by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Organizations that supported mayoral candidates who didn’t make the runoff last week are deciding whether to throw their weight behind Democrat Alvin Brown, Republican Mike Hogan or to stay out of the way.
One industry organization has already decided and others are expected to make decisions soon.
The First Coast Manufacturers Association, which originally supported Rick Mullaney for mayor, agreed late last week to support Hogan in the May 17 general election.
According to association President Lad Daniels, the organization’s government relations committee reviewed the March 22 election results the next day and presented its decision to back Hogan at a Friday board meeting.
“It was an easy decision,” said Daniels. “We were prepared for any result.”
The group also endorsed City Council At-Large Group 5 candidate Robin Lumb after the candidate it backed, Sean Hall, didn’t make the runoff.
Other organizations whose endorsed candidates were left behind expect to make decisions about their support soon, possibly this week.
Last week, Hogan won 34 percent of the vote and Brown came in second with 24 percent. They now are competing to keep their bases of support, gain on the other and grab the 42 percent of the vote that went to Mullaney, Audrey Moran, Warren Lee, Steve Irvine and write-in candidates.
The Sierra Club’s Northeast Florida Group, which supported Moran, will likely announce its support for a candidate by the end of the week, according to Chair Janet Stanko.
“We were well-positioned to have an alternate,” said Stanko.
Officials of the environmental group interviewed Moran, Brown and Lee before deciding on initially supporting Moran, said Stanko.
Additional interviews will not be conducted, but the remaining candidates will be voted on by board members, she said.
The Florida First Coast Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. originally sided with Moran and could have a decision later this week whether to back a candidate.
It hasn’t been decided if the group will issue a new endorsement, said Chapter President Karin Tucker.
The governmental affairs committee is discussing the issue internally, she said.
One of the more sought-after endorsements prior to the first election could be back on the table as well.
Originally endorsing Moran, JaxBiz, the political affiliate of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, will likely meet later this week, said chamber spokeswoman Lisa Daniel.
Daniel, chamber senior marketing manager, said the JaxBiz executive committee will discuss if it will support either mayoral candidate.
As the endorsement landscape is reshaped, Brown is the mayoral candidate who could benefit most, said Marcella Washington, Florida State College at Jacksonville political science professor.
“It’d help Brown more due to his being the underdog,” said Washington. “Every little bit helps. Anything he gets now enhances his credibility.”
She said endorsement announcements would keep Brown’s name in the public and potential endorsements such as a JaxBiz-backing could cast him as a business-friendly candidate, said Washington.
Two other local organizations could have made a new decision, but not because they’re lacking candidates
Both the North Florida Central Labor Council and North Florida Building and Construction Trades Council co-endorsed Brown and Hogan prior to the first election.
With both candidates in the runoff, the councils appear intent to stand pat on their original backing.
Each organization require a two-thirds majority vote by its members to endorse a candidate, said Trades Council President John Parker. Neither candidate received that level, so they were co-endorsed.
“It’s a first for us,” said Parker about both candidates facing off.
Labor Council President Russell Harper said the diversity of the group combined with the timing means the organization will keep its original co-endorseement.
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