A.G. Gancarski
Wednesday afternoon finds termed-out state Rep. Lake Ray moderating a forum of House District 12 Republicans looking to replace him in Tallahassee.
The forum at the regular meeting of the Southside Business Men’s Club at Jacksonville’s San Jose Country Club includes candidates Terrance Freeman, Stan Jordan, Mark MacLean, Don Redman and Clay Yarborough.
The program starts at 12:30 p.m.; the debate runs from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.
Yarborough, a former Jacksonville City Council president, will likely be the man targeted most by opponents in this forum, as he is handily winning the money battle as the race enters its final stretch.
Yarborough has $82,359 on hand. Redman, another former councilman, is the only other candidate in the race with more than $15,000 cash on hand.
In addition to winning the money competition, Yarborough has a 19-point lead in the most recent poll of the race.
Those on hand can expect, if a previous forum involving four of these candidates is a reliable indicator, a race to the right.
On issues ranging from the 2nd Amendment, to LGBT rights, to immigration restrictionism, there was little rhetorical daylight between the candidates.
Will Wednesday be different? The answer will reveal itself soon enough.
