JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Alvin Brown has formally declined to participate in a debate the week prior to his runoff election with Lenny Curry.
Rick Mullaney, director of Jacksonville University's Public Policy Institute, which sponsored debates in races for both mayor and sheriff in conjunction with WJXT, received this message Friday morning:
"I regret to inform you that the Alvin Brown Campaign will not be able to participate in your proposed debate. Best wishes, Joshua Karp (communications director of the Florida Democratic Party)."
Mark Hixon is one of Jacksonville's many voters who isn't happy that Brown decided not to participate in the debate.
He said he and other voters have the right to be informed. Friday morning, when he heard Brown decided to participate in only one of the four 2015 mayoral debates, he said he was disappointed.
"If you're trying to run for mayor you should always open yourself up to expressing your opinion any opportunity you get," Hixon said.
Kelly Triplett, another Jacksonville voter, thinks Brown's decision is selfish.
"I think it's a loss for the city. I think that as much information as possible that can get out to the voting public is important and I think that hearing the two candidates express their views, positively, what they're going to bring to the table, is more beneficial to the citizens than the negative campaigning," Triplett said.
On March 25 -- the day after the fist election -- Curry told Kent Justice, moderator of the JU/WJXT events, that he would debate Brown anywhere at any time.
"With a record of failure, horrific crime increases, and financial disarray, it's no wonder Alvin Brown is afraid to stand up and defend his first term," Curry's communication consultant, Brian Hughes said in a statement Friday morning. "Just 4 years ago, Alvin Brown touted the importance of debates and public events with both candidates. Now, Brown wants to hide from voters and rejects public forums that would allow voters to understand the choice facing Jacksonville. It's disrespectful to Jacksonville's families."
Brown's campaign manager, Isaiah Nelson, issued a statement attacking Curry's "partisan accusations."
"When all is said and done, Mayor Brown will have shared his views with voters at numerous debates, community events, and forums," Nelson said.
Bob Ellis, vice president and general manager of WJXT, is hopeful that Brown will change his mind.
"The first debates gave Jacksonville voters a sense on where the candidates stand on the most important issues facing our city. It no doubt played a role in voter turnout and the results," Ellis said. "It's our hope Mayor Brown will reconsider his position and indeed agree to debate again so you, the people of Jacksonville, hear first-hand one-on-one, how both candidates for mayor plan to attack the challenges ahead."
Mullaney said he was surprised the mayor turned down the opportunity to debate, and he wasn't given a reason.
"The most likely speculation is that he's made a political judgement. He feels like it's not in his political best interest to debate on television, to have the public have the widest possible viewing," Mullaney said.
JU is proposing going forward with the mayoral debate, scheduled to air May 12 on Channel 4, as an hour of questions for Curry. Ellis said the station is considering JU's proposal.
There is precedent for that. In 1995, Jake Godbold, who was trying to return to the mayor's office, reused to debate John Delaney.
"That went forward anyway, with the open chair and John Delaney had an hour by himself. "Delaney went on to win that election," Mullaney said. "A few years ago, Mike Hogan refused to debate the mayor and it worked to the mayor's advantage. So I feel the mayor should think very carefully about avoiding the debates that the public wants to hear about."