The 2015 mayor’s race officially has a newcomer.
City Council member Bill Bishop filed with the Supervisor of Election office, two weeks after he said he would run against Mayor Alvin Brown.
Bishop, a Republican and two-term council member, is an architect by trade. He said in late March he wanted to use his professional experience and 30 years as a Jacksonville resident to bring “dedicated leadership” to the office. He served as council president during the 2012-13 year.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Bishop said in an interview two weeks ago.
He said Thursday he has received much support in the past couple of weeks since confirming his intent and his mission remains the same — being a leader who can improve Jacksonville.
Bishop said a campaign team will be formalized in the coming weeks.
Property Appraiser Jim Overton, who said several weeks ago he would be a 2015 candidate for mayor, has not filed paperwork. He did not return a call to the Daily Record about the status of his decision.