A.G. Gancarski
For the best part of the year, Northeast Florida seemed on lockdown for Jeb Bush.
When Bush endorsed Lenny Curry in the mayoral race, it seemed to many observers, including this writer, like a mutual coronation.
Bush, instrumental in helping to bring the Jaguars to Jacksonville, made the city a frequent stop when he was governor and John Delaney was mayor. And with that in mind, an August fundraiser featuring the former governor’s son with Marty Fiorentino, Peter Rummell, John Rood, Ed Burr, Steve Diebenow, Ty Petway, and other GOP bright lights seemed like a reminder that, even though Jeb wasn’t catching fire with poll respondents, Jacksonville was Jeb City.
Well, seasons change.
Given the level of GOP support for Jeb, even with the aforementioned Rummell expressing doubts, according to Marc Caputo (“‘I am worried about Jeb,’ Pete Rummell, a donor and longtime supporter of Bush, wrote in a Tuesday morning email reply to people wishing him happy birthday …”), one might have thought that, whatever the issues Bush has nationally, at least he could count on Jacksonville.
Others are going to worry, along with Rummel, with the news that Susie Wiles has joined the Donald Trump campaign as Florida co-chairwoman, as Jacksonville and Northeast Florida is in play.
Wiles has one of the sharpest political minds in the history of consolidated Jacksonville, and a network of relationships deeper than a sequoia’s roots. With Trump holding a rally in Jacksonville on Saturday morning, it’s clear that Wiles’ introduction to the team is exquisitely timed, letting Jeb Bush know that even in a place that historically has shown Jeb love, things have changed.
