A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown on Wednesday got his first major endorsement of the runoff election period, from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
Across from Jacksonville’s City Hall in Hemming Park on a Chamber of Commerce April afternoon, Nelson threw his support to Brown. The endorsement is expected to raise Brown’s standing with white moderate voters upon whom the May 19 election against Republican Lenny Curry is expected to pivot.
Brown reminded onlookers that he got his start with Nelson as an intern. The event brought that relationship full circle, with the veteran U.S. senator endorsing the mayor for re-election. Nelson had endorsed Brown in March 2011, so this endorsement wasn’t a surprise.
Nelson framed the endorsement as a stark choice: “Do you want politics or do you want performance? Bipartisanship or partisanship?” That theme was a clear jab at Curry, who has been framed as a “party boss” by Democratic messaging in recent months.
Nelson described Brown as a “mayor for all of Jacksonville, not just certain sectors” and claimed that the mayor’s commitment to serving everyone is “why the city is progressing.”
The two men have worked together on local issues including the proposed river dredging to facilitate the JAXPORT expansion, as well as military and veterans’ issues, and jobs, themes both men referred to in their remarks.
“Senator Nelson is a man of great passion, vision, and purpose,” said Brown, describing the senator as “one of Jacksonville’s strongest advocates” and a “visionary, true leader.”
As one would expect, the Curry campaign had its own take. Brian Hughes, on behalf of Team Curry, released this statement: “It’s certainly no surprise that liberal Democrats who helped pass Obamacare and raise taxes are supporting Alvin Brown. He shares their passion for government that imposes on families and ignores genuine threats to public safety.”
RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia, meanwhile, framed the endorsement as an “April Fool’s joke” in a written statement Wednesday afternoon.
