by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
While the race for mayor continues to heat up, the candidates vying for the job and their respective party headquarters are remaining tight-lipped about individual standings in the polls.
“To be honest, I don’t know exactly where we stand,” said Democratic candidate and former mayor Tommy Hazouri. “We’ve done some polling on our own and I think we’re up there, though. There are some strong candidates in this election, but we’re doing as well as anyone.”
Hazouri added that, while somewhat important to his overall campaign, he’s not relying on the strength of the polls, alone.
“It’s nice to have a snapshot of where you may stand,” he said, “but I believe that it’s about the campaigning and the issues.”
John Peyton echoed a similar response, saying that, although optimistic, revealing any specific details might derail his campaign strategy.
Margaret Akra Bulin, Peyton’s campaign manager, added they’ve received an “overwhelmingly positive response” from the public.
“I believe we’re doing outstanding,” she said.
Both Tom Slade and Clyde Collins, the respective Republican and Democrat party leaders in Duval County, also refused to release specific details.
“While I do have some information,” said Collins, “I’m not able to release any at this time.”
Slade concurred.
“Our last polls were conducted in October so they’re old hat now,” said Slade. “Our next polls should be out by early March and they are not considered public information.”
Slade did offer some insight, however.
“We’re interested in seeing the impact of Nat Glover on the race,” he said. “I don’t know what kind of impact it will be, but I do know that he definitely will have one.”
Slade suggested the exposure that accompanies being sheriff might not be enough to win the election for Glover.
“From what we’ve seen so far, he’s proven to be a popular sheriff with the public,” said Slade. “But we’ve also found that that popularity isn’t transferring into being a popular mayor. His camp is saying something different, so either our numbers are outdated, or theirs are a little inflated.”
Republican candidate Ginger Soud expressed little concern over Glover’s recent entry into the race.
“I anticipated all along that Nat would get involved with the race for mayor,” she said. “My campaign strategy has always been based around that and it has not changed. I’m where I want to be.”