Peter Schorsch
To quote the pro wrestling announcer Jim Ross, “business is about to pick up” in Florida’s 4th Congressional District race, as well as the 4th Circuit’s State Attorney and Public Defender races.
In CD 4, John Rutherford, the clear choice of the Jacksonville establishment, has not just one but two Jacksonville challenges with serious chops: state Rep. Lake Ray and Hans Tanzler III.
Rutherford has a head start.
While the former Jacksonville sheriff unveiled a turbocharged finance team this week, Ray and Tanzler were ambling off the starting line.
With about a dozen supporters who weren’t related to him on hand, Ray unveiled his campaign in the triple-digit heat of a cinder block room on Jacksonville’s Southside, saying that voters he’d talked to wanted to be able to “pick their candidate” and resisted the attempted coronation by Team Rutherford.
Tanzler launched, meanwhile, via conversations with reporters. FloridaPolitics.com got the consultant; the Florida Times-Union got the candidate.
The State Attorney’s race, meanwhile, looks poised to shift from the binary miasma of the Angela Corey vs. Wes White road show now that establishment favorite Melissa Nelson and Fleming Island Divorce Lawyer Kenny Leigh have jumped in.
Nelson is running as a Republican; Leigh, as a write-in, which closes the GOP primary.
Nelson opened up a campaign account Thursday in Tallahassee, setting the stage for what White says will be a “shock and awe” campaign.
Corey has the support of Rutherford and Mike Williams, the current Jacksonville sheriff, as well as that of Mayor Lenny Curry. Her fundraising has been solid thus far. Worth watching: How high will Nelson’s fundraising be out of the gate?
Expect early attempts to impact Corey’s favorability number with GOP voters, coupled with attempts to introduce Nelson as new blood in the State Attorney’s office. Of course, the X-factor now is how Corey performs with two challengers splitting whatever dissident GOP vote there is in a closed primary.
The Public Defender’s race, meanwhile, will have a closed GOP primary between incumbent Matt Shirk and challenger Charles Cofer, as a write-in candidate, Roland Falcon, jumped in.
“I’m a poor lawyer,” Falcon said. “I’m my own secretary. I vacuum, wash windows, write motions. I do want to become a judge, and this is a test: do people know me?”
Whether they know him or not ultimately is immaterial. Falcon very conveniently closes the race for Shirk, allowing the incumbent to brand himself as the “true conservative” in the contest, and Cofer as a Trojan horse for the “liberal trial bar.”
Add these races to the list of exciting and competitive primary contests, and what will be evident is that Northeast Florida is in for a long, hot political summer.
“John Rutherford unveils CD 4 finance team” via Florida Politics — Rutherford is the frontrunner in the GOP race to succeed Ander Crenshaw … and his finance team reflects that status. GOP heavy hitters Ed Burr, Jay Demetree, Kent Stermon, and John Falconetti will lead the Rutherford money effort, drawing on decades of credibility and experience … ‘I’m humbled by these community leaders stepping up to support our campaign and ensure we have the resources to be victorious,’ the former Jacksonville sheriff said.
“In CD 4 race, it’s Lake Ray against the machine” via Florida Politics — Ray declared his intention to run for the GOP nomination in Congressional District 4 in a cauldron-like cinder block room in a Southside Jacksonville office park … the race became one of Ray Against the Machine. Specifically, the machine behind John Rutherford, which includes Jacksonville’s mayor, Lenny Curry, his political advisers and his donors … Ray’s prepared remarks alternated between giving reasons he was running and talk of how people he met with over the last three weeks were “upset” because they were “not going to be given a chance to pick a candidate,” a not particularly veiled reference to the quick establishment coalescence around Rutherford … “citizens of this region are not happy with … [an attempted] coronation.”
