A.G. Gancarski
The race in Jacksonville City Council District 14 is crowded and intense, with well-funded Republicans and Democrats both running in the “jungle primary” First Election.
Endorsements are beginning to fly ahead of that March vote, and on Tuesday Democrat Jimmy Peluso rolled out one from Rep. Tracie Davis.
Davis, a second-term Democrat, often lines up with Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson and Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis. Dennis and Davis are engaged in the Anna Brosche campaign for Mayor also.
Davis noted that “Jimmy and I worked together in Tallahassee while he was serving at the Water Management District, and he had proven then to be an excellent asset to the community.”
“As a former naval officer he clearly knows how to lead and I believe he will work for all of his constituents in District 14, and I believe he has the best opportunity for a Democrat to win a competitive race. I am proud of Jimmy, and I know he has the heart of a dedicated public servant,” Davis added.
That “best opportunity for a Democrat to win” bit is notable, as Peluso isn’t even the best-funded Democrat in the field (that would be Sunny Gettinger, with ~$104,000 on hand compared to Peluso’s ~$40,000).
AFSCME is among Gettinger’s most recent endorsements.
The Gettinger/Peluso rivalry has been a slow boil thus far. Recent critical comments from a candidate forum that both made irked people close to Mayor Lenny Curry.
Curry and his machine back Republican Randy DeFoor, the strongest fundraiser in the field with nearly $150,000 on hand at last count. DeFoor has been endorsed by Curry-aligned Republicans, including state Rep. Wyman Duggan and U.S. Rep. John Rutherford. DeFoor is also the choice of most groups endorsing from the business community.
The Mayor’s operation will engage here as needed, we hear.
DeFoor is not the only Republican running: also on the ballot is Republican Henry Mooneyhan, who is working with Christian right consultant Raymond Johnson.
Mooneyhan is running his operation on a budget: he has roughly $7,000 on hand, after dropping nearly $14,000 on a website, consultant fees, and mail and digital advertising.
