Alvin Brown appears with business leaders, touts economic record

Using the newly completed Southbank Riverwalk as a location with the city’s Main Street Bridge as a backdrop on Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown assembled a group of local business leaders to make the economic case for his re-election.

After glowing introductions from local business owners, Brown stepped to the mike and touted his record as mayor, mentioning the growth of jobs under his tenure, particularly in Jacksonville’s urban core.

A Thursday news release highlighted EverBank and Citizens Property Insurance moving downtown, bringing 2,500 positions with them.

Earlier in the day a new UNF poll showed Brown leading his opponents going into the March 24 unitary election, with 37% to Lenny Curry’s 25% and Bill Bishop‘s 11%.

The Curry campaign calls Brown’s poll numbers “free-fall.”

“It cannot be overstated how bad a number 37% is for an incumbent mayor who is weeks away from facing voters,” read a statement from the Curry campaign’s Data Targeting Research firm.