A.G. Gancarski
Even as the Curry campaign still works on improving name recognition with voters, it’s clear his campaign has made inroads with the people who arguably count more – those who write checks.
Nate Monroe at the Florida Times-Union reported Curry’s fundraising numbers this morning, and the former RPOF Chair had another big month: $192,770 raised, a number which almost certainly will again dwarf money raised by the rest of the field.
Monroe’s piece spotlights an important point, which is that Curry has concentrated on making inroads with Mike Hogan supporters from 2011. Contractor J.B. Coxwell went $25,000 deep this summer, and that has led to other former Hogan supporters jumping in, such as Mardant Electrical Construction Company this month, which donated $1000.
Those familiar with the Curry strategy have noted that he has done a very good job marshaling support, as evidenced by Fidelity and Black Knight Financial Services – two companies that are also giving to Alvin Brown’s reelection – giving $10000 this month.
The big enchilada, of course, is Shahid Khan – the Jaguars owner and a very high-profile supporter of Alvin Brown up until now. If the Curry team can get active support from Khan, that likely would be a gamechanger. Khan and Curry have cordial relations, with Curry introducing Khan at a Rick Scott fundraising event last fall, but as of yet, no formal support has been given.
What is clear though is that Curry has made the sale with Jacksonville establishment figures, leaving the Mayor as the most vulnerable incumbent Mayoral candidate locally in decades. This puts Mayor Brown in a difficult position, where he will have to make moves to mobilize what was a very successful street team four years ago to counteract what is becoming a very deep seated fundraising trend. Unfortunately, many of the young Democrats who agitated for him against Mike Hogan have been less than impressed with the cautious approach the Mayor’s office has had on many issues, especially the Human Rights Ordinance being extended to the LGBT community.
The Mayor has an opportunity now to take a stance on Ronnie Fussell’s decision this week to discontinue courthouse wedding ceremonies; his office has yet to do so, however. The Mayor’s social conservatism, which placated Republican supporters early in his term, has ironically become a liability when it comes to rallying his base. Given the choice between a conservative Democrat and a Republican who has, up until now, run a mistake-free campaign, the money men seem willing to hedge their bets at the very least.
