Property Appraiser Jim Overton will be the first high-profile challenger to Mayor Alvin Brown in the 2015 elections.
The longtime property appraiser and former City Council member said Sunday he plans to file for the position within the next several days. He has served in his current role since 2003 and was on council from 1992-99.
He said Sunday he has wanted to run for the position for some time, dating back to when former Mayor John Peyton first campaigned in the early 2000s.
“I’m ready to go,” he said. “I’m qualified, I have experience.”
Overton said he picked up filing papers Thursday and would enter the race in the next several days after securing his campaign treasurer.
Overton has been mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for some time and fared second-best against Mayor Alvin
Brown in a University of North Florida poll released several weeks ago that gauged possible one-on-one races.
Overton collected 31 percent of the vote versus Brown’s 42 percent in that UNF poll taken by 442 registered voters. He was behind Sheriff John Rutherford, who collected 31 percent of the vote against Brown’s 42 percent. City Council President Bill Gulliford received 28 percent (against Brown’s 43 percent) and Republican Party of Florida Chair Lenny Curry garnered 25 percent (against Brown’s 45 percent) of votes in the races.
Gulliford said the Overton decision won’t influence any possible run he might make. Rutherford and Curry were unavailable Monday morning.
Overton said much of his campaign will focus on quality of life issues and aspects that will “enhance living in Jacksonville. “Specifically, he said he would be “spending a lot of time” on Downtown issues, the city’s park system and neighborhoods initiatives.
Brown, the incumbent, filed in March 2013 and has raised close to $500,000 in local and state accounts in that time.
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