“CD 4 candidate switches races after learning he lives in different district” via Mark Harper of the Daytona Beach News-Journal – David Foxx, a St. Augustine business consultant who entered the 6th District Congressional race last month, is now exiting. Foxx, a Republican, says he’s switching to the 4th — a seat being vacated by Congressman Ander Crenshaw — not because of opportunity, but because The News-Journal informed him his residence will be part of the more Jacksonville-centered district. State legislative maps show the new 6th slides south. What included all of St. Johns and Flagler counties, with parts of Volusia and Putnam, now becomes a district composed of all of Volusia and Flagler, with eastern Lake and southern St. Johns … Turns out, he was unaware of the new lines. “I should be more informed myself,” he said in a phone interview.
“Angela Corey qualifies for ballot via petition” via Florida Politics — Corey announced Tuesday that she qualified for her re-election ballot via petition … Corey’s campaign notes that she “heads into the final stretch of her campaign as the clear frontrunner. In addition to leading the field of candidates in total money raised and cash on hand, Corey has amassed over 500 individual contributors since declaring her candidacy.”
“Curry backs Angela Corey” via Florida Politics — Curry confirmed Wednesday that he supports Corey in her re-election bid. ‘100 percent,’ Curry said, retiring speculation that he may endorse Melissa Nelson if she challenges Corey for the GOP nomination.
— Charles McBurney received the Elected Official of the Year Award along with Judge Karen Cole from Mental Health America of Northeast Florida.
“GOP event promoter files to run against Reggie Fullwood” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Jacksonville event promoter Darren Gardner has filed as a Republican in House District 13, where the incumbent is embattled Reggie Fullwood. His website bio contains a statement that is unusual, in the world of Jacksonville politicos, for its candor: “Being a Jacksonville Nightlife, Daylife & Fine Dining Promoter is my dream job! I get paid to party!” While many Jacksonville politicos party for free, and one or two may have been maligned as a party boss in recent campaigns, Gardner clearly takes being a party boss to a whole new level … A discussion of specific policy aims, if elected, proved difficult for the candidate, who promised a “huge transformation” … asked to go deeper, Gardner said that he’s “not giving any specific things on laws or bills at this time … [I’ve] got to sit down with members of the party and [his] team, then get with you on [my] agenda.”
“Mac don’t know Jack – Duval County is Donald Trump country” via John Burr – How about that from-the-depths-of-his-soul letter to fellow Republicans from John “Mac” Stipanovich arguing that it’s the GOP’s responsibility to keep Trump out of the White House.
“… he is our responsibility,” Stipanovich wrote. “We spawned Donald Trump; now we must stop him. We must deny him the presidency by not voting in the presidential election at all or voting for Hillary Clinton if conscience permits.”
Will Jacksonville GOP leaders be swayed by the call from the longtime Florida Republican operative to reject their party’s presumptive nominee for president?
Not likely.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, the former head of the Florida Republican Party, follows the lead of Gov. Rick Scott, who has come out as a strong Trump supporter.
Curry has a well-known habit of rewarding those who agree with him on political matters, and punishing those who do not, so expect most of the city’s Republican officeholders to fall into line on supporting Trump’s campaign.
It took Lake Ray, the newly minted Republican candidate for Congressional District 4, about two milliseconds to make it clear he is a Trump guy. Ray, a veteran state representative, will run against former Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford to decide the Republican candidate in that race. Rutherford and Curry are politically joined at the hip, so the sheriff is almost assuredly in Trump’s camp too.
“Jax Council VP race tightens up three weeks ahead of vote” via Florida Politics — Both candidates had scheduled meetings with pledges … John Crescimbeni with Reggie Gaffney. And, later in the day, Doyle Carter with Matt Schellenberg … Crescimbeni couldn’t close the deal with his fellow Democrat … Gaffney revived a rumor going around about Crescimbeni that the councilman had attempted to lay to rest during a previous public notice meeting with his fellow Dems, Katrina Brown and Tommy Hazouri. Gaffney spoke of the “Textghazi” scandal reported in the Florida Times-Union regarding the council’s curious decision to change its vote on $330,000 of allocations to safety officer salaries. Gaffney said, “the rumor was that … you called the media.” Crescimbeni replied: “I had about as much to do with that as with the Kennedy assassinations.”
