A.G. Gancarski
Former Republican Jacksonville Mayoral candidate Bill Bishop is set to appear on the steps of City Hall at 3 p.m. Tuesday, presumably to endorse incumbent Democrat Alvin Brown or fellow Republican Lenny Curry. To most thinking about Bishop’s next move, that’s the main draw. Team Bishop, though, wants to make it clear that he’s doing more today than simply endorsing a candidate.
In a Tuesday morning email from his campaign, “Thank You for BILL-ieving!” (a play on his campaign’s idiosyncratic take on I’m a Believer by The Monkees), the erstwhile candidate seemed to play down the endorsement promise of the press conference.
“Dear BILL-ievers,” the email started. “Today at 3 p.m., please join Bill Bishop on the steps of City Hall where he will THANK YOU for the tremendous support and believing in his vision for Jacksonville. Bill will also make a few big announcements you won’t want to miss — hope to see you there!”
This seems to modify the message of the “MEDIA ALERT” sent out on Monday evening, which indicated the endorsement being the main reason to attend: “Bishop will thank his supporters and address the media with a much anticipated announcement about the upcoming mayoral election.”
Like every other reporter in town, I have done my best to get Bishop to tip his hand regarding his anticipated endorsement. The closest I came to specifics was when I told him that “everyone [in the Riverside/Avondale “progressive” set] was saying he was going to endorse Brown.” To that, he replied, “I don’t know where ‘everyone’ is getting their information from.”
As of yet, Bishop isn’t saying, so it looks like I’ll be waiting until 3 p.m. to find out like everyone else.
