by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
While the headlines and political focus for the next few months will be on the state elections, most of the local mayoral candidates won’t sit idly by and let voters forget about them. While there won’t be too many full-fledged fund raisers complete with all-you-can-eats and baby-kissing, many of the six mayoral candidates will plod along, picking up a check here and a vote or two there.
For Tommy Hazouri, the third quarter of 2002 represents an opportunity to expand his developing campaign. The former mayor entered the campaign early in the second quarter and financially trails the top fund raisers. What Hazouri may currently be lacking in campaign funds he makes up for in name recognition. He realizes most voters will be more concerned about the governor’s race and the other state elections, but Hazouri —like others — also understands this isn’t a time to sit around and watch as the other candidates secure funds and garner votes.
“Basically, persevere,” said Hazouri. “It’s not unlike any other quarter. It’s a time to organize and formulate issues with my team. I’m going to raise money, but I’m not setting any goals.
“I’m going to continue to do one-on-ones, which I’m doing a lot of, not just to raise money, but to raise support. I’m going to try not to spend any money, which I haven’t, and it’s working well.”
Hazouri also believes the rest of the year will be low key politically but will intensify quickly once 2003 arrives.
“You have Thanksgiving and Christmas first and you get invites here and there from people and organizations and you try to go,” he said. “The focus is not on the mayoral race until after the first of the year. It’s a good opportunity to prepare for the battle; that’s what you’re really doing. You try to stay focused not on what the others are doing, but on what you want to do. You work your way back from April 15 to now. That’s how you schedule yourself.”
City Council member Alberta Hipps thinks mayoral activity will be overshadowed this quarter by the state races. The primaries are set for Sept. 10 and the general election is Nov. 5.
“It’s a quarter for the gubernatorial and legislative races,” said Hipps. “Everything kicks up and a lot of attention is given to that. This is an opportunity for us to work our way through that process.”
Money leader John Peyton is on vacation until the end of the month, as is most of his campaign staff. However, that hasn’t stopped his staff from establishing goals and setting a schedule once he returns.
“What we will do, and we haven’t come up with specific number, is we have set a goal of making up our expenses,” said Mike Hightower, spokesperson for the Peyton campaign. “By the end of the quarter we want to have between $680,000 and $700,000 free and clear in the bank.”
Once Peyton returns, Hightower said his schedule is full.
“The more people who meet John helps us,” said Hightower. “There are a number of groups on the calendar. We told John to take the last three weeks of July off and in August and September he better have his roller skates on.”
The latest candidate to enter the race is Eric Smith. The former City Council president is now with the Florida Coastal School of Law in the Center for Strategic Governance and International Initiatives. Smith is also lagging in the financial race. He sees the third quarter as a time to get his name out again, add to the coffers and generate support.
“We’re definitely not lying low,” said Smith. “We are putting together a grass roots campaign and getting the message out that I can make a difference and build bridges. I think I can build bridges.”
Smith said his three main priorities will be public education, care for the elderly and assuring that good jobs are plentiful in Jacksonville.
“We are going places and talking about these things,” said Smith, who also believes it won’t take an exorbitant amount of money to win the election. “We are purposely running a low-budget campaign. We are talking to individuals trying to raise the money we need to be competitive. The top couple [candidates] will have one or two million dollars. Based on what I know and what people have told me, I’m convinced it can be done on $200,000 or less.”
Smith said he may also start getting his name out to the masses. Smith left City Council in 1999 and by the election he will have been out of the political spotlight for four years.
“I think every candidate has to be out there looking for money,” said Smith. “We’ll put out a few signs and it will be good if we can get some radio and TV time. We are going to run a positive campaign. My belief is in the people, not the polls.”
Council member Ginger Soud is on vacation, taking a much needed break from her real estate job, Council business and her campaign. Soud’s campaign manager, Cynthia Brust, said the objective this quarter will be to gain support, raise some money and see that Gov. Jeb Bush gets another four years in office.
“Basically, we will concentrate this quarter on continuing to build grass roots support, which we’ve been doing all along,” said Brust. “We will continue to fund raise, but we are sensitive to the fact that the November elections are staring us in the face and we will lend our support to getting Gov. Bush reelected.
“Past November, I think everyone will gear up and in January you’ll see the real rush.”
For Mike Weinstein, the last year has been very busy and so will the next nine months. While he’s trying to add mayor to his resume, Weinstein already has Jacksonville Economic Development Commission executive director and Super Bowl Host Committee president on his dossier. Campaign-wise, the third quarter will mirror the previous six months.
“For us, it’s a continuation of building relationships with people, setting our organization up and raising funds,” said Weinstein. “There’s not a large push on fund raising because the focus is on the state races, but it’s definitely on keeping up with what we did last quarter [$132,695.54]. That’s our goal this quarter.”
Despite having just over $360,000, Weinstein said he expects to raise most of his money after the first of the year.
“I anticipate most candidates will do half their fund raising in the last four to five months,” he said. “Wherever we are by October, you can almost double that by April. That matches our original schedule of having $800,000 to $1 million.
“No one needs more than a million dollars. It’s almost a liability if you have more than that because it gives the appearance of overkill.”