“Garrett Dennis defers on John Crescimbeni Council VP pledge” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics –Crescimbeni preemptively mentioned the “text message thing,” in which he “somehow got implicated.” While Crescimbeni was “curious how that vote switched,” he wasn’t the leaker, he said. “I didn’t know anybody had questions” until recently, Crescimbeni added … “I’d heard those rumblings about you being the source,” Dennis said … Crescimbeni attempted to appeal to connections Dennis had, including his immediate predecessor in the District 9 seat. “I think you and Warren [Jones] are close,” Crescimbeni said … Crescimbeni urged Dennis to reach out to Sen. Audrey Gibson as well, which led Dennis to ask if there were any Republicans he should contact for the same purpose … The pledge count stands with Crescimbeni clinging to a one-vote lead, 7 to 6, over Carter, with six Council members in the balance.
“Business co-owned by council member gets letter from city about overdue loan and tax payments” via David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union – More cracks appeared this week in the financially faltering Jerome Brown Original BBQ sauce plant co-owned by City Councilwoman Katrina Brown. The business venture that has gotten about $590,000 in city loans and grants was sent Tuesday by the city’s Office of Economic Development saying the business has fallen three months behind on repaying a city loan and owes more than $20,000 in overdue property taxes … a June 1 deadline for Cowealth LLC to catch up on the overdue loans, show proof it is current on its taxes, submit the job report and provide audited financial statements for 2014 and 2015.
“Vote on controversial Riverside restaurant plan put on hold” via Lindsey Kilbride of WJCT – … After a hearing that took more than seven hours and included intense public comment. The city’s Land Use and Zoning committee was expected to vote whether to approve a proposed Oak Street eatery and bar called The Roost. But Riverside residents are in disagreement over whether a vacant laundromat should be rezoned to become the 150-seat restaurant … those against it say that area can’t support the added traffic and parking. Around 11 p.m. Wednesday, the committee decided to reconvene next week for discussion and a vote. It will serve as a recommendation to the full City Council. The city’s Planning Commission already voted in favor of the restaurant.
“Police and fire pension fund down to final two candidates” via David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union – The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund board has selected two finalists in its search to replace John Keane as executive director. Tim Johnson is executive director of the Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) Employees’ Retirement System. Corinne Koch is administrator of the International Painters and Allied Trades Industry Pension Fund, which is in Maryland …] the] board will invite the two finalists to Jacksonville for in-person interviews to be held May 26.
“Former City Council candidate accused of money laundering” via Action News Jax – Mincy Pollock is being accused of laundering money through a bogus charity closely tied to U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown. Those accusations are coming from Pollock’s former business partner, who said the FBI is investigating … ‘I faxed all this information over to the FBI because they had been here before, wanting to know about that situation between Pollock, who was working for Ms. Brown at that time,’ said Pollock’s former business partner … Florida Blue wrote a check to First Coast Multi-Lines Agency Nov. 24 for $25,000. Pollock deposited it a few days later and withdrew $2,500 in cash. The next day, Pollock wrote two checks from the business to Siottis Jackson — one for $7,850 and one for $3,000 … “with $10,000, of course, it would draw a flag at the bank” … Jackson deposited the checks at two different banks. The next day, Pollock wrote two checks for “Open Door” … the bank confirms the account number where it was deposited is the same as One Door for Education, which has close ties to Brown.
“The political education of Mincy Pollock” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — One candidate passed up by the Quick Picks process, Pollock, offered an interesting statement … ‘I’ve always looked up to leaders in the black community and hoped I would one day be on Corrine’s Quick Picks when the time came’ … by summer, Pollock had taken Brown’s advice and attended the Congressional Black Caucus Boot Camp … With him at the CBC Boot Camp were Siottis Jackson, implicated in the money transfer to One Door for Education; and Bradford Hall, yet another of Brown’s army of consultants who is known for wearing a gold watch to School Board and City Council meetings. A veteran of that boot camp from the year before … City Councilwoman Katrina Brown, who was in the news recently for failing to keep a business loan from the city of Jacksonville current, as well as failure to hire people as she agreed she would … ‘From going here,’ Pollock related, ‘I got a bird’s-eye view of how [things] are tied together.’
