Lenny Curry rules out House run, but John Delaney, Lake Ray consider it

The big story in Jacksonville this week: the race to replace Ander Crenshaw in the United States Congress.

One potential candidate, Mayor Lenny Curry, has ruled it out multiple times in the last twenty-four hours, including at a Wednesday media availability on Jacksonville’s Westside.

“Ander let me know,” Curry said, calling Crenshaw a “friend and mentor” and saying that he would be “involved” in the quest to find a suitable replacement.

When asked if Curry would be that replacement, Curry said: “Absolutely not.”

When asked if Curry’s PAC, Build Something That Lasts, would take an eventual role in that donnybrook of a GOP primary, Curry said that his PAC would be “focused on pension reform.”

State Representative Lake Ray, meanwhile, was not ruling out a run, saying that he’s “honored” that “a number of people have reached out” to him in the hours since Crenshaw’s decision became known to party insiders.

“I’m happy to be talking to people,” Ray said, “but right now, I’m just trying to assess.”

Crenshaw was a “great Congressman,” said Ray, and “a lot of people are looking at the race.”

One big name considering a run: former Mayor John Delaney, who like many will decide in the next day or so, he tells FloridaPolitics.com. Former Sheriff John Rutherford, who had been linked with the race to replace Ron DeSantis down south, is taking a long look at jumping in the race to replace Crenshaw.

Expediting the timetable for Delaney and others: providing clarity for the donor class.

Other people considering the race apparently include Duval County Property Appraiser Jerry Holland, who crowdsourced opinions on Facebook, and Duval County Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan, whose son floated his father’s name on Twitter. Duval County Tax Collector Michael Corrigan, as is the case with Hogan and Holland, is another Jacksonville Constitutional Officer seriously considering a run.

Another possibility: Rep. Jay Fant, who apparently is taking a long look also.

Ruling out a run: Kent Stermon, CFO for Total Military Management.

Also ruling out a run: former City Council President Daniel Davis, who said that he’s “happy where [he’s] at right now,” in his role at the Jax Chamber.

Also ruling out a run: Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford, who said he’d “let the younger guys run,” and Council VP Lori Boyer, who laughed when asked. And Jennifer Carroll, former Lieutenant Governor, who said that “I do not live in the district and would not move to be in it later on. I’ve received a flood of text, calls and emails encouraging me to run for the seat and that’s from both Dems and Reps. I would not be able, at this time, to drop all that I have going on to run. It is attractive but not timely for me.”

Not necessarily ruling out a run: State Senator Aaron Bean, who is telling media the following:

“Today is Ander Crenshaw’s day, and we should remember his many accomplishments and good words that ‘There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.’ Abby, the boys and I are grateful Ander has been our congressman, working for all of us in Northeast Florida for nearly 16 years, and we wish he and his family all the best.”