A.G. Gancarski
A great deal of speculation among Duval County conservatives has revolved around how “ready for Hillary” Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown is. The Lenny Curry campaign, in fact, sent out an email speculating that Brown was “dreaming” of his next “Clinton D.C. job.”
Despite former President Bill Clinton already having had made a trip to Jacksonville to rally the troops ahead of the First Election, Brown’s new spokesperson, Yianni Varonis, asserts that Mayor Brown is staying above the partisan fray when it comes to 2016 presidential politics and Hillary Clinton‘s campaign.
“Mayor Brown has always put Jacksonville first and will continue to do so over the next four years by not making his time in office about national politics. His term has instead been dedicated to working across the aisle to reduce the crime rate and create jobs for Jacksonville families,” Varonis said.
“During her career, Secretary Clinton has also committed to working with both parties. Mayor Brown hopes that every candidate for president will similarly prove to the American public their commitment to working across party lines. That is the only way we can break the gridlock in Washington and help move our state and country forward,” Varonis said.
Varonis, incidentally, is new to the Brown campaign and Jacksonville, replacing the departed Fabien Levy. Varonis brings a wealth of experience to the Brown operation, including stints with Obama for America, Ohio’s U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, and work on a couple of Democratic congressional campaigns.
The statement from Varonis reveals a more modulated tone than statements from Levy, which tended to serve up more red meat for the Democratic base. Is this a harbinger of “kinder, gentler” messaging from the Brown campaign going forward? Time will tell.
