by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Edward Waters College President Nat Glover considers the election of Democrat Alvin Brown as Jacksonville’s first African-American mayor a tribute to the city.
“It proves to me when it comes to progressive race relations in this state, Jacksonville has to be at the top,” Glover said Wednesday night after Brown was declared mayor-elect.
“People were looking at capability and qualifications instead of race,” said Glover.
Glover was elected as Jacksonville’s first black sheriff in more than 100 years and served two terms. He would have been the city’s first black mayor had he won the election against Mayor John Peyton in 2003. Glover received 42 percent of the vote to Peyton’s 58 percent.
“Electing an African-American mayor and an African-American sheriff, I don’t think any other city in the state can top this,” said Glover.
Glover also said that Brown will face challenges.
“Anytime you are first, there are going to be tough situations. He will have to stay focused and realize it’s not personal,” he said.
“There will be heightened scrutiny and criticism. That’s the nature of the beast, and you still have to keep pushing,” he said.
Glover joined Edward Waters College, his alma mater, in May 2010 as interim president and was appointed to the position full time in February.
In that role, Glover said he couldn’t actively work with Brown’s campaign, “but certainly I was there as a consultant.”
“I tried to help with some of the issues,” he said.
Glover said the campaign brought back memories. “I had the opportunity to run for mayor and I had the opportunity and success of running for sheriff, and you create the path,” he said.
Asked if he would serve on Brown’s transition team, Glover said he stands ready to assist the new mayor, and also would have been prepared to help Republican Mike Hogan had he won.
“I hope to be there wherever the mayor wants. I’ll be open to whatever I can do, and that would be for anybody,” he said.
Asked if he would take a full-time role in the Brown administration, Glover said he remains at Edward Waters College and doesn’t want to interrupt his work there.
Glover said that Brown’s support by some leading Republicans, especially businessman Peter Rummell, was important.
“That should not go unnoticed,” he said. “We are maturing as a community.”
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