by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Former mayoral candidate Mike Hogan said Thursday he was asked to contemplate what role he might play in the administration of Mayor-elect Alvin Brown, who takes office July 1.
Hogan, a Republican, lost to Brown, a Democrat, in the May 17 general election by 1,662 votes. Brown won with 50.43 percent of the vote to Hogan’s 49.57 percent.
“He’s asked if there is anything specifically I want to do,” Hogan said Thursday after a meeting of the new Conservative Republican Forum of Jacksonville. The group is being chartered to focus on political issues of importance to Jacksonville.
“He’s pretty much leaving it up to me,” Hogan said, without elaborating on what role he might play.
Hogan most recently served as Duval County Tax Collector, elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007.
He started his career in private business as a teacher and a health inspector before joining BellSouth in 1975, serving in marketing, labor relations, risk management, safety and real estate until joining Holmes Lumber Co. in 1997 as vice president of human resources through 2000.
He was elected to the City Council District 12 seat in 1991 and served two terms. He then was elected to two terms to the Florida House of Representatives District 13 seat, before elected Tax Collector.
Hogan said Brown, who announced his transition team Thursday at City Hall, has asked for names from Hogan’s team of supporters.
“I’m for anything to make Jacksonville better,” he said. “We need to move on.”
Hogan said he has spoken by phone with Brown three times and met with him once at City Hall. The Monday meeting will be the second personal visit, he said.
Hogan and his wife, Judy, both spoke to forum participants, thanking them for their help during the campaign.
“It’s been a two-year ordeal for us,” said Hogan, adding that “we didn’t know we would be running against the Democratic National Committee.”
He referred to the strong Democratic Party support for Brown.
“Judy and I don’t play ‘what-ifs,’” Hogan said about widespread conversations about the election loss.
“Overall we did the right thing,” he said. “We had the right message.”
Hogan told the group that Brown had asked for his help with the transition.
“We are supporting Alvin,” said Hogan, voicing his support for “this country and this city, and I’m praying he does a good job.”
Brown said during his transition speech Thursday afternoon that he would meet with Hogan next week and that Hogan “had a lot of great ideas.”
Judy Hogan thanked the group and commented about the main topics for the meeting, which are the 2012 presidential, congressional and legislative elections.
“I’m ready to work and get 2012 rolling in the right direction,” she said.
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