Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Mayor Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry each took to the microphone at their respective watch parties, addressing their supporters at Downtown venues.
Minutes apart in time and distance, their messages had some similarities.
They’d done it — each garnering enough voter support to move into a head-to-head runoff. They looked forward to talking about the issues heading into that May 19 showdown. And they had glowing remarks about Bill Bishop, the third man in what essentially was a three-man race.
The two-term City Council Republican conceded his run for mayor at about 8:30 p.m.
Brown received 43 percent of the vote, Curry 38 percent. Neither won outright, in part, because Bishop took in 17 percent — pulling voters from both camps. He built momentum in recent weeks with straight-answering performances at televised debates and by running a positive campaign.
Support like that would put either of the two remaining candidates over the top.
Curry, first to talk, mentioned he had left Bishop a voice mail. He talked about the council member as “trying to hold this city together” the past four years under Brown’s irresponsible fiscal leadership and as a candidate who brought “serious ideas” to the campaign.
Brown congratulated Bishop on a “very hard fought campaign” during his speech and applauded him for his willingness in wanting to lead. And to Bishop’s supporters, a hope he could serve them well and represent their interests.
Omega Allen, a no-party affiliate candidate placing fourth with 2 percent of the vote, also received praise from Brown and Curry, but not to the extent of Bishop — whose support and fanbase are looked at as assets by each side.
Despite the early Bishop talk, the night really was about Brown and Curry.
Brown and many other Democrats in other races surged to early leads when First Election results were counted Tuesday. The incumbent ended up on top with 78,320 of the 183,728 votes cast in the race, according to unofficial results.
Curry, the Republican challenger was just about 8,000 off, receiving 70,594 in his first run for office. Bishop had 30,797.
In recent days, some speculated Brown might be able to win the race outright Tuesday. Curry told his smiling, high-fiving crowd there was still work left to be done as the “underdog” in the race.
He later said Jacksonville voters hadn’t backed the incumbent — 57 percent voting against him — and that was indicative of people ready for a change in leadership.
The race, Curry said, starts Wednesday with a “back to basics” approach to combat Washington, D.C.-led interests supporting Brown — a theme Curry used several times. At the beginning and end, the candidate was serenaded chants of his name.
“Curry, Curry, Curry.”
A short stroll down the Northbank Riverwalk was a smiling Brown, addressing his supporters at the Jacksonville Landing at about 9:30 p.m. They, too, were enthusiastic about the evening’s results, applauding as Brown talked about bringing supporters of all political parties together to put Jacksonville first.
“Tonight was a great victory,” he told the crowd.
At the end, Brown supporters had a chant of their own: “Four more years. Four more years.”
Later, Brown’s camp seemingly fired back at the Curry team, sending out a recap email stating that more than 61 percent of voters Tuesday “reject Party Boss Curry’s Negative Campaign.” Curry, of course, is the former head of the Republican Party of Florida — a title he gladly embraced during a recent televised debate.
Brown and Curry combined to raise about $5 million for the First Election, with negative campaign ads filling TV screens in recent months.
They’ll have the opportunity to raise more cash — and further lash out at each other — in the coming weeks as they battle to determine who will be Jacksonville’s next mayor.
@writerchapman
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