by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Bailey Publishing & Communications, Inc. owner Jim Bailey announced Monday his withdrawal from the race to become Jacksonville’s next mayor.
“The decision to withdraw from the mayor’s race is a difficult one,” said Bailey, “particularly in light of the trust placed in me by so many of my friends.”
The move was effective immediately.
As part of his exit, Bailey said he will be making a final personal contribution to his campaign to offer full refunds to any of his donors who would like their money returned. Bailey had more than 600 contributors during his campaign.
“Leaders should be accountable and I am proud to be so,” he said.
Bailey, a Republican, said the decision to withdraw wasn’t taken lightly. “It was a business decision that would have required either a considerable investment or returning money to the contributors who believed in our cause,” he said.
Bailey Publishing publishes the Financial News & Daily Record, a weekday newspaper printed since 1912, and Realty/Builder Connection, a monthly real estate industry publication. It also operates DPI, a full-service graphic design and printing firm.
Bailey entered the race in April and raised $182,685 through Sept. 30, the end of the third-quarter financial reporting period for campaign reports.
Total expenditures were $166,303, according to campaign reports. Bailey donated $56,500 to his campaign, including $25,500 in the second quarter, which ended June 30, and $31,000 in the third quarter.
“I didn’t feel I should use contributors’ money for me to mature quickly as a candidate, so I made a personal contribution,” said Bailey.
“It has been humbling to have the citizens of Jacksonville step up for a cause with my name on it,” he said. “We have all the pieces of greatness and I still believe our citizens can assemble those pieces into a great city.”
Bailey said while he still has a message about how to lead Jacksonville on key issues including job creation and business and port development, his ideas differ from those of the candidates still in the race.
While he said that several of the candidates are close friends, he has no plans at this time to endorse any of the candidates currently remaining.
When asked if he would pursue future political positions, Bailey said his goal wasn’t to acquire a new job and he would continue to express his views about how to make Jacksonville succeed.
Remaining candidates in the 2011 mayor’s race include Republicans Mike Hogan, Audrey Moran and Rick Mullaney and Democrats Alvin Brown and Glorious Johnson.
Qualifying will be Jan 10-14. The first election is March 22 with the general election May 17.
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