“JAXPORT dredging talks continue” via Melissa Ross of Florida Politics – As discussion continues around the proposed (and expensive) dredging of JAXPORT’s shipping channel, the port this week says it’s recorded 16 percent growth in Asian container shipments over the same period last year. The Asian container trade is the fastest-growing segment of JAXPORT’s container cargo business. Meanwhile, North Florida’s business and political elite continues the push to dredge the St. Johns River channel down to a depth of 47 feet to accommodate even bigger ships expected to dot the Eastern Seaboard once the Panama Canal is widened. However, environmental advocates like the St. Johns Riverkeeper are trying to put on the brakes, citing concerns about impact to the river’s ecosystem. The Riverkeeper filed a legal challenge in April seeking to block permitting of the proposed project.
“Big ships, big money, big headache – plan to dredge St. Johns River in trouble” via John Burr – Here we go again – another round of pitches to sell a $700-million Hail Mary pass to dredge the St. Johns River and save Jacksonville’s port.
After months of silence, port officials have suddenly been in the news lately, led by JAXPORT Executive Director Brian Taylor predicting the first phase of the dredging project could begin as soon as next year. The dredge will clear a deep-water channel needed for larger cargo ships to be able to access the port docks.
Here we have a classic case of no one in power wanting to say publicly what many people think in private – the 13-mile dredging project – the largest public works project ever proposed in the city’s history, according to the Florida Times-Union – is a folly, a case of too much, and much too late.
Too much – The State of Florida and Jacksonville taxpayers between them are going to have to come up with several hundred million dollars to have a chance to attract federal funding for a Jacksonville dredge – that’s just not going to fly. Mayor Lenny Curry is pushing hard for extension of a half-cent sales tax to pay off the city’s pension mess, and School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti has called for $1 billion to bring our aging public schools up to snuff – and then the port shows up with its hand out.
Jacksonville also has numerous unfunded needs, on health, housing, environmental and Downtown redevelopment fronts. Competition for local funds of any size will be fierce.
Further, Jacksonville’s alleged partners aren’t flush with money either – state and federal funding for port projects is spread thin.
Too late – Two hours north of the city is Savannah’s port, which handles far more cargo than Jacksonville, and which has already begun its deep-water dredging project.
A little further north of Savannah is Charleston’s port, which again, is far ahead on its deep-water program.
And to our south is the newly revamped Port of Miami, which has deep water access right now. All this to say JaxPort is way behind its competition. Maybe if prior JaxPort leaders had gotten this ball rolling a decade ago, we’d be in the game. They didn’t, so we’re not.
We won’t mention the environmental questions raised by the river dredging, which will be hashed out in court. Just sticking with dollars and cents, JAXPORT’s plan makes no sense.
“I-95 Overland Bridge project update” via i95overlandbridge.com – The never-ending I-95 Overland Bridge Project in downtown Jacksonville is entering yet another phase next week, as southbound traffic shifts to a new access road Friday, May 13. Yes, Friday the 13th. Hmm… what could go wrong? The shift is to allow for demolition and reconstruction of the current I-95 southbound lanes south of the Fuller Warren Bridge. The $160 million project began in January 2013 to replace the series of overpasses that carry traffic over Hendricks, King and Montana Avenues. The massive job is scheduled for completion in winter 2017. Up-to-date lane closure information is available on the I-95 Overland Bridge Replacement project website.
Happening Saturday – The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) and Air Canada will be at Jacksonville International Airport to celebrate Air Canada’s new nonstop flight from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) to Toronto, Canada. Interested media must meet in the center courtyard beginning 10:45 a.m. at 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive in Jacksonville. Scheduled to speak are JAA CEO Steve Grossman and representatives from the Canadian Consulate and Air Canada, followed by a ribbon cutting and the first arriving and departing flights, each accompanied by water cannon salutes.
