Melissa Ross
Jacksonville Republicans of influence are beginning to push back against what they call “the rush to anoint John Rutherford as Ander Crenshaw‘s successor.”
A well-placed mover in moderate North Florida Republican circles tells Florida Politics that the group, consisting of both business and political leaders, is on the hunt for someone else to throw their hat into the ring.
Former Sheriff Rutherford is seen as having the inside track on the seat, with strong poll numbers, and high favorable ratings and name recognition. He has already locked up Mayor Lenny Curry‘s support, along with the financial muscle of several heavy hitters in North Florida who historically have backed winning candidates (or what critics deride as the city’s good ol’ boy network).
However, this email message was recently sent to said Republican influencers around town, raising questions about the process:
As I’ve reflected on what transpired yesterday in the 24 hours following Ander Crenshaw’s retirement announcement, I’ve become more discouraged about the future of our city and the region. As much as I respect the mayor and wish he and his team well, the rush to anoint John Rutherford as Crenshaw’s successor smacked of repayment of a political debt, not necessarily a thoughtful endorsement of the candidate best positioned to boost our city’s clout in Washington.
I have nothing against the sheriff and nothing against any of the candidates whose names were floated yesterday, but none jumped out as someone that possessed the ability to quickly rise in leadership in DC. And that’s what being in Congress is all about. It’s not about the safe candidate to whom everyone owes a political favor. It’s about ensuring we have the clout to protect our military bases, expand them and bring home our share of the tax dollars that we send north. Charlie Bennett was that kind of guy. So was Tillie Fowler. They were both forces of nature and had Tillie not kept her term limit promise, she could very likely have been the Florida’s first Speaker of the House.
I don’t see any of the names floated in today’s paper as capable of filling their shoes. I see well-meaning politicians, but no one with the charisma and political skill to quickly plug into leadership. I don’t know what the answer is. I wish we had a deeper bench of up-and-comers who could go to Washington and make Jacksonville’s voice matter. Instead, we see the norm — the same political players lining up behind the same candidates. I know they mean well, but damn it, isn’t it time for a breath of fresh air?
For local political observers, the question now becomes, who might this group persuade to run that can “make Jacksonville’s voice matter?”
