Jax mayor's race candidates aim to build last-minute momentum

alvin brown  lenny curry

It’s just 11 days to go until Jacksonville’s March 24 unitary election, and the mayoral candidates are not only each claiming victory Thursday night’s televised debate, but seeking to grab as much momentum as possible.

Mayor Alvin Brown’s campaign is rejoicing over its best month of fundraising to date, reporting more than $363,000 in donations for February.

Lenny Curry will literally seek to get the wind at his back this weekend when he and his wife Molly hit the streets in the 15K Gate River Run.  

The Bill Bishop campaign is crowing as well, about its new endorsement from the respected Southside Business Men’s Club.

With no knockout punches scored at the first debate, but another on the agenda for next week, (one that will include long-shot candidate Omega Allen) this race has a short window left for movement — and potential surprises.

On Friday, the Fraternal Order of Police, District 2 threw its endorsement behind Curry.

“In addition to demonstrating leadership and vision for restoring Jacksonville’s greatness, he has committed to fully support law enforcement and community leaders in their effort to eliminate crime by ensuring they have access to every resource necessary to fight crime,” the  group said in a prepared statement.

“We are confident that the election of Mr. Curry will be Jacksonville’s best chance to help our members keep our citizens safe and move our city in a positive direction.”

Melissa Ross

In addition to her work writing for Florida Politics, Melissa Ross also hosts and produces WJCT’s First Coast Connect, the Jacksonville NPR/PBS station’s flagship local call-in public affairs radio program. The show has won four national awards from Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI). First Coast Connect was also recognized in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 as Best Local Radio Show by Folio Weekly’s “Best Of Jax” Readers Poll and Melissa has also been recognized as Folio Weekly’s Best Local Radio Personality. As executive producer of The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State, Melissa and WJCT received an Emmy in the “Documentary” category at the 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards. The 904 examined Jacksonville’s status as Florida’s murder capital. During her years in broadcast television, Melissa picked up three additional Emmys for news and feature reporting. Melissa came to WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. Married with two children, Melissa is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism/Communications. She can be reached at [email protected].



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