Politicians Across Florida React to Alvin Brown Winning Jax Mayoral Race

Floridas political leaders are continuing to weigh in on the results of the Jacksonville mayoral race in which Democratic candidate Alvin Brown pulled a major upset and beat Republican Mike Hogan.

Congratulations to Alvin Brown, mayor-elect of Jacksonville! Alvin is a leader who has proven that he can bring together Democrats, Republicans and independents.Together, they will create a vision to build a 21st-century community focused on a strong, diversified economy and an even better quality of life for all the citizens of Jacksonville, noted former CFO Alex Sink, who was the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2010. Alvin campaigned with me in Jacksonville last fall, and I enthusiastically supported him in his tireless effort in the mayor's race. He never gave up against great odds. I saw firsthand that he will be a strong leader for Floridas largest city.

Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, who was the Democratic nominee in the agriculture commissioner race in 2010, also chimed in.

Recently, the citizens of Jacksonville and Tampa elected two outstanding mayors -- Alvin Brown and Bob Buckhorn, wrote Maddox in an e-mail sent out on Thursday. I have been privileged to know both of these gentlemen for many years and was proud to support their campaigns. As a former mayor and president of the Florida League of Cities, I know firsthand that our state is only as strong as its vibrant cities. Mayor Brown and Mayor Buckhorn are energetic, progressive individuals who will approach public service from an entrepreneurial sense."

Mike Yost, the Republican nominee who took on Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown in 2010, who is running again in 2012, offered a different take.

Jacksonville's mayoral race is over and because of the invasion of the Democrat operatives -- SEIU, Organizing for America, Move-On.org and others -- they managed to squeak out a win. Conservatives were outspent and outmanned, insisted Yost. Are we going to let this happen again in 2012? There is no doubt that 2012 will be the pivotal year for our country and will determine if we are going to head down the path of fiscal responsibility or a return to higher taxes, increased debt to our children and grandchildren, and more social and economic engineering by the Democrats.