“First Coast Technical College receives $1.5 million grant for renovations” – First Coast Technical, which serves St. Johns, Clay and Putnam counties, received $1.5 million from the Florida Legislature this year to continue renovations on its new Putnam County campus. The new building will house the college’s new construction technologies program and the return of its culinary arts program. Last year, the college signed a $1-a-year, 20-year lease with Putnam County School District to move the college’s Putnam campus to the former Moseley Elementary School. Construction is expected to begin July 1 when the state releases the funding, said FCTC President Sandra Fortner. “This is a much-needed development for Putnam County,” Fortner said. “This is long overdue and what the workforce needs. A special thank you to our Legislative delegation and Gov. Rick Scott for funding this project.” Meanwhile, FCTC is also introducing a new Alternative Fuel Technology program to give students the skills to work on electric, hybrid and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles. This is the ‘first of its kind’ program in the southeast and is aimed at helping to meet the needs of the growing number of organizations using CNG vehicles, including the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, St. Johns County, Advanced Disposal and CSX, among others. The Florida State Board of Education will vote for program approval at its May 20 meeting.
“JTA CNG infrastructure Project wins APWA Florida Chapter Project of the Year” via JTAFLA.com – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s (JTA) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Infrastructure project has been named the 2016 Environmental Project of the Year by the Florida Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The project was a partnership between JTA, RS&H and Clean Energy. The project won the award in the $5 million to $25 million category for using an innovative public-private partnership (P3) approach that leveraged state and federal grants to build the CNG Infrastructure project. The project modernized JTA’s fueling and maintenance facilities, added new CNG buses, and constructed a public CNG fueling station that serves private and personal CNG vehicles in Northeast Florida.
What Julie Delegal is reading
“Bait and Switch: Super teachers shafted on expected bonuses,” via Susan Cooper Eastman of Folio Weekly – Jacksonville philanthropists have raised $50 million for the Quality Education for All initiative to attract highly effective educators to teach at struggling schools. QEA offers performance-based bonuses of up to $20K per teacher. But QEA teachers say the bonus calculations are not at all what they expected.
“It’s time to reform education reform” via John Louis Meeks Jr. for Context Florida – Meeks helped compile the Network for Public Education’s recent study on test-based teacher evaluations and writes: “[The] Teachers Talk Back [study] points out the unintended consequences of relying on fuzzy data to hold teachers accountable.”
“Duval School Board approves R.V. Daniels as magnet,” via Steve Patterson of the Florida Times-Union and “Duval School Board Approves Two School Conversions; Defers Third Vote” via Lindsey Kilbride of WJCT – As Superintendent Nikolai Vitti continues to push through a district reorganization plan that he says will start the state-sanctions clock over again at underenrolled, underperforming schools, the board balks on the portion that could have kids walking over railroad tracks to their newly assigned schools.
“Boundary Issues” via Julie Delegal for Folio Weekly – For context on the meat of the reorganization controversy.
“Failure factories, school inequity in Florida” via Julie Delegal for Context Florida – For a larger, more historical context regarding desegregation and school equity.
“Return on Investment: State colleges don’t shine” via Tessa Duvall of the Florida-Times Union – Because the value of everything, including an educated citizenry, can be measured in dollars. Not.
“Chaos in the streets: The Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901” via Matt Soergel of the Florida Times-Union – This week, Jacksonville remembers the Great Fire of 1901, with some help from local historian Wayne Wood and late TU columnist Bill Foley, who co-wrote the book on it.
“Mom’s cooking: Lasting impressions from the dinner table” via Cristin Wilson of the Florida Times-Union – Mother’s Day is Sunday, and Wilson pays homage to the recipes of Linda Curry, Mayor Lenny Curry’s mother. News anchor Dawn Lopez’s mom and aunt have recipes in the article, as does the mother of Alhambra Theatre ‘s executive chef DeJuan Roy.
Bon Appétit and Happy Mother’s Day!
Assignment editors – Fleming Island Sen. Rob Bradley and Orange Park Rep. Travis Cummings will join in community food-distribution event Saturday beginning 9 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Orange Park, 1140 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park.
