rpschutt
08-27-2008, 09:31 AM
There are a lot of things that can be taken away from the August 26 elections, but foremost among those things would be hope. Hope that voters are beginning to pay attention to what is going on around them. Hope that recognizing someone's name on the ballot from prior years is no longer the driving reason to vote for them.
To be sure, this was one of the nastiest election seasons North Florida has seen in some time. In particular, the tactics of both candidates running for State Attorney was depressing. One of the judicial races, and at least one of the State House races was equally nasty. Unfortunately, this isn't the last we have seen of those types of campaign methods. For some reason, people are convinced they work.
A lot of local observers were watching, in particular, the campaigns of former City Council members, to determine if there were any lingering effects of the Sunshine Law Grand Jury investigation that cast many members in a negative light. All in all, the results were mixed.
Voters appear not to have been overly keen on the efforts of Dick & Elaine Brown to maintain their hold over Jacksonville politics. Ms. Brown was beaten rather soundly by a political newcomer, but perhaps most suprisingly, Mr. Brown came in second in a race where he was the hands-on favorite. (Of course, he certainly still has a shot in the November runoff.)
Lake Ray seems to have survived any lingering negatives voters might have allocated to him because of his association with the City Council. But, his race could hardly be viewed as a referendum on the City Council as a whole. He had long worked to cultivate an image of a quiet councilman devoted to his district and managed to avoid any negative press as a result of the Grand Jury investigation.
Pat Lockett-Felder, a former City Council member who had become a symbol of excess after her construction of a statue memorialzing herself, was soundly defeated.
Aside from the races of former City Council members, voters across North Florida seem to embracing the concept--if somewhat sheepishly--of change. Harry Shorstein, the long-reigning State Attorney in Duval, saw his preferred candidate go down to defeat rather decisively. Mr. Shorestein's arch-rival in neighboring St. Johns County was handily beaten by a newcomer. St. John's also saw an incumbent County Commissioner lose, but that has become almost the status quo in St. Augustine.
In Putnam County, a long-time Superindent of Schools went down to defeat, as did the incumbent Sheriff.
Perhaps the race that proved to be most surprising of all; however, was the sleeper race in City Council District 10. This was King Holzendorf's seat for years. He wasn't quite the incumbent, but he was running to replace the woman who had followed him, and, after all, the Holzendorf name is supposed to be as good as gold in the Jacksonville black community. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who saw an outcome where Mr. Holzendorf wouldn't finish first--or at least second with a chance to dominate the runoff. But, in the end, he managed a measly third.
Stan Jordan, a name that has been a constant on North Florida ballots for years, couldn't manage to clear 50% in his School Board race--or even get close to it. He'll face a runoff in November.
All in all, the results are quite encouraging for those of us who are proponents of a change in this City. While voter turnout was nowhere close to what we want, we can't help but be encouraged that the voters that did turnout appear to be paying attention to the mismanagement and greed that has taken hold in our area.
We also can't help but take encouragement from new candidates with new visions. While not all of them won, their willingness to run is a sign that the times are changing in North Florida.
It can't happen quickly enough.
To be sure, this was one of the nastiest election seasons North Florida has seen in some time. In particular, the tactics of both candidates running for State Attorney was depressing. One of the judicial races, and at least one of the State House races was equally nasty. Unfortunately, this isn't the last we have seen of those types of campaign methods. For some reason, people are convinced they work.
A lot of local observers were watching, in particular, the campaigns of former City Council members, to determine if there were any lingering effects of the Sunshine Law Grand Jury investigation that cast many members in a negative light. All in all, the results were mixed.
Voters appear not to have been overly keen on the efforts of Dick & Elaine Brown to maintain their hold over Jacksonville politics. Ms. Brown was beaten rather soundly by a political newcomer, but perhaps most suprisingly, Mr. Brown came in second in a race where he was the hands-on favorite. (Of course, he certainly still has a shot in the November runoff.)
Lake Ray seems to have survived any lingering negatives voters might have allocated to him because of his association with the City Council. But, his race could hardly be viewed as a referendum on the City Council as a whole. He had long worked to cultivate an image of a quiet councilman devoted to his district and managed to avoid any negative press as a result of the Grand Jury investigation.
Pat Lockett-Felder, a former City Council member who had become a symbol of excess after her construction of a statue memorialzing herself, was soundly defeated.
Aside from the races of former City Council members, voters across North Florida seem to embracing the concept--if somewhat sheepishly--of change. Harry Shorstein, the long-reigning State Attorney in Duval, saw his preferred candidate go down to defeat rather decisively. Mr. Shorestein's arch-rival in neighboring St. Johns County was handily beaten by a newcomer. St. John's also saw an incumbent County Commissioner lose, but that has become almost the status quo in St. Augustine.
In Putnam County, a long-time Superindent of Schools went down to defeat, as did the incumbent Sheriff.
Perhaps the race that proved to be most surprising of all; however, was the sleeper race in City Council District 10. This was King Holzendorf's seat for years. He wasn't quite the incumbent, but he was running to replace the woman who had followed him, and, after all, the Holzendorf name is supposed to be as good as gold in the Jacksonville black community. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who saw an outcome where Mr. Holzendorf wouldn't finish first--or at least second with a chance to dominate the runoff. But, in the end, he managed a measly third.
Stan Jordan, a name that has been a constant on North Florida ballots for years, couldn't manage to clear 50% in his School Board race--or even get close to it. He'll face a runoff in November.
All in all, the results are quite encouraging for those of us who are proponents of a change in this City. While voter turnout was nowhere close to what we want, we can't help but be encouraged that the voters that did turnout appear to be paying attention to the mismanagement and greed that has taken hold in our area.
We also can't help but take encouragement from new candidates with new visions. While not all of them won, their willingness to run is a sign that the times are changing in North Florida.
It can't happen quickly enough.