by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The City’s power players have lined up behind candidates running for Supervisor of Elections in the upcoming special election, creating weighty circles of support and healthy campaign accounts in the process.
Financial reports were due Tuesday at the downtown Elections Office and, unless purse strings drastically tighten before the Feb. 15 primary, the money will likely keep rolling in.
Follow-up finance reports are due on Jan. 28 and again on Feb. 11.
The election is being held to replace recently-retired Supervisor John Stafford, who retired last year following a heart attack and subsequent medical complications. Six candidates have lined up in hopes of being his successor.
The complete list will be posted on the elections site, http://duvalelections.coj.net.
Here’s how the candidates stand in money:
Jerry Holland
Several notable names are behind City Council member Jerry Holland, who gave himself a whopping $50,000 loan to help finance his campaign.
A Republican, Holland has the most money in his account, having collected checks from Council colleagues Lake Ray, Glorious Johnson and Gwen Yates. Jacksonville Jaguar owner Wayne Weaver, developer Tony Sleiman and even Stafford have also each made contributions to Holland’s burgeoning campaign account.
As of Dec 31, he has raised more than $107,000.
Others backing Holland include attorney Paul Harden, the Edwards Cohen law firm, developer Roger O’Steen, builder J.B. Coxwell, the LandMar Group development company and developer Peter Sleiman.
Lois Chepenik
Former JCCI executive director Lois Chepenik raised more than $55,000.
Running with no party affiliation in this election, her base of support is among the most varied, having collected checks from pharmaceutical executive and Jaguar co-owner Lawrence Dubow, lobbyist John Thrasher, attorney Gerald Weedon and developer Preston Haskell. Chepenik also is supported by dog track President Howard Korman, who contributed through various entities including separate checks from each of the local tracks.
Others supporting Chepenik include Moran Mediation and Litigation Group, a firm run by former Mayor John Delaney’s chief of staff Audrey Moran; Stein Mart chair Jay Stein, the Shorstein & Shorstein law firm, former State Sen. Kathy Chinoy; Margaret Scheu, wife of interim Supervisor Bill Scheu; and Delores Kesler of the Kesler Mentoring Center.
Faye Rustin
Republican Council member Faye Rustin has raised more than $19,000.
Major supporters making contributions were Weaver, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, and downtown insurer Fitzhugh Powell.
Others backing Rustin are developers the Demetree Brothers Inc., Sphinx Management, a property management company; Miller Electric Company; and the Barco-Duval construction company.
Warren Jones
Former Council president Warren Jones, a Democrat, has raised over $9,000.
While that figure is somewhat lower than what others have raised, it is the names behind Jones that may help set him apart from others running. Big-name Democrats have written checks including State Representatives Terry Fields and Audrey Gibson, U.S. Rep Corinne Brown and City Council members Mia Jones, Pat Lockett-Felder and Reggie Fullwood.
Others supporting Jones are State Farm agent and former Council president Matt Carlucci, former State Sen. Betty Holzendorf; Super Bowl Host Committee director of Community Outreach Darryl Mulligan; Willie Gary Classic director Alvin Brown and attorney Craig Gibbs.
Andy Johnson
The only other Democrat in the running, radio talk show host and former state legislator Andy Johnson has raised nearly $9,700. Johnson, who most recently found an ally in one-time candidate Darcy Richardson, has collected checks from Duval County Democratic Party chair Linda Whipple, attorney Robert Spohrer, Terri Brady of Duval Teachers United, the Margol & Pennington law firm and Neil Armingeon, the St Johns Riverkeeper.
Lem Sharp
Largely self-financing his campaign, perennial candidate Lem Sharp has raised $11,000. Last seen making a run for sheriff two years ago, Sharp, a Republican, has received donations from realtors Shea and Leslie Ralph and U.S. Marine Otto Weigl.
(Thursday: contributions for the two City Council vacancies.)