A.G. Gancarski
The 2019 campaign season has wrapped up in Duval County, and the Florida Elections Commission wrapped up the investigation of one complaint this week.
Property Appraiser Jerry Holland was accused by his opponent in the election, Kurt Kraft, of having leveraged the city website for campaign promotion.
However, the FEC said the complaint was “legally insufficient.” (Documents below.)
We reported on this story in 2018. At the time, Holland told us the copy was inadvertently posted by an employee, who mistakenly thought the promotional text was never live.
While Holland was quick to explain what had happened to us, that explanation did not suffice for Kraft, who filed a formal complaint.
Ultimately, investigation of that complaint corroborated the reporting.
The employee could not figure out how to delete the text, which apparently showed up on some browsers but not others.
The disposition of this complaint would appear to be the end of Kraft’s latest campaign, an effort which primarily was comprised of slashing attacks against Holland.
During a February forum, Kraft alleged that Holland was undervaluing high-end homes, saying appraisals fell “woefully” short of sales prices for homes.
Holland said Kraft was dissembling, that Kraft’s last role at the office was measuring the outside of homes, and that he was not under appraising homes. As well, the office is subject to state audits.
“I’m going to be honest with you,” Holland said. “Whatever I tell you is the truth.”
Kraft had more issues with the Holland campaign, including allegations of stolen signs.
I filed a police report on a stolen sign that I had written permission to place on property during the election. The event was covered by local TV news. Police report Case Number #19-193118, March 16,2019, theft.
— Kurt E Kraft (@KurtKraft) April 1, 2019
Kraft also took issue with Holland having a shower in his office.
Jerry Holland installed a PRIVATE SHOWER in his "Public" Property Appraiser's Office. On day one I will close the shower and REMOVE ANY RUBBER DUCKY toys therein. Read the Full Report at https://t.co/0bcOpGggD1 pic.twitter.com/wxwPtdekxW
— Kurt E Kraft (@KurtKraft) March 14, 2019
Holland noted in an interview that if re-elected to this office, he may consider another campaign in 2023.
Including, he said, the Mayor’s office.
