Times Union: Jacksonville City Council races: Will anti-incumbent mood strike voters?

[Patricia M. McBride]

Challengers see these incumbents as vulnerable.

Posted: December 1, 2010 - 7:47pm

By Tia Mitchell

The conventional wisdom is there may not be much turnover on the Jacksonville City Council after elections this spring. All 19 seats are open, but 12 incumbents are running for re-election. In politics, the power of incumbency is generally difficult to defeat. But there could be some surprises. Jacksonville voters are angry about two consecutive property tax rate increases, and an anti-incumbent sentiment has swept across the nation. Four incumbents are unopposed right now. The rest have drawn opposition for a variety of reasons, but it generally comes down to money and how council members have decided to spend, or not spend, it. In the seven open seats, all have at least two candidates. Here is a look at five of the most hotly contested council races.

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District 3: Mayor Peyton switches sides

When he first ran for the council during a 2005 special election, Richard Clark leaned on a friend, Mayor John Peyton, to help secure his victory. This time around, Peyton has sided with Clark’s opponent, Mario Rubio.

The retired Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida executive said he decided to challenge Clark because voters in the district are not happy with their representative, complaining he isn’t accessible or responsive to their needs.

Clark, who operates a family-owned janitorial service, defends his record. He said he has worked hard over the years to usher in several road projects, though funding has been difficult of late. He also took a high profile position against the tax rate increase this year.

As far as Peyton’s change of heart, Clark said he isn’t mad because they have had some “fundamental disagreements about revenue.” The mayor couldn’t be reached to discuss his support of Rubio over Clark.

Peyton also isn’t as popular now as he was five years ago, so it remains to be seen whether his support for Rubio is a blessing or a curse.

This will be Rubio’s second run for office after an unsuccessful bid for the state House in 2007. He said he expects his brother, U.S. Sen.-elect Marco Rubio, will campaign for him.

Clark’s early support of Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s campaign and recent appointment to a transition team have fueled rumors that he will receive a gubernatorial appointment and bow out of the council race. He denied those rumors Wednesday.

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District 1: Love/hate relationship with Yarborough

Councilman Clay Yarborough is the kind of guy folks either love or hate. He is the council member most likely to vote “no” on issues that involve spending tax dollars on social services or that require borrowing money. That may resonate with voters, but Yarborough has many critics inside City Hall who see his actions as obstructionist and naive.

That is why his main opponent, lawyer Lindsey Brock, has received attention. Brock has not been running an anti-Yarborough campaign, but those who are unhappy with the incumbent have rallied around him.

Like Yarborough, Brock is also a Republican. (A third candidate, Democrat Darryl Fleming, hasn’t made any noise yet.)

Fundraising-wise, Yarborough has the edge, collecting just under $23,000 in contributions from the mix of lobbyists, businesses and individuals that characterize most local re-election campaigns. But Brock, who has raised $9,145, has some weighty supporters of his own, receiving $500 checks from Wayne Weaver, Tom Petway and The Haskell Co.

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District 11: Most vulnerable incumbent

Ray Holt may be the most vulnerable of all the incumbents running for re-election.

Former Mayor Jake Godbold and former district councilman Warren Alvarez have been vocal in expressing their disapproval of his performance in office. A group of Northside community leaders searched for someone to challenge him and settled on businessman Doug Moore, whose father Bobby Moore served on the first council under the consolidated government.

Holt has been criticized for not being a more vocal champion of a proposed aquatics center at First Coast High School or the planned regional park in Oceanway, two popular Northside projects.

Holt said there will always be outsiders who think they can do the job better, but he has lived up to his campaign promises of smart growth, fiscal conservatism and improving infrastructure. He said he helped ensure proceeds from the sale of land for the Jacksonville National Cemetery were earmarked for the regional park, and a ground-breaking is scheduled for March.

The other candidates are Tom Baine and James “Big Jim” Breland. All four are Republicans.

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At-Large Group 2: Party affiliation matters

John Crescimbeni is among the most questioning and cynical council members when it comes to spending and programs, and he voted no on the tax rate increase this year. That would generally garner support from Duval County voters, but his party affiliation may be problematic this spring.

Crescimbeni, a Democrat, was elected during a 2008 special election where he was on the same ballot as President Barack Obama. In recent years, it has been difficult for Democrats to win countywide elections. The mayor’s office, constitutional offices and all five at-large council seats were won by Republicans (though Glorious Johnson later changed her party affiliation to Democrat).

Four Republicans are now attempting to unseat Crescimbeni, including former local NPR-affiliate radio host Tom Patton. The others are Paul Martinez, Vince Serrano and Eric Tuff.

So many candidates could dilute the impact of the Republican-leaning electorate, creating additional opportunity for Crescimbeni.

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At-Large Group 5: Most crowded race

Of the seven seats with no incumbents in the race, Group 5 has attracted the most candidates: Six in all. Five are Republicans.

The list includes Republicans Michelle Tappouni, Fred Engness, Dane Grey and Robin Lumb.

Sean Hall, the most well-known Republican in the race, jokingly calls himself “first husband.” He is married to Kerri Stewart, the city’s chief administrative officer.

Hall said he got exposed to local elected officials by his wife and became concerned once he realized some of the councilmen he considered the most effective were being term-limited out of office. A businessman and former military officer, he decided he could help fill the void.

Don Foy, president of MAD DADS, has no party affiliation and is campaigning on his experience with the anti-crime organization.

“I am the only real community activist in this race,” he said. “I am the only real one that has shown proven leadership ability.”

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