by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
Jim Tullis wants his seat back.
The local insurance salesman and longtime political figure has filed paperwork to run for State House District 17, the same seat he lost in 2000 to Stan Jordan by 159 votes. While the loss was bitter, he aborted a formal dispute following the election, and so far, he is keeping a positive tone for this campaign.
“I think any time you lose it’s painful,” he said. “We just had an awful lot of people who have asked me to please get back in there.”
A Tullis-Jordan 2002 Republican rematch could prove equally competitive. Jordan has plenty of local name recognition from his years on the Duval County School Board. Tullis is still a recent City Council memory, serving from 1985 to 1999, when he resigned after being elected to the State House.
Tullis downplays his relationship with Jordan, which many political insiders perceive as strained through different political philosophies and the very nature of a head-to-head campaign.
“I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but we’re not enemies,” he said. “I wouldn’t go out and have dinner with him or anything.”
Jordan plays it equally cool.
“You won’t get anything negative out of me,” he said. “I’ve never had a cross word with Mr. Tullis. Never in 35 years have I had a cross word or discussion with him.”
Jordan isn’t surprised at the prospect of a rematch and speaks like he almost welcomes Tullis as an opponent. “There’s nothing wrong with having options,” he said of multiple candidate ballots. “That’s his right and I’ll defend his right to run. I have expected this since last election. I have realized the hurt and disappointment he’s gone through and have compassion for him. I’m not shocked he’s running.”
Jordan, who likes to harken back to his last minute, $50,000 campaign that unseated Tullis in 2000, will have considerably more time and resources at his disposal. With about $41,000 in his campaign coffer so far, Jordan figures to raise about $110,000 more to run a viable, successful reelection campaign. He also has the benefit of incumbency.
“Incumbency has a certain amount of privilege,” he said. “But I won’t count on it.”
Tullis currently lives in the Clifton area, which is in E. Denise Lee’s Dist. 15. He would have to relocate his residence inside Dist. 17 if he wins, which includes parts of Arlington north to the Nassau County line. Although he says he’ll keep his Clifton house, but has started looking for homes within Dist. 17.
Fundraising and personal differences aside, Tullis is keeping his platform close to the vest for now but expects to start talking issues in a few weeks. Jordan says he will continue to work on equity in state educational funding and bringing a veteran’s cemetery to Duval County.
Libertarian Ty Price has also filed paperwork to run in Dist. 17.