by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Mayoral candidate Mike Weinstein’s campaign manager Tim Baker tendered his resignation Thursday and promptly turned up at John Peyton’s headquarters offering his support for the Gate Petroleum executive.
“I just thought it was best, both for myself and for Mr. Weinstein, that I leave,” said Baker. “I wish him the best of luck in his campaign.”
“I thought my staff was joking when they said that he wanted to see me,” said Peyton campaign manager Margaret Akra Bulin. “I have to tell you, though. You know you’re doing well when one of you’re opponent’s staff shows up to tell you that they are supporting your campaign. It made my day.”
Unbeknownst to Bulin, Baker’s brother, J. Richard Baker, had made monetary contributions to Peyton’s campaign long before Thursday’s events.
“It was strange,” said Bulin. “We never even made a correlation between the two because [Baker] is such a common name.”
Although Baker now stands behind Peyton, he stressed that he will not be seeking an active role in his campaign.
“For now, I’ll just take some time off before I entertain job offers in Washington, D.C. and Georgia,” he said.
Baker was working in Washington prior to taking a job with the Weinstein campaign.
“It’s really surprising to us,” said Bulin. “Originally it was thought that he was going to step in there and really do something outstanding with Mr. Weinstein’s campaign.
“It really says something about the lack of leadership in the Weinstein campaign. He told me that he really thought that John had all of the qualities that Jacksonville’s mayor needed.”
Baker concurred.
“I respect Mr. Peyton as a conservative candidate and I agree with his views that government should not be a hindrance to local business,” said Baker, who also disagreed with the direction and the philosophy of Weinstein’s campaign, citing Weinstein’s efforts to portray himself as a conservative.
Baker also said he wasn’t allowed to run the campaign as he wished, citing the roles of Michael Munz, Weinstein’s campaign strategist, media consultant Susie Wiles and pollster Bruce Barcelo.