run only on this false issue.  He really appears to just winning with an R by his name, and nothing else.

COMMENTARY | Republican city council candidate Nick Howland seethes with anger over politicians who want to "defund the police," so it would stand to reason he'd be hopping mad at Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, Mayor Lenny Curry, and the men and women he hopes to join on the council.

Those incumbents, after all, have squandered years of time that could have been spent building up the police force: Since passing the 2018-19 budget, the number of sworn officers employed by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has grown by only 19, from 1,768 to 1,787, according to annual budget documents. And that's despite the fact that in those years, the budget has swelled from about $439 million to a whopping $513 million.

How many more warm bodies are taxpayers actually getting for all that extra money? JSO's overall workforce grew from 3,227 to 3,798 in that same 2018-2022 span, but the vast majority of that growth is attributable to a gush of new civilian employees rather than sworn officers, whose numbers have barely changed....

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/columns/nate-monroe/2022/02/15/jacksonville-candidate-nick-howland-should-look-friends-defunding-police-nate-monroe/6799070001/

[jaxlongtimer]

Interesting poll results... every vote counts!

The special election between Tracye Polson and Nick Howland is shaping up as "another impossibly tight race" for Jacksonville City Council with Polson slightly favored in University of North Florida poll released Thursday.

The poll of likely voters found 50.3% of them had already voted for Polson or planned to cast a ballot for her while 49.7% said Howland was their choice in the race.

The Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida described the poll's likely voters as respondents who said they definitely would vote in that race or had already cast ballots by mail or with in-person early voting.

"It looks like we are dealing with another impossibly tight race for City Council," said Michael Binder, faculty director for the research lab......

.....Looking ahead to 2023 when a full slate of candidates will be on the ballot for mayor and City Council, the UNF Poll found Donna Deegan is the front-runner with 41% of poll respondents saying they would vote for her if the election were today.

In the race for sheriff, Lakesha Burton, a Democrat, got the nod from 39% of respondents when asked who they would support if the election were held now.

Deegan polled well ahead of JAX Chamber CEO Daniel Davis, a Republican who has not announced a run but has raised millions of dollars he could use on a campaign. Davis was preferred by 20% of respondents, Jacksonville City Council member LeAnna Cumber by 9%, council member Al Ferraro by 7%, Darby Richardson by 2% and Omega Allen by 1%.

The poll is the first since City Council member Matt Carlucci withdrew as a candidate for mayor, a development that helped Deegan. Binder said that "what was previously an even split has turned into a wide lead" for her.
Lakesha Burton

In the sheriff's race, Burton has the edge over two Republicans: T.K. Waters at 27% and Matthew Nemeth at 15%. Trailing the pack were Democratic candidates Tony Cummings at 4% and Wayne Clark at 2%.

Binder said the race for sheriff "is a little bit closer" than the current spread for mayor "but folks are clearly excited about Lakesha Burton, the first Black woman to run for Jacksonville sheriff."

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2022/02/17/unf-poll-jacksonville-city-council-special-election-tight-race-mayor-sheriff-jaguars/6822128001/?utm_source=jacksonville-News%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alerts&utm_term=news_alert&utm_content=FLORIDA-JACKSONVILLE-NLETTER01

[MusicMan]

In a recent UNF public policy poll, Mayer Lenny Curry received a 47% approval rating. 

"In the poll, Mayor Lenny Curry was given an approval rating of 47% by voters, with 45% disapproving and 7% saying they don't know. Sheriff Mike Williams got a 51% approval rating, 36% disapproval and 13% who don't know."

I wonder what kind of approval rating a sea slug would get?  Curry has been a disaster. THIS is why, Bridge Troll, I don't trust the public at large. They are poorly informed and lack judgement.  They only approve because they voted for him.

[BridgeTroll]

In a recent UNF public policy poll, Mayer Lenny Curry received a 47% approval rating. 

"In the poll, Mayor Lenny Curry was given an approval rating of 47% by voters, with 45% disapproving and 7% saying they don't know. Sheriff Mike Williams got a 51% approval rating, 36% disapproval and 13% who don't know."

I wonder what kind of approval rating a sea slug would get?  Curry has been a disaster. THIS is why, Bridge Troll, I don't trust the public at large. They are poorly informed and lack judgement.  They only approve because they voted for him.

I guess that goes for Biden too... you guys make the perfect case for electoral college...lol

Less than half of Americans approve of President Joe Biden, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The national opinion poll, conducted Feb 14-15, found that 44% of U.S. adults approved of Biden's performance in office while 51% disapproved and the rest were not sure. Biden's approval numbers have hovered below 50% since August.

[MusicMan]

There is no "case" for the electoral college. Its a failure that lets candidates with fewer votes win elections.  Hopefully at some point, we'll admit the Founding Fathers made some serious miscalculations.  The concept of the electoral college being one.

