A.G. Gancarski
Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni have seven pledges apiece with just five days before the Jacksonville City Council chooses a new vice president.
Thus, the charm offensive is on as both men try to secure support.
Today’s target: Southside Republican Danny Becton.
Crescimbeni, then Carter, each tried to pitch the council’s social conservative newcomer.
And each man’s pitch revealed a lot about the way he regards the office and the campaign for it.
****
Crescimbeni, early on in his Thursday meeting with Becton, drew differences between himself and Carter.
“I’ve been here longer, I’ve chaired more committees, I’ve [sponsored] more significant legislation,” Crescimbeni said, before pivoting to self-deprecation.
Crescimbeni quoted John Nance Garner saying that the vice-presidency isn’t worth a bucket a warm spit, though he attributed the quote to Prescott Bush, whose name typically does not make it into city hall discussions.
Then it was back to the hard sell.
“There’s been commitments made,” Crescimbeni said, warning Becton to “look at who’s on each team.”
****
“You prepare like I do,” Crescimbeni said, noting that Becton’s “probably getting pressure from the Chamber and the firefighters.”
That pressure, Crescimbeni believes, should be resisted. One of the reasons why: Crescimbeni is a fixture at city hall, treating it as a full-time job.
Council presidents “constrained by outside employment haven’t been as accessible,” noted the veteran Democrat.
The conversation continued for half an hour, with Crescimbeni saying some interesting new things about the Finance Committee.
“I was surprised this year that it had four new people,” Crescimbeni said to Becton, who is one of those four.
That said, Crescimbeni added that “if you’re asking me if you’re someone I’d consider for Finance, the answer is yes.”
****
Committee assignments weren’t the only topic: also discussed, Crescimbeni’s oft-mentioned lack of a council assistant, which Becton said “almost puts [the rest of] us on the defensive about why we have an [aide] and you don’t.”
Some council members, Becton said, even feel “threatened.”
****
After meeting with Crescimbeni, Becton met with Carter.
The two have not been on a committee together, yet the meeting was cordial and devoid of hot quotes.
Carter, a man of pronounced religious faith, pivoted back to that toward the end of his conversation with Becton.
“I’ve always tried to live my walk more than my talk … I pray about what direction I’m supposed to [go] and try to live that way.”
Becton did not sign, of course, but said he wanted to “take some time and reflect” before deciding.
“I may even want to pray on it a little bit.”
