A.G. GancarskiAs a Democratic candidate running to be the next sheriff of Jacksonville, one might not expect Ken Jefferson to keep accruing endorsements from defeated Republican opponents. However, The Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday morning that Jefferson scored another one, courtesy of Rob Schoonover, in advance of a publicized event on Tuesday afternoon at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville where Jefferson will get an endorsement at home plate.
Schoonover finished sixth in a seven-candidate race for sheriff, failing to crack 5 percent on the final ballot, yet his endorsement offers Jefferson another Republican voice advocating him over his GOP opponent, Mike Williams. Schoonover’s lackluster showing raises questions about the impact his endorsement will have, so it’s unclear whether it would be the most effective use of the Baseball Grounds as backdrop.
“A lot of the things he wants to do are the same things I want to do,” Schoonover told the Times-Union, citing increased emphases on community policing and youth mentoring as examples.
When contacted for response, Duval County Republican Party Chair Robin Lumb stated there “are a lot of politics in play in the Sheriff’s race,” but that voters’ decisions ultimately will come down to qualifications. He then contended Jefferson’s inability to rise above the rank of patrolman contrasts unfavorably with Williams’ résumé.
