Police union backs Daniel Davis for Jacksonville Mayor
Can Daniel Davis keep up the momentum?

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Davis scores the police endorsement after falling short with fire union.

The Fraternal Order of Police is lining up with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce CEO in the 2023 mayoral race.

The Jacksonville police union is backing Daniel Davis, the latest in a series of establishment endorsements for the Westside Republican

The endorsement comes just days after the other major public safety union in town did not endorse Davis, despite the recommendation of its leadership. Since a supermajority of Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters members did not adopt leadership’s recommendation, that endorsement was not conferred.

The FOP endorsement likely will be key to Davis’ messaging ahead of the March 21 “First Election,” which will see all candidates who qualify for the ballot this week square off. If no one gets a majority, the top two advance to the May 16 ballot.

The 10-person mayoral field will be set finally after qualifying ends Friday. Two other GOP members of the City Council, LeAnna Gutierrez Cumber and Al Ferraro, also are in the mix. Major Democratic candidates include former newscaster Donna Deegan and former state Sen. Audrey Gibson. The FOP endorsement likely will matter more to voters considering Republican candidates than to those likely voting Democratic, however.

Davis and Cumber are dominating fundraising in the mayoral race. As of the end of November, Davis still had money to spend, with more than $455,000 in his campaign account and more than $4.04 million in his political committee.

Cumber’s committee still had more than $2.5 million on hand, and she had $329,000 more in her campaign account as of the end of November.

Fundraising reports running through the end of 2022 are due by the close of business Tuesday for all candidates.

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


3 comments

  • ave

    January 9, 2023 at 2:15 pm

    hoo.gl/yKd7

  • Haywood Jablowme

    January 9, 2023 at 2:16 pm

    Davis didn’t win fire. Tim Baker runs the FOP with formerly Kent Sturmon. It’s expected. You know what davis won’t win? The Mayor’s race. Money can buy all the endorsements you want, but not votes. Dan Davis for Prison for selling out JEA.

  • Freshleadershipneeded

    January 14, 2023 at 9:26 am

    Never forget!

    While campaigning for his second term, Mayor Lenny Curry, speaking to the citizens of Duval said, “The sale of the JEA is off the table, I hear you loud and clear!”

    Within two months of his re-election, Lenny Curry formed a committee in early summer to “study” selling the JEA. Aaron Zahn became the appointed interim Chairman and then Chairman with no (aka -zero), utilities experience. Zahn said the JEA was spiraling down and needed to be bid out for sale. FL Power and Light who had the prearranged bid in the bag was represented by Lenny’s other political consultant, Tim Baker, Brian Hughes partner. You can’t make this stuff up. Who recruited Aaron Zahn? He has now been indicted by a Grand Jury in the sale of the JEA. Who appointed him? Look no further than Mayor Curry and his consultants; his conductor & political consultant, & sitting Chief of Staff (double dipping $) Brian Hughes and Tim Baker. They are also Daniel Davis’ campaign consultants for mayor. They are also John Rutherford’s political consultants which is why Davis got that endorsement from him.

    Were Davis elected, he would be Lenny’s third term. The voters of Jacksonville must make sure this doesn’t happen.

    https://app.box.com/s/vdqa0y2771pbexfyjy1xifm9yohghetu

Comments are closed.


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