There continues to be strong support for adding sexual orientation to the list of groups protected from workplace discrimination.
A University of North Florida poll shows 62 percent of residents support the effort at a time when voters are electing a majority of new council members and potentially a new mayor.
The issue deeply divided City Hall in 2012, when legislation failed 10-9 after a last-minute vote change by former City Council member Johnny Gaffney.
Michael Binder, an assistant professor of political science, said “there were people that bowed to particular pressures” of groups against the ordinance.
“I think some folks who get elected may not be as beholden to some of those interests,” Binder said.
The 19-member council will get at least 10 new members — nine members are term-limited and Robin Lumb is not seeking re-election.
Mayor Alvin Brown was criticized for being largely silent in public on the Human Rights Ordinance while it was being debated in 2012. That was likely able to sway some votes, Binder said.
“There was, at best, a lack of support from this mayor’s office and at worst, a behind-the-scenes campaign against it,” he said.
Brown has said he’s against discrimination, but has not specifically answered whether sexual orientation should be added to the list of protected groups.
Lenny Curry says he is against discrimination and, if elected, would lead the discussion about the issue. But he also hasn’t said specifically whether sexual orientation should be added.
City Council member Bill Bishop voted for the ordinance in 2012 and said he would support the effort again.
The poll shows strong support by Democrats (72 percent), Republicans (51 percent), whites (62 percent) and African-Americans (63 percent).
The overall support of the issue is down slightly from 65 percent in a February 2014 poll by UNF. The year before the support was at 58 percent.
This weeks UNF poll also shows the most important issue, by far, facing Jacksonville is crime, at 33 percent. The next closest issues are education (17 percent) and economy/jobs (13 percent).
Binder said during the recession, economy and jobs were the top concern. But crime has become more of the centerpiece, he said, as the city has seen an increase in homicides over the past few years.
“As the economy is improving and people are seeing bodies in the streets, that’s troubling,” Binder said.
While education was the second-highest concern, Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti fares well in the poll. Fifty percent of those surveyed said they approve of Vitti’s performance.
By contrast, 52 percent are unsatisfied with the quality of public education in Jacksonville compared to 39 percent who are satisfied.
Binder said Vitti has done a nice job of communicating his goals and ideas, including talking consistently with the media — “taking his case to the people, so to speak.”
Vitti also is leaning on a lot of best practices of efforts that have worked well in other communities, Binder said.
Other highlights from the poll:
• 43 percent disapprove of how the City Council is handling its job, while 40 percent approve.
• 37 percent disapprove of how Public Defender Matt Shirk is handling his job, compared to 24 percent who approve and 38 percent who don’t know.
• 51 percent disapprove of State Attorney Angela Corey’s job performance, while 35 percent approve.
• 48 percent support a half-cent sales tax dedicated to reducing the pension obligation and 58 percent approve of a one-cent sales tax if those funds went to restore the health of the St. Johns River.
• 45 percent support JEA making a one-time payment to help pay down the pension in exchange for reduced future payments to the city’s general fund. Eighteen percent don’t know.
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