A.G. Gancarski
At the Mary L. Singleton Senior Center, Mayor Alvin Brown got one of the most significant endorsements of his reelection campaign, via former two-term Democratic Mayor Jake Godbold, who was remembered fondly by the couple hundred senior citizens in attendance, at an event that was equal parts birthday celebration for Godbold and a campaign event for the current incumbent.
What was beyond question was the connection former Mayor Godbold had with this crowd, a classic cross section of Jacksonville residents who were here when this was a much smaller town, before the growth of the last few decades that we now take for granted.
Godbold took the microphone and it was clear that his connection with the crowd was not lost, as he addressed the realities of aging in a young person’s world.
“Everyone used to ask me ‘Jake, why do you do so much for seniors? You spend more time with them than with anyone else.'”
“I told them that if you live long enough, we will all be seniors,” he continued.
“I’m here for two purposes,” added Godbold. “One is to say I’ll always love you until the day I die… We don’t have to be young to want to be loved. We need love and respect too.”
His second reason for showing up had less to do with physical mortality and more to do with political reality.
“I’m here today for the purpose of endorsing the Mayor. It’s been a tough decision. I’ve waited.”
“Last election, I supported a Republican,” Godbold continued. This time, he came home to the Democratic Party.
Mayor Brown “has never hesitated to listen to my advice. A lot of times he should have listened,” he added, saying the Mayor doesn’t always take his advice, but has kept his promises, including the refusal to raise taxes.
“He kept that promise and I want to thank you for that, contrasting the Mayor with other politicians who made similar pledges and broke them, such as Bush 41.
“Some of his opponents try to have it both ways,” he said, pointing out that the Mayor’s opponents castigate him for not addressing infrastructure issues and hiring more cops, “but he didn’t raise taxes.”
“Mayor Brown felt like there were two ways to build the tax base — raising taxes or bringing in new industry and new jobs,” related Godbold. “He inherited a national depression. He did not have the heart to raise taxes on people like you,” Instead, “he brought thousands and thousands of new jobs to Jacksonville.”
Emphasizing that the Mayor is “non-partisan,” Godbold contended that the Mayor “made a great partner with the governor, who I’m not crazy about, but the Mayor is… crazy like a fox.”
“Every time the Governor comes around, the Mayor’s hand is in his pocket.”
After discussing the “great partnership with the Chamber” Mayor Brown has, Godbold acknowledged that “I have made this final decision late.” However, it is a final decision, given what Godbold said about his two Republican opponents.
“One of them can’t win, and one of ‘em ain’t ready for prime time,” he emphasized.
The Mayor then took the mike, and he was in classic evangelical form, with an early call and response.
“Do you all love the Mayor?”
The crowd cheered.
“Do you all support the Mayor?”
Another cheer. And another, after Brown asked if the Seniors would vote for him for reelection.
“I took that pay cut. No way I’d raise taxes on you. You already paid your taxes.”
The crowd cheered again.
The Mayor downshifted, briefly, to say he was “very proud” to have the Godbold endorsement, as the former Mayor “has a track record of working with everyone.”
Then he was back in exhortatory mode.
“Let’s make history one more time. Let’s continue to take Jacksonville to the Next Level,” he said, starting the build to the emotional appeal.
“I want to thank God for blessing me to be Mayor. Let’s give God thanks, thank him for his mercy,” the Mayor said, before leading the crowd in a Happy Birthday singalong for the former Mayor.
The Mayor Brown that emerges at events like this doesn’t necessarily come off during debates or meetings at City Hall. That clearly is a rhetorical choice. Brown’s retail politics skills are sometimes discounted, but in terms of reassuring parts of the electorate that might be less than enthused with him, when he shows up and turns on the charm, he is a formidable political force.
