Bill Bishop: Whatever party you're part of, vote for me!

Jacksonville mayoral candidate Bill Bishop‘s latest campaign salvo is working to emphasize the unitary nature of the March elections.

“Republican? Democrat? Independent? Undecided? The March 24th Election for Mayor is a UNITARY ELECTION,” the e-blast reads, “which means you can vote for any candidate you believe would be the BEST MAYOR for Jacksonville regardless of party affiliation.”

Bishop is a Republican and past president of the Jacksonville City Council. However, he’s run to the left of both incumbent mayor (and Democrat) Alvin Brown and the other front-runner in the race, former GOP state party chair Lenny Curry.  (Not to mention NPA candidate Omega Allen, who recently opined that homosexuality is “a choice.”)

Consider:

• Bishop is the only candidate to firmly support updating Jacksonville’s human rights ordinance to cover the area’s LGBT community.
• He just received the endorsement of the city’s newly formed LGBT PAC.
• He’s also advocated for a half-cent sales tax increase to fix the city’s pension problems.
• And he’s made some noise about creating more walkable, sustainable communities, an issue dear to progressives.

In short, the Republican businessman is trying to draw votes from all corners —  moderate Republicans, independents, and Democrats — to make the runoff after the March 24 unitary contest, which only lets the two top vote-getters proceed to the May 19 runoff election.

But the question many have is, just how wide and deep is Bishop’s actual support?

A new UNF poll on the race is due out next week and should be revealing.