[Zac T]

There is no "case" for the electoral college. Its a failure that lets candidates with fewer votes win elections.  Hopefully at some point, we'll admit the Founding Fathers made some serious miscalculations.  The concept of the electoral college being one.

I often think about how Republicans have won the popular vote 1 time since 1992. The electoral college is the only thing keeping them competitive at the executive level

[BridgeTroll]

There is no "case" for the electoral college. Its a failure that lets candidates with fewer votes win elections.  Hopefully at some point, we'll admit the Founding Fathers made some serious miscalculations.  The concept of the electoral college being one.

The case for the EC is exactly what you're arguing... that the uninformed public will make a poor choices and intelligent, informed, smart electors(like yourselves) make the correct choice... rofl... you guys are soooo transparently elitist you must have body guards and entourages.

Meanwhile Curry stands at 47% approval and Biden at 44%... just who is the sea slug MM?

[BridgeTroll]

THIS is why, Bridge Troll, I don't trust the public at large. They are poorly informed and lack judgement.  They only approve because they voted for him. 

Perhaps you want to bring back literacy testing to vote...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_test#:~:text=From%20the%201890s%20to%20the,literacy%20in%20order%20to%20vote.&text=In%20practice%2C%20these%20tests%20were,problematic%20by%20the%20ruling%20party.

[vicupstate]

There is no "case" for the electoral college. Its a failure that lets candidates with fewer votes win elections.  Hopefully at some point, we'll admit the Founding Fathers made some serious miscalculations.  The concept of the electoral college being one.

The case for the EC is exactly what you're arguing... that the uninformed public will make a poor choices and intelligent, informed, smart electors(like yourselves) make the correct choice... rofl... you guys are soooo transparently elitist you must have body guards and entourages.

Meanwhile Curry stands at 47% approval and Biden at 44%... just who is the sea slug MM?

So not wanting to be governed by the minority is elitist?  The EC actual made some sense in the 1780's, but it does not today. Given how broken our political system is today, a switch to a parliamentary system looks a lot better.  No chance of either happening. Getting a Constitutional Amendment to say the sun rises in the East would be impossible today. 

[BridgeTroll]

There is no "case" for the electoral college. Its a failure that lets candidates with fewer votes win elections.  Hopefully at some point, we'll admit the Founding Fathers made some serious miscalculations.  The concept of the electoral college being one.

The case for the EC is exactly what you're arguing... that the uninformed public will make a poor choices and intelligent, informed, smart electors(like yourselves) make the correct choice... rofl... you guys are soooo transparently elitist you must have body guards and entourages.

Meanwhile Curry stands at 47% approval and Biden at 44%... just who is the sea slug MM?

So not wanting to be governed by the minority is elitist?  The EC actual made some sense in the 1780's, but it does not today. Given how broken our political system is today, a switch to a parliamentary system looks a lot better.  No chance of either happening. Getting a Constitutional Amendment to say the sun rises in the East would be impossible today. 

Nope... what is elitist is the "I don't trust the public at large and those poorly informed and lacking "proper" judgement being allowed to vote " quote from MM and others. Actually wannabe elitist is a better descriptor...

[vicupstate]

There is no "case" for the electoral college. Its a failure that lets candidates with fewer votes win elections.  Hopefully at some point, we'll admit the Founding Fathers made some serious miscalculations.  The concept of the electoral college being one.

The case for the EC is exactly what you're arguing... that the uninformed public will make a poor choices and intelligent, informed, smart electors(like yourselves) make the correct choice... rofl... you guys are soooo transparently elitist you must have body guards and entourages.

Meanwhile Curry stands at 47% approval and Biden at 44%... just who is the sea slug MM?

So not wanting to be governed by the minority is elitist?  The EC actual made some sense in the 1780's, but it does not today. Given how broken our political system is today, a switch to a parliamentary system looks a lot better.  No chance of either happening. Getting a Constitutional Amendment to say the sun rises in the East would be impossible today. 

Nope... what is elitist is the "I don't trust the public at large and those poorly informed and lacking "proper" judgement being allowed to vote " quote from MM and others. Actually wannabe elitist is a better descriptor...

To the degree that the public is uninformed (to whatever degree), how does the EC improve that situation?  How does being against the EC make one elitist or how does the EC guard against elitism? Does using the EC make the electorate more informed?

I don't understand the point you were trying to make.   

[MusicMan]

"Perhaps you want to bring back literacy testing to vote..."

No. But I'm all for having candidates have to provide financial statements. I'm all for (Presidential) candidates being required to pass a comprehensive test on the US Constitution. That would eliminate a lot of problems. (And would have eliminated Trump as a candidate.)

And while I don't trust those poorly informed citizens, I'm not doing everything possible to prevent them from voting, which the GOP has been obsessed with.