‘Jax 5’ protester Connell Crooms launches run for Jacksonville Mayor

Connell Crooms

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry drew his third challenger for the 2019 unitary election Friday, with Connell Crooms filing to run without party affiliation.

Crooms became known to Jacksonville residents in the wake of a protest that went awry in Hemming Park last April.

The protest became violent when Gary Snow, a noted provocateur at leftwing and Democratic events in 2016 and 2017, ran through the crowd provoking protesters.

Crooms, who is deaf (and an activist for the deaf), ended up being beaten into unconsciousness by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officers at that protest as a result of Snow’s actions.

Crooms was one of five protesters who were arrested; the charges were dropped against Crooms in June, with community sentiment on the side of Crooms and the rest of the Jax 5 protest contingent.

Croom joins a growing field of candidates against Curry, who has banked $1.5 million for his campaign, and who is aggressively fundraising again in April.

Former Atlantic Beach commissioner Jimmy Hill is in the race as a Republican, but has yet to report fundraising.

Doreszell Cohen entered the race some months back as a Democrat, and raised $600 at last count.

Jacksonville sees a unitary election in March, a functional blanket primary involving all of the candidates. Unless someone clears 50 percent + 1, the two top finishers move on to a May 2019 election.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


19 comments

  • Seber Newsome III

    April 27, 2018 at 6:28 pm

    This is embarrassing for the Democrats. Is he the best they can come up with.

    • JB

      April 27, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      If you read the article you would’ve seen that he’s running without party affiliation.

      • seber newsome III

        April 28, 2018 at 7:41 am

        Its embarrassing for Jacksonville, that he would run for Mayor, how about that?

    • phil morton

      April 27, 2018 at 8:43 pm

      The Democrat is a lady.

    • Andrew Jackson

      April 28, 2018 at 10:36 am

      Seber Neusance, can you read?

      “with Connell Crooms filing to run without party affiliation.”

  • Gary Snow

    April 27, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    Seems I’ll need to expose the falsehoods in this report, based on hospital reports and the District attorney’s report.

    Also, seems I’ll need to get re-involved in Jacksonville politics in order to expose Connell Crooms

    I have plenty of video, posts, and evidence to expose him and his agenda to the citizens of Jacksonville.

    • Andrew Jackson

      April 28, 2018 at 10:41 am

      Gary, Jacksonville and the state of Florida are sick of your presence. The entire city knows you’re a fool and you’re an outsider trying to stir up trouble. Also, this went international and on the side of Crooms. The COJ and John Philips would be happy to run you off again. Last time the whole city had a party. Then we partied again when you got arrested in south FL. Good luck, 3 percenter. You act like you use 3 percent of your brain. Is that how you became a 3 percenter?

    • Sarah S

      April 28, 2018 at 4:35 pm

      Gary, instead of sitting home collecting government assistance, watching Fox News, and planning your next ignorant move; why don’t you seek a higher education and become a positive productive citizen of society.

  • seber newsome III

    April 27, 2018 at 8:57 pm

    Crooms is a man, that is to whom I am referring.

    • phil morton

      April 27, 2018 at 9:44 pm

      Since Crooms is NPA, I fail to see how that is embarrassing for Democrats.

      • Frankie M.

        April 27, 2018 at 10:17 pm

        Newsome wants Gary Snow to run.

        • seber newsome III

          April 28, 2018 at 3:51 am

          I want someone with intelligence and someone who respects law enforcement, which are qualities that I do not believe Mr. Crooms has 🙂

          • Andrew Jackson

            April 28, 2018 at 10:43 am

            Seber Neusance, why do you feel someone who would just like the police to be held accountable and follow the law not respect all police? Is it because you’re bored and racist?

      • seber newsome III

        April 28, 2018 at 3:48 am

        That is what Jacksonville needs, a person who hates law enforcement, great choice, so embarrassing.

  • Michelle

    April 28, 2018 at 12:31 am

    Haha Gary Snow never get over with Connell. Get a life. One person shouldn’t affect you!

    • Frankie M.

      April 28, 2018 at 11:00 am

      Gary Snow is a patriot and one helluva model ‘Merican according to Snow. He’s putting up signs soon.

  • Marcella

    April 28, 2018 at 8:21 am

    I do not believe that dude should be a mayor while he is a big time racist, likes to argue with everyone over little nonsense things and disrespect a lot of people.

  • Ryan

    April 28, 2018 at 5:44 pm

    Connell Croom is a bigot against confederate heritage supporters. He has ties to two hate groups Take Em Down Jax and the New Black Panther Party. He will be exposed.

  • Mark Brandenburg

    April 30, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    Seems a puppet with strings controlled by Democrat Socialist of America and Progressive groups out of South Florida, only poses a threat against Jacksonville Democrat candidates. He would only take away the UNF vote along with the Progressive Coalition…who vote Democrat anyways.
    I don’t think he would be any threat to Mayor Curry in Conservative North Florida.

Comments are closed.


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