A.G. Gancarski
The race for Jacksonville City Council VP is heating up, as Aaron Bowman threw his hat into the ring this week.
Bowman had run in 2016, though questions were raised at the time about his run, such as whether or not he was running “too early” in his term, and how independent he would be from his day job at the JAX Chamber, where Bowman is the VP of JAXUSA (which recruits businesses to come to town).
The councilman tells us that his decision to withdraw from consideration in 2016 came down to that race being the “last chance” for Doyle Carter to run.
The hope at the time: that he could come in behind Carter.
Carter, of course, did not win. But Bowman is still on schedule. And with two years of council experience, the former Mayport commander has his sea legs on the council dais.
As well, he is more of a known quantity now. Some of those who criticized his run last year, such as second-termers Jim Love and Matt Schellenberg, have become friends and allies.
Love co-sponsored the HRO expansion bill.
And Schellenberg?
“Matt and I have a close and tight relationship,” Bowman said. “And as far as HRO goes, that wasn’t the Chamber, that was Aaron Bowman.”
Bowman joins Scott Wilson in the race.
Wilson launched his run this week; like Bowman, he is a first-term Republican who supported HRO expansion (a condition which creates room in the race for a social conservative.
Expect this race to see more entrants and more intrigue in March.
The winner replaces John Crescimbeni as VP.
Crescimbeni, who is expected to make a play for the top job, won a contentious race in 2016, abetted by a supporter of his opponent flipping at the last minute.
Speaking of the presidency, Bowman would be interested down the road.
