Former Mayor John Delaney hasn’t endorsed in mayors’ races since he left office 12 years ago.
That changed Wednesday, when the current University of North Florida president announced his support for fellow Republican Lenny Curry.
He said his decision was spurred by two reasons.
The first, his disapproval with the job Mayor Alvin Brown has done the past three-plus years when it came to city finances and lack of leadership and progress on issues such as pension, the port and UF Shands.
“City Hall and its finances are in absolute shambles,” Delaney said. “I don’t feel like I can stand mute when that’s the case.”
He cited taxes rising on Brown’s watch more than any time since the 1960s. City Council passed a 14 percent tax increase in 2013 to make up for shortfalls in Brown’s budget.
Brown, who has consistently said he is against tax hikes, used the additional revenue from the increase when planning the next year’s budget.
Delaney said although he didn’t know if the tax increase was needed, “I know Brown hasn’t been honest about it.”
The second reason for the endorsement was Curry himself, with Delaney calling him a candidate who brings “freshness, sunniness” and an overall perspective the city needs.
Delaney did mention that despite his support, it doesn’t mean he and Curry agree on everything. Most notably, expanding the Human Rights Ordinance. Delaney said he is still a strong advocate for the measure, while he doesn’t know where Curry stands on the issue, yet.
Despite that, he said he knows Curry will listen to both sides of the issue and make that determination and “not hide in the background and say he supports both particular viewpoints,” like Delaney believes Brown has done.
Brown’s camp issued a statement shortly after the Delaney endorsement Wednesday morning, saying Delaney is “finally making it public that he’s decided to make a political decision to back his Republican colleague.”
But despite that, Brown has shown “true leadership working with Republicans, Democrats and independents” on issues, the statement said.
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