Thursday at City Hall, Republican City Councilman Bill Bishop made a surprise endorsement of incumbent Democratic Mayor Alvin Brown.
Bishop had said in a press conference shortly after the March Election he would not endorse a candidate in May’s runoff election. Today he clarified, he did not endorse a candidate until he did research to decide who he would support
“And while we don't agree on everything, and we probably never will I have concluded that the best mayor for the next four years for our city is the man who is held that office for the past four years,” Bishop said. ”I am proud to stand before you all today and announce that I am endorsing Alvin Brown for reelection for the mayor of Jacksonville.”
Bishop applauded Brown’s efforts to reform the Police and Fire Pension Fund, his work on the St. Johns River port-deepening project and his focus on downtown development.
Asked whether he was betraying the Republican party by endorsing Brown, Bishop said he thinks city elections shouldn’t be political.
Bishop said, "Potholes don't care what party you are."
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