First Jacksonville mayoral debate sees sparring, no knockouts

The first Jacksonville mayoral debate of the front runners held Thursday night confirmed some expectations and transcended others.

One expectation that was confirmed was that Mayor Alvin Brown would cling closely to his messaging. His campaign has put forth a series of talking points and at every opportunity, the mayor has reiterated them. From the contention that his administration created 36,000 new jobs to his insistence that “I kept all of my promises,” “balanced every budget without raising taxes,” and that he “worked alongside Gov. Rick Scott” from the first day of his term, the mayor’s messaging Thursday night was consistent with his messaging throughout the campaign cycle.

Did the mayor win the debate?

I have an email from the Brown campaign that says that he did. The email says that “Brown clearly laid out how he has spent the last four years putting Jacksonville first, and how he will continue to put the city and the people of Jacksonville first over the next four.

“Since his first day in office, Mayor Brown has kept his word to protect tax dollars, create more jobs, revitalize Downtown Jacksonville, improve the education system and increase the graduation rate, make neighborhoods safer, bring Jacksonville together, honor Jacksonville veterans, and improve the quality of life for everyone in Jacksonville.”

Is that true?

Depends on who you ask. Those who wanted him to speak with specificity about the beleaguered Northwest Quadrant didn’t hear much about his plan to fix the problems endemic there for decades. Those who wanted him to talk  with directness about the need for an anti-discrimination ordinance that protects the LGBT community had better be happy with “as a man of faith, I believe that discrimination is wrong.”

That statement is not exactly a profile in courage. It will not materially help people who are facing employment or housing-related discrimination, but the phrase at least sounds nice. People familiar with his campaign’s thinking will tell you he doesn’t have to say more because people aren’t voting on that issue.

The bet Brown has made is that by pointing to the economic numbers and his record of working with Republicans, that will be enough. The mayor is a lifelong Democrat, but for purposes of this campaign, he poses as being effectively NPA. He hasn’t demonstrated an interest, particularly, in “coattails” or in running anything approaching a unified ticket with other local Democrats. That’s very similar to how he did little for Charlie Crist or President Barack Obama during their campaign swings through Jacksonville.

The Brown campaign clearly saw Lenny Curry as the existential threat he faced in this race, evidenced by the myriad “Fact Check” emails sent to address one contention or another that Curry has made. Curry acquitted himself well for the most part, positioning himself as the conservative in the race. However, getting to the right of Brown, who has yoked himself to Scott in ways no one could have expected four years ago, is harder than it would seem from the outside.

Curry, like Brown, does not think an anti-discrimination ordinance is necessary, because Jacksonville residents are “not a people that discriminate.” Throughout the debate, Curry hammered away at Brown’s failures, repeating his contention, tonight and before,  that  Bill Bishop and Brown both have records that need scrutiny.

When challenged by a panelists about “incorrect data” in a recent ad that hits Brown hard for a spike in crime, Curry held firm. He contended the data was based on “facts from FDLE,” and that such matters are fair game in a “tough race based on the record” of his opponents, saying again that “violent crime and murder, numbers are up.”

Curry spent much of the debate on the offensive against Brown beyond the crime issue, pointing out that Jacksonville needs an “advocate in D.C.” to obtain federal funds for port expansion. He also contrasted himself with the mayor’s handling of issues from budgets (which he and Bishop concurred have not been masterpieces of honest accounting) to the Liberty Street collapse. Curry contends he’s “prepared to lead the city.”

An interesting moment occurred when a panelist asked about the recent arrest of an ISIS partisan in Jacksonville. Brown’s response was less than stellar, saying it showed why the city should “invest in young people,” adding that “I do believe we’re strong on security. We’re fine; we’re prepared.”

Curry quickly pointed out the disconnect between Brown and Sheriff John Rutherford, a recurrent campaign theme that Curry exploited all evening. He boasted of Fraternal Order of Police’s endorsement and described a ride-along with a JSO officer, observing “we have not valued” officers for the past four years. Such rhetoric will draw significant support to Curry from voters who blame Brown for the city’s crime problems.

On the pension issue Brown said the pension plan proposed now is “safe and secure … a good plan,” and that “Bill Scheu had it right — pure politics” stopped the plan from passing Wednesday night.

Curry disagreed, as he did when Brown called the Brooklyn gentrification one of his administration’s achievements. Curry reminded him that Brooklyn was “done before you entered office.”

The debate was like the first few rounds of a 15-round fight. There was lots of  parrying but no attempts to throw a knockout punch. Bishop, the third candidate, had opportunities to distinguish himself and at many times he did.

His discussion of a “coordinated master plan for the entire riverfront … from the Times-Union building to Metropolitan Park” sounded visionary. His assertion that the glowing job numbers the Brown camp keeps citing don’t actually address real unemployment — as in, the people who have given up looking for jobs — likewise was candid. His continued advocacy of a sales tax increase  (a third-rail in Jacksonville politics) because “we have maxed out our credit card” will also resonate with some voters.

Bishop positioned himself as the truth teller in the race, a role that comes with risk. During the discussion of the anti-discrimination ordinance, he said, “One thing you’ll find out tonight is who answers questions and who doesn’t.” During his closing statment, he reiterated that claim.

“We are tired of watching the same old thing,” he said, referring to the “negative campaign” being run by other candidates.

“You have an option this year and I am that option.”

Bishop’s performance wasn’t perfect though. He may have made the biggest misstep of the night when, in response to a question regarding his 2012 decision to have all white chairs on his council committees, he said, “If I’d known I was running for mayor … I probably would have done something different.” A candid moment, but one that his opponents will use against him the rest of his political career.

In the end, the debate had no winners. No knockout punch. Bishop attained a certain parity with the other candidates by holding his own. The next debate, in six days, will allow the frontrunners to sharpen their critiques. They also will contend with the fourth mayoral candidate, Omega Allen, who confirmed Thursday night that she will be allowed to participate in that second contest.