One of the controversies related to tonight’s Jacksonville mayoral debate was related to the decision not to include Omega Allen, the NPA candidate who got 2% in the recent University of North Florida poll. Despite the best efforts of Republican Lenny Curry, who wrote an open letter requesting her inclusion, debate organizers stuck to their guns and restricted the debaters to Mayor Alvin Brown, Bill Bishop, and Curry.
Allen will be in the building anyway, but not as a debater. Rather, she will be Curry’s guest.
Brian Hughes, speaking on behalf of the Curry campaign, told us that “each campaign was allowed five audience guests. One of our five is Allen. Lenny said she earned the right to be part of the program, but organizers felt otherwise. In light of that Lenny asked her to be his guest so she has an opportunity to at least be in attendance and, if she chooses, speak to press afterward.
We will keep you posted as to the development of this and other debate-related stories.