by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Former mayoral candidate Mike Weinstein has decided who he will publicly support in the May 13 runoff between John Peyton and Sheriff Nat Glover. He just won’t say yet.
“I have a lot of thoughts on that, but I am not going to say anything until I go public,” said Weinstein, a Republican who got 22 percent, or just over 42,000 votes, in the April 15 primary to finish third. “I have made up my mind, but I am not going to public yet.”
Peyton has called a press conference today, presumably to announce that he’s received Weinstein’s support. The Glover campaign hasn’t scheduled an announcement, but is confident they will get Weinstein’s backing.
“We like endorsements from as many people as possible,” said Harry Reagan, spokesperson for the Glover campaign. “Nat Glover’s positions on issues and Mike Weinstein’s are more similar than John Peyton’s and Mike’s. For example, economic incentives on the north and west side of town rather than extending them to the Southside.
“Also, I believe Mike Weinstein sent out a flyer during his campaign that said John Peyton wasn’t qualified to be mayor. Also, we expect to get a large portion of Mike Weinstein’s supporters because we have lot of common interests.”
Last Friday, Weinstein met with Glover, a Democrat, and Peyton, a Republican, on separate occasions to discuss who he would support during the next three weeks and how that support would be conveyed. After meeting with both, Weinstein said he made up his mind and will announce his intentions today or Wednesday. With exactly three weeks until the election, time is crucial and Weinstein intends to work as hard as needed for his candidate.
“I am helping who I think should be the next mayor of Jacksonville,” he said Monday morning. “I am not going to sit on the fence.”
Local Republican Party chairman Tom Slade said neither he nor anyone else from the party has leaned on Weinstein.
“The party has left the communication between Mr. Peyton and Mr. Weinstein to those two individuals,” said Slade. “We didn’t feel that it was appropriate. They know one another and have been friends in the past. There is not the necessity for us to intervene. Are we hopeful they will come to a conclusion and end up on the same side of the street? Yes, we are. I think they will, but I don’t have anything to base that on.”
Slade would not say he expects Peyton and Weinstein to join forces, but any other decision would be a let down.
“I would be disappointed if they didn’t. I’d also be disappointed if [Matt] Carlucci didn’t support Peyton,” said Slade. “He seems to be a little more bruised, but this is a big boys’ game and we need him to support Peyton. I’m confident that is what will happen.”
Weinstein said whomever he supports will get his full attention and benefit of years of experience in the public sector. He said he’ll work with the candidate on the City’s budget — departments are currently formulating their budgets and the new mayor will be expected to present the 2003-04 budget to City Council at the first Council meeting in July — and anything else that will help him take over the mayor’s office with a firm grasp on the job.
“When I come out publicly, I’ll do appearances and whatever they ask. When I do it, I’ll do it 100 percent. I want to get somebody prepared for the job,” said Weinstein, adding there are no strings attached to his support. “I was never looking for a job. I just want to help and they will get 100 percent of my energy.”