Scott Operative Takes It on the Chin in Jax

Repeating the success of a heralded gubernatorial victory proved difficult for Rick Scott campaign manager, Susie Wiles, who now works for lobbyist Brian Ballard. Her latest candidate finished a distant fourth in the Jacksonville Mayoral Primary Tuesday, despite being the top fund-raiser. Wiles directed the campaign of Rick Mullaney, a longtime city lawyer and top adviser to term-limited Mayor John Peyton.

One of three Republicans in the race, the Mullaney camp spent the final weeks in a slugfest with fellow Republican and establishment insider Audrey Moran, paving the way for tax collector and former GOP state Rep. Mike Hogan, who finished first among all candidates while more than doubling the vote total of Mullaney.

Observers say the landslide defeat was a major blow to Peyton devotees and a signal that the stranglehold on City Hall held by the downtown establishment for years is clearly broken.

Hogan will face Democrat Alvin Brown in a May 17 runoff.