Republican District 14 Councilmember Randy Defoor endorses Deegan.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men [and women] do nothing. I simply cannot do nothing in the face of what I believe to be a serious threat to this city that we love. I am known to be direct, so let me be so now. The simple facts are these: How you run a campaign is reflective of how you will govern. If that is true, Daniel Davis’ campaign has shown clearly who he is and who and what values will be guiding him in the future. I believe that 4, potentially 8 more years of that kind of thuggery shown in the campaign will wreak havoc on our city. No one can be safe, or prosper in a city run with Chicago-style rules, and the truth goes out the window. Worse he and his handlers seek to divide us, neighbor against neighbor. Donna Deegan and I do not agree on some issues, but I know her heart, and she loves our city and would not make a move that would harm her home. Like my family, she is a multi-generation Jacksonville native. She is honest. And right now that is more important than anything else. I urge everyone to pause and ponder the issue of honesty before they vote.”
— Randy DeFoor
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/randy-defoor-endorses-donna-deegan-jacksonville-mayor-over-opponents-tactics/UJCJGR57ZRDI7PNEHHHAQTW3JE/
DeFoor has been incredibly important and is typically thoughtful and thorough. But on this.....mmm....didn't she endorse Cumber, as well? Cumber's campaign was just as divisive and negative as Davis's, and far less successful. Strange that now, only weeks later, she's totally -gasp!- against such negative campaigning.
Gotta love politics.
As I recall, Cumber turned more negative when Davis & Co. (i.e. his allies on the City Council) viscously attacked her and her family. Unfortunately, that drained resources she could, and maybe should, have use to run a more positive campaign. But, it must be hard to ignore such attacks when they get so personal. While I didn't align with all of Cumber's vision, I would have taken her over Davis anytime.
Deegan has tried hard to not fall into the same trap, trying to better balance pushing back on Davis's lies about her involvement with Black Lives Matter, defunding the police and now about her charitable foundation, while putting forward her vision and desire to represent all of Jacksonville, not just the special interests.
Davis's campaign is taking its cue directly from Trump and DeSantis: Distort the truth or just plain lie over and over and across many fronts to overwhelm your opponents ability to rebut. Character counts before your position on issues. Hope the voters recognize that going forward.