by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
Local Republican Party Chair Mike Hightower continues to urge voters to fulfill their American right to elect officials and he praised the Northeast Florida’s business community for their support in the Republican Party at the National Association of Industrial Office Properties monthly luncheon Wednesday.
NAIOP is a trade association for developers, owners, investors, asset managers and other professionals in industrial, office and mixed-use commercial real estate. More than 90 professionals were in attendance for the luncheon.
According to the numbers, approximately one of every four registered Republicans voted Sept. 5 while one of every five registered Democrats went to the polls. Statewide, less than 10 percent of registered voters may decide several key positions within the state’s government, including governor, CFO, attorney general and agricultural commissioner, according to Hightower.
“It should worry all of us. (That number) is really shocking,” he said. “There’s not any part of business that those people don’t effect. This election is way too important.”
Hightower notes that Florida is the fourth largest state in the Union with a $7 billion budget. By 2011, Florida will move up to No. 3, gaining 2-3 congressional seats and by 2020, Hightower predicts Florida’s budget will approach $100 billion, more than some countries’ combined operating budgets.
While there was only a 14.9 percent voter turnout in Duval County for the primary election earlier this month, Hightower said that Northeast Florida is setting an example for other counties and is a powerhouse in voting pull.
In the last presidential election, 384,000 votes were cast for President Bush. Of that, more than 165,000 came from Northeast Florida, according to Hightower.
“Think of that power compared to Broward County or Miami Dade,” he said, adding that Northeast Florida is a conservative, pro-business, fiscally conservative, faith-based community overall, straddling a middle ground.
“Northeast Florida gets it when it comes to business...We take our football and politics very seriously,” said Hightower, adding that smaller counties have visited Duval County to see how Northeast Florida is working.
Hightower also commended Gov. Jeb Bush’s work as the leader of Florida. When Bush’s term is up at the end of the year, Hightower predicts he’ll go back to Miami, maybe start a business and quipped Bush could be possible competition for the NAIOP members.
This election is the first since 1980, except when Pres. Bill Clinton ran for re-election in 1996, that there won’t be a Bush on the ballot.
“Just as he’s been governor, he will continue to be a mentor,” said Hightower. “He’ll always be a resource for all us here.”
Bush will attend the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Cornerstone luncheon in October and will present one of his last State of the State addresses.