In a close count, Alvin Brown has been announced as Jacksonville’s newly-elected mayor. #
Brown is the first African-American man to be elected mayor in Jacksonville, and the first Democrat to be elected since 1991. At last count, he was up by about 1,600 votes. #
The race got national attention when it was discussed at a Dallas Republican meeting yesterday. Speaking at the RNC state chairman’s meeting, national GOP committeeman Paul Senft remarked that the Democrats had made “effective” moves in Jacksonville and that Republicans need to “get moving.” #
“We are obviously disappointed in the outcome of this race. Mike Hogan has been a great tax collector for the city of Jacksonville and ran a tough race for the opportunity to continue serving the city,” said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Dave Bitner, in a press release. “Alvin Brown campaigned as a conservative and ran on a platform of lower taxes, spending reductions, and job creation. We, along with the voters of Jacksonville, will be sure to hold him accountable to those promises.” #
In his concession speech, Brown’s opponent, former Duval County Tax Collector Mike Hogan, said he hoped his supporters would “rally around” Brown and his team as they ”begin the work of getting City Hall’s fiscal house in order and putting Jacksonville back to work.” #
