Jacksonville mayoral candidate Lenny Curry took calls from listeners to WJCT’s "First Coast Connect" Tuesday.
Curry addressed questions about topics including education, crime and arts-and-culture funding — but one question remains unanswered.
On education, Curry says he’s in favor of stipends for teachers who lead after-school activities, and he’d like to see a boost for voluntary Pre-K programs.
Asked how he’d lower the city’s violent crime rate, Curry talked about hiring more police officers and encouraging them to get to know the communities they patrol better.
He also says he’s a strong supporter of the arts and was a former board member of the Jacksonville Symphony.
But on whether he’d support an expanded human rights ordinance to protect gay and transgendered people, his answer was less direct.
"I don’t believe that the people of Jacksonville discriminate," Curry said.
"So it's not needed then? A change isn't needed?" asked guest host, WJCT News Director Jessica Palombo.
Curry repeated, "I don’t believe that the people of Jacksonville discriminate."
He added, if he finds out discrimination does exist, he would lead a public conversation and come up with "a Jacksonville solution to a Jacksonville problem." He did not specify what that might entail.
Listen to the podcast to hear the entire interview with Lenny Curry on "First Coast Connect," and tune in to 89.9 to hear interviews with the three other mayoral candidates this Wednesday and Thursday and next Monday.
Election Day is Tuesday.
