from staff
Fraternal Order of Police luncheons are usually some of the best attended monthly events in town. After all, there aren’t too many places you can rub elbows with elected officials, candidates for office and plenty of cops. Oh yeah, the fried fish and shrimp lunch complete with cheese grits has its allure as well.
As good as lunch may be, the luncheons are even better opportunities for area leaders to gather in an informal atmosphere and talk about everything from politics to family. For some, it may be the only time they see each other each month. For others, it’s an opportunity to solidify some votes and seek others.
“Politics is really heating,” said FOP President Nelson Cuba, who joked that he asked an officer to stick close to Tax Collector Mike Hogan in view of his proposed property tax cap. “I have a police officer around him at all times.”
Cuba said over the next couple of months, things will get more interesting. The qualifying deadlines for several races are looming and by then everyone will know exactly who’s on the ballot. Well before that, the FOP will make its endorsements, something Cuba says can prove very valuable.
“I’d say an FOP endorsement is worth 20,000 to 30,000 votes,” said Cuba.
The FOP has already endorsed Angela Corey in the race for State Attorney. In a couple of weeks, Cuba and the FOP’s political action committee will begin interviewing those running for State Legislature. Some of those candidates have served on City Council before and may have received an FOP endorsement before. However, Cuba said, now that they are seeking a different office, that previous endorsement doesn’t mean anything.
“The races are wide open. These are new seats and there are no guarantees,” said Cuba. “We have to be fair.”