A.G. Gancarski
Matt Shirk is in trouble in his re-election bid for 4th Circuit Public Defender. And he blames an unlikely coalition for his troubles.
“It’s no surprise to me that with the support of Angela Corey and the liberal trial bar, my opponent has outraised me,” Shirk said in a statement dictated over the phone by a campaign aide.
Noting that he was “elected twice without the support of the liberal trial bar,” and that he’s the “only lifelong registered conservative Republican in the race,” Shirk said that he has “zero doubt that the savvy voters of Nassau, Duval, and Clay Counties will not vote for a liberal Democrat.”
Whether that confidence is rooted in reality or not, of course, will be seen in August. But for now, Shirk is dealing with a fundraising operation that is stuck in first gear while Cofer’s seems to be in overdrive.
Shirk raised just under $6,000 in March, bringing his total to $25,175… which is slightly under what Cofer raised in March.
More important than the totals, arguably: the preponderance of establishment money on Cofer’s side. W.W. Gay, Wayne Weaver, Gary Chartrand, former Mayor Jake Godbold, Duval County School Board member Cheryl Grimes, Bob Shircliff, Peter Rummell, and the Gray Robinson PAC are the most prominent names on Cofer’s March list.
All told, Cofer has raised $85,385, and combined with a $7,000 personal loan, he’s seen an almost 4 to 1 fundraising advantage… fairly unheard of for a challenger to an incumbent.
Shirk’s play, clearly, is to try to make the “liberal Democrat” charge stick. Cofer, however, isn’t about to let that happen, as an open letter from his desk suggests.
“Matt Shirk blames his faltering campaign on ‘Angela Corey and the liberal trial bar,” Cofer writes. “He also has falsely characterized me as a Democrat.”
Cofer notes that it is “time to set the record straight,” noting that his “campaign is supported by a broad cross-section of business leaders as well as attorneys who practice in our circuit.”
Cofer contrasts his “reputation for integrity and professionalism” during his 36 year career with “Shirk’s attack on members of his own profession, [which] demonstrates how and why he has lost their support.”
Regarding Corey, Cofer notes that they have known each other for 34 years, and they both understand “the appropriate boundaries” between the State Attorney and the Public Defender, as well as the importance of “professional communication” between the two offices.
“Mr. Shirk has destroyed the relationship between his office and the State Attorney’s Office through personal attacks and unprofessional misconduct,” Cofer continues.
The complete letter, which is an efficient five paragraph demolition job, is below.
Shirk’s response: “For over 30 years Charlie Cofer was an active voter in the Democrat Party. How can he claim to ‘adhere to the principles of the Republican Party’ when in 2008 he supported Barack Obama? I am a lifelong conservative Republican. Charlie Cofer is not.”