Save the date – The Clay County delegation holds its annual legislative wrap-up Tuesday, May 10, beginning 7:30 a.m. at The Hilltop Club & Restaurant, 2030 Wells Road in Orange Park. Featured speakers are State Sen. Rob Bradley and state Reps. Travis Cummings and Charles Van Zant. Tickets are $15 for Clay County Chamber members, $20 for nonmembers.
“Bold City Brewery planning second location downtown” via Jessica Palombo of WJCT – The Downtown Investment Authority’s Retail Enhancement Committee OK’d a $28,000 forgivable loan for renovations to a building Bold City is leasing at 109 E. Bay St. The money doesn’t have to be paid back if the business is still there five years later. Bold City co-owner Brian Miller says the new location, which he’s leasing from restaurateur and businessman Jacques Klempf, fulfills a dream he had when he and his mother opened eight years ago in Riverside. “And it really helps us because we’ve got an area to, kind of, test out new batches to see what the public thinks of them, but at the same time, we get to have a face downtown. Born and raised in downtown Jacksonville, we’ve always wanted to see a revitalized downtown,” he says … the original Bold City location on Roselle Street will remain open. The smaller downtown location will be a beer lab of sorts, where brewers will create small batches of new flavors and serve them alongside Bold City staples like Duke’s Cold Nose Brown Ale and Killer Whale Cream Ale.
“Jacksonville celebrates return of The Players Championship golf tourney” via Sarah De Nicolais of WJCT – “The Players is upon us,” said Curry as he began a news conference in front of City Hall. Curry kicked off a week of festivities leading up to TPC with the annual spray-painting of the tournament’s “Gold Man” logo on the sidewalk in front of City Hall … Every year, TPC attracts golf fans from all over the world. According to City Council President Greg Anderson, TPC generated $151 million last year as 191,000 fans attended the tournament. The 2016 tournament will once again take place at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach and runs from May 10 through May 15, with Military Appreciation Day kicking off the event. A ceremony at 6 p.m. will be followed by a performance by country singer Toby Keith.
“Armada FC Fall at home to FC Edmonton 1-0” via Kartik Krishnaiyer – Facing a rare Wednesday night match at home against FC Edmonton, Jacksonville Armada FC knew they needed a win and three points in this fixture to keep alive any realistic hope of winning the NASL Spring Season. Unfortunately for the Armada, a spectacular second half goal by Edmonton’s Papé Diakité represented the game’s only scoring and despite a massive possession advantage of about 64 percent to 36 percent, Jacksonville lost its second game of the NASL Spring Season. “Possession with purpose” has become a saying in soccer, and last night Jacksonville for all its time on the ball was only able to put two shots on target and attempt nine shots total. With the exception of a handful of attacking moves very early in the match and then in the dying minutes, the Armada were unable to turn this massive possession advantage into superiority in the middle of the pitch and Edmonton was relatively comfortable in defense. Two shots on goal and nine shots total represent a very poor return on maintaining such a high possession percentage, something Armada Manager Tony Meola must address.
“We’ve come out two games in a row and thought we’re going to get one on set pieces because we’ve been so sharp, and we get to the game and it looks completely different,” Meola said. “We just need to be better. We’ll keep working on it.”
Much of Jacksonville’s strategy in this game was based around overlapping runs for the fullbacks and then those fullbacks whipping in crosses toward attacking players and attempting to score on set pieces. However, Armada’s crossing percentage for the game was under 20 percent and most set pieces were easily dealt with defensively by Edmonton. The Eddies on the other hand had a clear strategy to soak up pressure by conceding wide areas and counterattacking quickly. This tactic worked well for the Canadian side who finish a two-game road swing this weekend with a trip to Indianapolis to face Indy Eleven.
The good news for Jacksonville is that the rare midweek game gives them little time to lament over the result. Armada is back in action Saturday night at Community First Ballpark against RayoOKC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be watched on CW17 and beIN Sports.
