A.G. Gancarski
On today’s episode of First Coast Connect on WJCT-FM, Jacksonville Mayoral Candidate Bill Bishop took calls from listeners. Bishop has been the beneficiary of favorable coverage on this program, yet like Lenny Curry yesterday, Bishop dealt with tough questions from the NPR affiliate’s listeners and guest host Jessica Palombo.
The most surprising takeaway from this performance will be for Bishop’s progressive supporters, who very likely will find the Republican’s proposals regarding courthouse weddings and his position on gay marriage to not be in line with their rhetoric supporting Bishop. In a campaign where a significant part of Bishop’s support comes from his support for the expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance, it seemed like there wasn’t much daylight between Bishop and his main opponents on certain issues of progressive concern during this conversation.
Though many in the community — including Republican Curry supporters — believe that Bishop is effectively a “liberal” at this point, Bishop’s performance today was that of a man who is more culturally conservative than he might have seemed at times during this campaign. His answers to some questions seem to suggest a pathway for him back to the mainstream of the Duval County Republican Party, a reconciliation which would be no mean feat considering the drama that surrounded the Party’s endorsement of Curry in January.
The first question Bishop faced was like a punch to the jaw: are you running to pull votes from Mayor Brown? Bishop flatly denied that one, even as there are those who theorize that Bishop’s principal role in this race has been to attack Brown from the left.
Then, a question about crime emerged. Bishop reiterated previously addressed themes, such as a need for more jobs, and a need to resolve the pension situation, so that active law enforcement can be fully funded.
After that, a question about the UNF poll, which had Bishop at 11%. Bishop pointed out that the poll is a month old, and he believes the numbers are closer now.
Then, a question about courthouse weddings, controversially stopped by Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell in response to the legalization of same-sex marriage, in what critics claim is a play to the First Baptist Church crowd. If Bishop were Mayor, would he push for the re-institution of what was, up until the beginning of this year, considered to be a civil right. The solution Bishop proposed will strike many as a compromise: “open up the space and let people bring their own facilitator.”
In an answer like that, it’s easy to see the balancing act Bishop has had to run in this campaign. Bishop has been a staunch Republican his entire political career, and if he were to evolve too far on this issue, he would probably evolve out of the Republican Party.
Then, a question about the sales tax increase Bishop supports as a financing mechanism for the pension deal, which many claim is regressive. “Everybody pays property tax whether you own or not. If you rent,” it becomes part of the cost passed on to renters by property owners.
After these questions from Jessica Palombo came the calls. The first, from a Baymeadows resident, who referred to Bishop as “the voice of reason coming through the airwaves”; a contractor, whose question was about permitting and related regulations.
“The city’s permitting process and development process has gotten out of control… because leadership is lost in that whole arena,” said Bishop, echoing Curry critiques of the Brown Administration.
Then, the inevitable question about the 2012 appointment of all-white committee chairs when he was Council President. “People try to turn that into a racial division issue and that had nothing to do with it,” explained Bishop, who added “people turn things into stuff that it isn’t.”
“I want the best people to work for the city. Jacksonville is an extremely diverse community, far more than people realize.”
The next question took Bishop to task for perceived inconsistencies on gay marriage and related issues, pointing out that his support with the HRO is anomalous given his support for Herman Cain and previously stated positions.
“I did not work for Herman Cain. I thought he was the only candidate talking about our dysfunctional tax code and its need to be reformed. With respect to gay marriage, I don’t believe in it, but that does not mean there shouldn’t be gay rights” regarding where they live and work, he continued.
“There is 5000 years of religious and cultural history regarding what marriage stands for,” continued Bishop. “Once you start changing the definition of marriage, where do you draw the line?”
The discussion then turned to the Shipyard Development. Bishop was asked how he would interface with the stakeholders.
“Everybody in Jacksonville has a stake in it,” he said.
Then a question about neighborhood revitalization.
“The biggest area that needs change is the Northwest section of Jacksonville…. promises have been made for decades that have not come true. What I want to see happen there is the same concerted effort” used to develop the Riverbank in the 80s and 90s, “to transform that area.”
Going after businesses that are “natural fits” for the area (such as those that take advantage of the area’s extant transportation infrastructure) and “neighborhood revitalization” are ways to do that.
Then, a Southside caller, asking about Mayor Brown’s claim that he has reduced unemployment.
“I think just the general economic recovery” is responsible for the drop in unemployment, Bishop said, reiterating claims he’s made throughout this campaign. Bishop contended that the Mayor’s team has “dropped the ball” on some corporate recruitment efforts, which Bishop had to remedy a couple of times as Council President.
“36,000 jobs is not a lot for a city of this size,” he added, referencing an often repeated claim by the Mayor’s messaging apparatus
Another question emerged about gay rights — specifically, the expanded Human Rights Ordinance, for which Bishop reiterated his support.
A caller then pointed out truncated library hours in recent years. How would Bishop resolve that?
“As soon as practically possible, I want to restore full funding to the library system,” he said, pointing out the pension issue as a roadblock for this and other issues. “We either need more money or we need to decide what we are willing to live without,” he added.
A question then came up regarding Bishop’s penchant for wonkish detail in debate and public explanations, something he defended, saying people are smart enough to understand the issues in some detail. “How do you expect anybody to actually understand anything if they don’t know what’s going on?”
As ever, Bishop answered the tough questions with candor, establishing yet again that he occupies a unique ideological space in this campaign. What that will mean in the final vote tally is anyone’s guess, and is a subject of endless speculation among the chattering classes.
