A.G. Gancarski
Almost up until the May election, it looked like Democrat Ken Jefferson had a real shot at being elected Jacksonville sheriff. The runoff between Jefferson and Republican Mike Williams was pitched with accusations and counterattacks. After his defeat, Jefferson gave a speech about when a candidate has to resort to “nasty ugly rhetoric to get into office, the people get what they get,” voicing his refusal “to get down and play in the mud.”
Jefferson has kept a low public profile in the months since his May 19 loss; however, he did make an appearance at Representative Corrine Brown’s event at the Mary Singleton Center on Monday. With the rancor of the campaign in the rear view mirror, Jefferson discussed the aftermath of his run, Sheriff Williams’ response to the Lonzie Barton case that received national attention, and his plans.
Jefferson kept it positive when talking about the election.
“We worked hard. At the end of the day, we have no regrets. We left it all out there,” he said of the “disappointing loss.”
Despite the “strong message,” the election result showed the “will of the people.” And he asserts, regarding “negative campaigning,” that it didn’t have all that much to do with the final result, saying that his team got a lot of calls and emails that said that negative campaigning from the Williams side actually made voters want to support him.
Speaking of Williams, some locals have groused about his absence during the extended, futile search for Lonzie, a 21-month-old toddler who disappeared under suspicious circumstances in July. Jefferson took the high road in his remarks, but made it clear that Williams’ vacation was ill-timed for more than one reason.
“When you’re an elected official, you represent people. Some thought it should have been given to him coming back,” Jefferson said of the sheriff, who made no public comment on the high-profile case until Day 10 of the search.
“I wouldn’t have planned a vacation 23 days into my term,” Jefferson said, calling the decision “ill-advised.”
Beyond the public relations gaffe of his absence during the search for the boy, Jefferson asserted that Williams has to “get to know people and the agency,” and it’s hard to do that when out of town.
Jefferson, who is not a constitutional officer, has been “traveling” himself lately. He’s “looking at options” for his next move, and a future run for office is “not on or off the radar.”
