Recall Peyton?

October 1, 2007 18 comments Open printer friendly version of this article Print Article

There is an omnipresent rumor making the rounds in the political back alleys of Jacksonville that there is a serious move afoot to Recall Mayor John Peyton.

The editorial board of MetroJacksonville has been told from several sources, including representatives of the Not For Profits, the African American Ministerial Community and several political apparatchiks that meetings have already taken place to plan a campaign to displace the troubled young mayor.  

Reasons cited have varied widely, but all point to the recent rash of revelations by the Times Union as a good starting point for a campaign to recall the mayor. The complete stasis and near paralysis of the administration over the past few years, including the Courthouse debacle, the lackluster strategy to lobby Jacksonville's interests during the property tax debate on the gubernatorial level,  the shocking state of the cities finances, the overt cronyism and racially insensitive undertones of his appointments and dismissals, the coordination of city finances and policy in order to favor his fathers corporate investments, and the complete lack of a single successful initiative to show for the past five years are commonly cited in these persistent rumors.  

If so, it would be the first time in our Consolidated Government's history, and actually the first time in Jacksonville History, that a mayor would be recalled.  Is a recall campaign even possible in this town?