With Gov. Ron DeSantis starting fast out of the gate in Tallahassee, the Legislature ready to convene and a competitive mayoral race in Tampa, it’s easy to overlook one of the more important political developments in Florida: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry looking pretty secure as he runs for a second term.
Curry is in the pole position and it’s very possible that he wraps things up as early as next month.Last week, the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida (UNF) released a poll showing Curry leading the pack as Jacksonville gets ready for the first round of the mayoral election on March 19. Despite the continued crime problems, Curry garnered 52 percent, just over what he needs to avoid the second round in May. Former City Council President Anna Lopez Brosche, like Curry a Republican, is a distant second with 15 percent. While around a third of Jacksonville Democrats are undecided, 25 percent are for Brosche while Curry can also count on 25 percent thanks in part to the endorsements of former Mayor Tommy Hazouri and U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla. Earlier in the month, St. Pete’s Polls took a survey for Florida Politics which found Curry with a larger lead, up 58 percent to 20 percent for Brosche.
Overall, Curry has done a solid job as mayor even if he hasn’t been able to control crime, an issue he used to defeat then Mayor Alvin Brown four years ago. Curry probably won’t rank as a great mayor (though frankly there have been very few in Jacksonville’s history) or have a memorable moment the way Ed Austin did back in November 1993 when the NFL announced it had chosen Jacksonville to host an expansion team. But he’s done a good enough job that he should win a second term be it in March or May.
Curry’s been on the public stage as mayor and as chairman of both the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) and the Duval County GOP that it’s easy to forget he’s only 48. Back in 2017, when then Gov. Rick Scott was looking for a replacement for outgoing CFO Jeff Atwater, Curry’s name did garner some buzz though eventually the spot went to Jimmy Patronis.
Still, given his age and experience with the RPOF, it’s easy to see Curry taking to the statewide stage again assuming he wins a second term. Jacksonville hasn’t exactly been a launching pad for statewide office in recent years. The closest thing the Bold New City of the South has had to a favorite son is DeSantis who represented some of its suburbs when he started in Congress.
Things used to be a little different. More than a few mayors of Jacksonville--Duncan Fletcher, John Martin, Haydon Burns--were able to win statewide office back in the day. Still, it’s been going downhill since Hans Tanzler stumbled in his gubernatorial bid back in 1978.
Curry could change that trend if he plays his cards right and if he’s interested. He certainly seems more at home on the political stage than recent mayors like John Delaney or John Peyton have been. Once they were done with their second terms, Delaney took over at UNF while Peyton went back to the private sector. Given his age and background, it’s tough to see Curry bowing out of politics after completing a second term though, admittedly, DeSantis, John Rutherford and other Florida Republicans are currently blocking his path for higher office. Of course, things could change by 2023 and redistricting could open up a new congressional seat on the First Coast.
Regardless, Curry looks headed for a win later this spring and, with his age and experience, warrants keeping an eye on down the road.
