by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
It’s not quite comparable to boxer Buster Douglas knocking Mike Tyson silly, but if Jerry Holland beats Suzanne Jenkins for the City Council presidency in May it will certainly go down as an upset.
Jenkins is the current Council vice president and consolidated Jacksonville political history shows that more often than not the vice president ascends to president the next year. Holland has nine written commitments from fellow Council members and, counting his own vote, would have enough to win the election if it was held today. However, the election is May 28, things can change and Holland knows it. For now, though, he feels confident that those who have committed to him in writing will vote for him in late May.
“I have 10 that I have been tacking up [on the wall], but I’d like to get a few more,” said Holland. “It’s nice to reach that first barrier.”
Holland has written commitments from Jim Overton, Warren Alvarez, Dr. Gwen Chandler, Elaine Brown, Lake Ray, Ginger Soud, Faye Rustin, Lad Daniels and Doyle Carter. Daniels and Carter have been in Holland’s camp for several weeks and only recently have the other seven pledged their support to him. Because of natural affiliations and personal preferences, Holland said the first few commitments were much easier to garner than the rest.
“Most people are not real quick to sign, so you feel better when you get signed pledges,” said Holland. “Other than the first one, two or three that are easy because they are close to you, it’s hard to get people to sign. I feel good that people took their time to make their decision.”
Jenkins was unavailable for comment.
Not since 1998 when Don Davis beat then-vice president John Crescimbeni for Council president has the vice president been defeated. According to Holland, there are only two things that could prevent him from winning the presidency: major changes of heart and himself.
“Yes, they can change their vote, but it’s mostly if I do something. From now until the election, it’s up to me,” said Holland. “My goal is to stay consistent and continue to do the things that earned me their support.”
Council member Jim Overton has served as both vice president and president during his two-term tenure, which will end next year. As someone who made the logical progression from vice president (1996-97) to president (1997-98), it would figure that Overton would support Jenkins. Overton, however, is voting for Holland for two reasons: one, it’s a gubernatorial election year and he feels that having a Republican Council president would bode well locally for Gov. Jeb Bush’s reelection efforts and, two, his affiliation with the local Republican Party dictates that he vote for Holland.
“I’m a sitting member of the executive committee of the Jacksonville Republican Party and I am bound by a loyalty oath,” explained Overton. “I cannot support a member of the other party unless it’s a secret vote and this is not a secret vote. It’s not an issue of personality, but I’d have to resign from the executive committee if I wanted to vote for Suzanne.
“I’m in a pickle. While Suzanne and I are political adversaries on some things, we are certainly allies on others.”
Holland said he had not spoken to Jenkins about having the necessary written commitments, but he plans to soon. For the sake of Council unity, Holland said he hopes Jenkins honors a verbal agreement they made a few weeks ago.
“We both made the commitment, at least I did, that if one got 10 written pledges the other would back out of the race,” said Holland. “I’d like to see the City Council not divided at the election. A big part of that would be to go to the floor with one candidate.”
In related news, the race for vice president between Lynette Self and Daniels may also be close to over. Daniels has nine signed pledges and, counting his own vote, has the necessary 10 to win the position.