Tommy Hazouri campaign focused on public safety

Tommy Hazouri on the campaign trail in 2015.

In another in what has become a series of interviews with incoming Jacksonville city council members, Florida Politics contacted Tommy Hazouri’s team.

Instead of talking with the councilman because he was vacationing Friday, Jenny Busby, Hazouri’s millennial campaign manager who will be his city council assistant, spoke on his behalf.

Hazouri received more votes than any citywide candidate in the May elections, so a rational question was how he did it.

“We took nothing for granted,” Busby said. “We were ahead in polls, but we never stopped fundraising.”

On the second ballot, Busby said, Team Hazouri devoted resources to television and direct mail, specifically targeting independents, no party affiliation voters, and moderate Republicans.

“If we didn’t have the base, the race would have been over already,” Busby contended. “We really focused on the middle.”

That middle ground included “strong crossover from Chamber-type Republicans,” Busby said, as Geoff Youngblood had the evangelical wing of the local GOP on lock. However, “the Republican Party is made up of more than that.”

Part of Hazouri’s appeal, Busby said, is that the extensively tested candidate is more “real than other candidates. He doesn’t always have to be diplomatic.”

Along those lines, Hazouri has the buy-in from Jacksonville residents and voters to be his own man. Evidence of that was the Kevin Cate-produced ad that messaged hard on public safety themes, mirroring the rhetoric that pushed Lenny Curry over the top against Alvin Brown.

“The first poll showed that public safety and crime were the biggest concerns of people,” Busby said, especially seniors. Thattrend continued through the May election.

Busby emphasized that the Hazouri campaign was not blaming incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown for the spike in violent crime. The messaging was part of their commitment to “run our own race” and “address an overarching concern” of likely voters. Benefit was conferred in an uptick in the polls after a week on television, as well as positive feedback on the advert.

Many have speculated that Hazouri will be a leading Democrat on city council. To that end, Busby asserts, Hazouri will continue to nurture relationships he has developed since his time as Jacksonville mayor, and be a “mentor without being overbearing.”

As well, Hazouri will be a trusted resource for Mayor-elect Lenny Curry.

“Lenny called Tommy and they had a great conversation. He wants Tommy’s advice, respects him as a former mayor who did a good job.”

Tommy, 70, is not necessarily thinking about re-election …  yet.

“He’s excited to serve his one term right now, and he’s ready to start tomorrow,” Busby said. “He’s never been on city council; it’s a new endeavor for him, and he’s going to do the best job that he can.”