by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
With the 2011 First Election less than two months away, the Downtown Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce invited Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland to its meeting Friday.
Holland, who is a former City Council president and was elected Supervisor of Elections in 2005 and re-elected in 2008, said this election will be the first time he has been unopposed.
“Having my name on the outside of the envelope is enough,” he said, referring to the absentee ballots many voters will receive in the mail.
“I feel honored not to have opposition, but that’s more a reflection on my staff,” he said.
Turning the topic to the race for mayor, Holland said his office sometimes receives calls from groups requesting a speaker who will tell them who is running for office and who to vote for.
“We help people learn about candidates, but we don’t tell them how to vote,” said Holland.
He predicted a large voter participation in the March 22 election because for the first time in eight years, the incumbent mayor is not on the ballot because of term limits.
“An open seat election will increase voter turnout and the top race on the ballot drives the election,” said Holland, who predicted a turnout of at least 39 percent and possibly as much as 52 percent March 22.
Holland said he bases his predictions of voter turnout on three factors.
First, the importance of the election. He said when John Peyton ran unopposed for re-election four years ago, only 19 percent of registered voters cast a ballot.
The second factor is the perceived differences between the candidates.
“That’s why voter turnout for presidential elections is so high. The candidates have characteristic differences,” said Holland.
The third factor is the availability of forums that allow candidates to present their ideas and platforms to the public. Holland said he has attended about half a dozen forums so far, either as moderator or in the audience.
He said he has observed similarities among the platforms of the candidates for mayor.
“They know jobs are important and the port is important and education is important. Their answers are all very studied and calculated,” said Holland.
City Council candidates, on the other hand, don’t usually have consultants working on their campaigns, Holland said, so “what they say is what’s on their minds.”
He said some of the most interesting responses to questions have come from candidates whose names won’t be printed on the ballots.
“What you hear from write-in candidates is what 30 percent of the voters are thinking,” said Holland.
The Downtown Council’s next meeting is Feb. 18. It will be a mayoral candidate forum in cooperation with the Urban Land Institute North Florida chapter and Downtown Vision Inc.
Networking and a continental breakfast begin at 7 a.m. at AT&T Tower 301 with the forum scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
For more details, visit www.downtowncouncil.org.
356-2466