A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown has lost a few news cycles of late, and today he lost another one when Gov. Rick Scott officially endorsed his opponent, Lenny Curry, in the May 19 runoff election.
Curry was no less complimentary to the governor in accepting the endorsement, saying, “Rick Scott has made Florida the best place to live, work, and raise a family. I’m proud to have worked side-by-side with him for his re-election, and humbled to have the governor endorse my vision to restore Jacksonville’s greatness.”
The endorsement is not necessarily a surprise: Curry and Scott have enjoyed a strong working relationship for years, and the governor effectively endorsed Curry at a September fundraiser in Jacksonville, saying he was the man who could beat Brown.
Despite the nod months back, Brown’s messaging has been full of references to how well the mayor works with Scott as proof that the mayor works well with people across the spectrum to advance Jacksonville priorities.
Brown’s campaign has yet to respond to my inquiry on this key Curry endorsement. However, the Florida Democratic Party is in rapid-response mode, framing Scott’s endorsement of Curry in explicitly partisan terms.
After Scott’s endorsement of Curry, FDP Executive Director Scott Arceneaux said in a prepared statement:
“It’s no surprise that Rick Scott would endorse his former party boss Lenny Curry who fought so strongly to defend the governor’s voter purge that sought to disenfranchise Florida’s minority voters. Time and time again, Curry has shown that he’s just the kind of person that Scott likes to surround himself with — a career political hack who prioritizes partisan politics over doing what’s right for the people of Florida.
“Lenny Curry and Rick Scott’s backroom dealings and assaults on Florida’s constitution represent everything that the residents of Jacksonville hate about Tallahassee’s broken politics.”
The mayor’s campaign, accustomed to messaging about the close relationship with Scott and the Public Pension deal it had on the table until Wednesday’s rejection by the council, must recalibrate now. Curry has closed within 3 points of the incumbent in the only poll so far of the runoff election.
Scott could be very helpful to Curry as the runoff approaches, in both fundraising and rally capacities. Scott carried Jacksonville by more than 12 points against Charlie Crist in November’s election.
