A.G. Gancarski
On Friday morning, the Lenny Curry campaign sent an email reiterating previously established themes. One such theme: a reminder of the Republican’s contention that he is a “true conservative.” Another such theme: a reiteration of a theme, established months ago, of Curry’s “servant leadership.”
The email was written by Judi Spann, one of the most active volunteers on the Curry campaign. She introduces herself as a “military wife” who has “seen how true service can change the lives of those around us.”
“Jacksonville needs a leader who is looking to serve us, so we can all work for a better city,” Spann writes. “I started volunteering with Team Curry because I believe Lenny Curry is a servant at heart. He truly cares about all of Jacksonville, and wants every resident to succeed.”
The email is a call to action, of course. Spann urges potential Curry supporters to show up at the opening of Curry’s Campaign HQ at the Beaches at 10 a.m. Saturday. As well, she urges people to volunteer “at the new headquarters, walk doors, or make phone calls.”
The Curry campaign has relied heavily for months on a devoted cadre of volunteers for voter contact. The inroads in the Beaches communities have become a much more concerted effort in the past week, with Curry writing an op-ed in the Beaches Leader addressing interlocal agreements, and voicing an impassioned advocacy for the Beach cities at Thursday night’s Beaches Watch forum, where he described the Beaches communities as “undervalued, underappreciated, and ignored” by city government.
The Beaches are a GOP stronghold anyway, but what the Curry campaign clearly wants to do is boost its numbers, and some high-profile endorsements from elected leaders are expected at Saturday’s HQ opening. With the Brown campaign making a strong play for Riverside and Avondale voters in the wake of its hiring of the campaign leadership of Bill Bishop, both campaigns clearly are making strategic plays to define strongholds and boost voter engagement ahead of the May 19 election.
