By now, they’re familiar foes.
Mayor Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry shared about five hours in front of TV cameras with each other, talking about the rise of violent crime, the state of city finances, expanding the Human Rights Ordinance and more.
They’ve grown to know each other’s stances, their talking points, their evolving messages as the months have dwindled to days until Tuesday’s general election.
In their final sales pitches Thursday for TV viewers, the two held fast to their ideas while poking holes in each other’s viewpoints and pasts. The exchanges didn’t have the same venom as they did Monday, but Brown and Curry got their points across — this time just more matter-of-factly.
The mayor said he kept promises and provided balanced budgets the first four years. Curry said no — those revenues and expenditures didn’t match and there was a 14 percent tax increase on the mayor’s watch.
The “Budget 101” exchange during the final moments provided the most heat between the two, who came at each other with “lessons” reminiscent of a couple arguing.
There also were disagreements, elsewhere.
Curry said he’d tackle public safety, his top priority, on Day One of his term. That Brown had failed in that area.
Brown countered he’s established programs to help with prevention and intervention. It was the sheriff who hadn’t made the most of his $400 million budget or taken his advice to hire 80 more officers.
The mayor said he’s led on pension reform and that election-year politics have stood in the way of solving the city’s biggest financial issue. Curry said no, after four years nothing’s been done. That former Mayor John Peyton’s plan would have been “a good start” that was disregarded.
On Monday, the two were able to ask each other a question that resulted in the type of exchange TV viewers love. Curry asked Brown if he thought him a racist. Brown wanted to make Curry say Jacksonville wasn’t a great city under his watch.
On Thursday, they again were afforded the opportunity but neither went back to the well.
Instead, Brown came out attacking Curry’s “only government opportunity” — his term on the Jacksonville Housing Authority, one in which he missed two-thirds of the meetings. Brown wanted to know why Curry missed so many meetings.
“You didn’t show up for work,” Brown said.
Curry said it was an honor to serve, but he took care of his business and the employees who counted on him during the recession.
Then, he responded with a question of his own: How many times have you met with the sheriff?
“Many times,” Brown said, before talking about efforts he’s made with nonprofit leaders.
Not hearing the answer he wanted, Curry asked again.
“I can’t tell you how many times,” Brown said, but it wasn’t about the amount, it was about the results, he said.
On expanding the Human Rights Ordinance, there was one new wrinkle in their answers. Curry kept the stance he was unconvinced the law needed changing. Brown, though, acknowledged the review of discrimination laws on the books at the local, state and federal level include those regarding the LBGT community. Before then, he hadn’t mentioned it specifically.
“Thanks for clarification,” Curry responded.
At the close, the crowd at Jacksonville University began canceling each other out. Some chanted “Four more years” for Brown. Others went with “Lenny” and “Curry.”
It was a series finale that lacked any big reveal, any real fireworks or game-changing rhetoric. Instead, it was two sides reinforcing what many voters already knew about the candidates. With a little sniping.
@writerchapman
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