A.G. Gancarski
A Northeast Florida Republican is making it official and filing for a third term as the chief prosecutor for Northeast Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit.
Melissa Nelson confirmed that her paperwork is with the state Division of Elections. Rock Creek Capital’s Ashton Hudson will be her campaign Treasurer.
“Today, I am proud to announce I have officially filed for re-election,” Nelson said in a statement to Florida Politics. “It is a privilege to work alongside our talented team at the State Attorney’s Office and with law enforcement throughout Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties to keep the public safe. It is my honor to serve as your State Attorney and I humbly ask for your continued support as we continue our work.”
Nelson, a lawyer from the Ortega area of Jacksonville, was elected in 2016 to represent the 4th Circuit, which includes Clay and Nassau Counties in addition to Duval. She defeated Angela Corey in the Republican Primary that August, but hasn’t faced a ballot test since.
It’s unlikely she will face one this time either. Thus far, she is unopposed for re-election, and weak rumors that Rep. Jessica Baker was looking at a 2024 run have been denied by those close to her.
However, 2028 could be a different matter for the legislator, should Nelson not pursue a fourth term.
Polling conducted last year by the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab found that Nelson is well above water in terms of popularity, even though the original hue and cry against Corey and various questionable moves that the previous State Attorney made in office has been forgotten by many as time passed. (Corey was so controversial that a number of Democrats switched parties to vote against her back in 2016.)
“Nelson’s job approval is also a net positive, with 31% approving and only 13% disapproving, while 56% either didn’t know or refused” to answer, the pollsters asserted in September 2023.
With Democrats in Duval, Nelson had 32% approval against 17% disapproval, with 52% not weighing in either way. With Republicans, the numbers were effectively the same: 34% approval, 12% disapproval, and 55% not disposed to answering the question. Among no-party and third-party voters, Nelson had 27% approval and 10% disapproval, while 64% who didn’t want to venture an opinion either way.
This piece will be updated once the Division of Elections processes Nelson’s paperwork.
5 comments
Go Nelson!
April 5, 2024 at 4:00 pm
I genuinely respect and appreciate Melissa Nelson. She is one of the very few in elected positions who really stands out with so much integrity and hard work. She brought healing and balance to Northeast Florida and has done a good job with zero drama, a refreshing change.
MH/Duuuval
April 5, 2024 at 5:59 pm
Light years ahead of her vindictive predecessor who seemed to have a perpetual moral panic that tainted her staff.
Pamela spruill
April 6, 2024 at 9:24 am
Melissa Nelson to me has not done much,the crime rate is so high in jacksonville,she. Let’s everyone off,we need Angela Corey back,that was when your crime rate was better,someone run against Melissa nelson,she needs to go
Nelson is effective
April 6, 2024 at 3:53 pm
It’s not the SA’s job to police the streets, initiate the arrests, or pronounce sentences. Maybe your issue is with the Sheriff’s office, or the judges, or the Mayor’s budget. Duval has a huge pay gap from other nearby counties for its police force and they are understaffed. The courts are overburdened and there isn’t enough room in the jails. That is not the the State Attorney’s office, those are systemic issues. If you look at NE Florida statistics, recidivism and violent crime are down. Florida has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the nation, at 25% (national average is 44-50%). Nelson has brought stability, consistency, efficiency, transparency, and balance to the office. She doesn’t treat the office like a political position or bully pulpit. She just does the hard work. That’s what you want.
MH/Duuuval
April 6, 2024 at 5:16 pm
What is your source for this “huge” pay gap for JSO? This has only recently emerged as a talking point; in days past, the problem was officers from small towns and nearby counties moving to the JSO, which presumably had better pay, benefits, etc. (The FOP here enabled Lenny Curry to end pensions for new hires, which might be a recruiting negative.)
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