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In This Episode

We recap Monday’s debate from the University club where the fists start flying between Moran and Mullaney.

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EVENTS and RESOURCES
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Early voting is happening now
The election is March 22 (2 weeks away)

ThinkVoteJax Debates
ThinkVoteJax – stream all the debates at http://www.wjct.tv
Thursday 3/3 at 8pm The role of government in Growth/the Environment
Sunday 3/6 at 10am School Matters Special: Mayoral Forum on Education
Monday 3/7 at 8pm Debate #2 The role of government in Economic Development
Thursday 3/17 at 8 Debate #3: The role of government in Public Health & Safety

jacksonville.com/votersguide

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FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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NEWS
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Monday’s Channel 4 Debate

Mayoral candidate Warren Lee was fired for soliciting petitions

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-03-08/story/mayoral-candidate-warren-lee-was-fired-soliciting-petitions#ixzz1GFNUfSEd

First attack ad in Jacksonville mayoral race runs early by mistake

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-03-14/first-attack-ad-jacksonville-mayoral-race-runs-early

Rival mocks Rick Mullaney’s 34-point plan: “Point 35 is ‘When desperate, go negative

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-03-14/rival-mocks-rick-mullaneys-34-point-plan-point-35-when

TU Editorial Board Endorsement of Audrey Moran

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2011-03-13/story/audrey-moran-mayor-best-choice

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In This Episode

We recap first televised mayoral debate, go through all the news and talk about this mayors race and how it’s taking a turn for the weird.

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EVENTS and RESOURCES
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Early voting tomorrow Monday, March 7
The election is March 22 (2 weeks away)

Last Week on First Coast Connect
March 15th Steve Irvine

ThinkVoteJax
Monday 3/7 at 8pm Debate #2 The role of government in Economic Development
Thursday 3/17 at 8 Debate #3: The role of government in Public Health & Safety

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EMAILS and TWITTER QUESTIONS
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@SunshineEmpire asks Question: Which candidate benefits the most from light voter turnout, and which does from heavy turnout?

@JaxMayorShow @abelharding Folio Weekly suggests Warren Lee’s campaign is a Republican plant. Any real evidence supporting their claim?

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NEWS
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This election has taken a turn for the weird…

• Warren Lee a stooge for the Republican party (Folio Article) http://www.folioweekly.com/documents/folio0301wkl006.pdf
• Mike Hogan again getting into hot PR water on Preservation Lands and still refusing to show up for debates http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/david-bauerlein/2011-02-28/mike-hogan-says-he-would-consider-selling
• Abel Harding: Leadership isn’t found in empty chairs http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/abel-harding/2011-03-01/abel-harding-leadership-isn%E2%80%99t-found-empty-chairs
• Part of Mullaney’s pension paid by Jacksonville’s operating budget http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-03-04/story/part-mullaney%E2%80%99s-pension-paid-jacksonvilles-operating-budget

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DEBATE Growth and the Environment
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Is there a clear winner / loser?
Who helped their movement the most / hurt their movement the most?
Is there any significance to the number 34?
What are public private partnerships Alvin Brown kept mentioning?

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MEDIA MONITORING
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Will we seen any ads from Brown, Irvine or Lee?

Moran: 3 new ads http://www.youtube.com/user/ImWithAudrey#p/u/4/npcEbUbvnTQ
Hogan:
Lee:
Mullaney:
Irvine:
Brown:

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FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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In This Episode

We discuss whether or not Mike Hogan is gaffe prone, why Rick Mullaney won’t ride the skyway and we break down the pension issue in a way that won’t make your eyes bleed.

Show intro

Joey Marchy from Urban Jacksonville
Abel Harding Business Reporter and Political Blogger from the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JaxMayorShow
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JaxMayorShow
Email: JaxMayorShow@gmail.com
Subscribe to this show in iTunes (please rate us)

Early Voting and Election Day

The election is March 22, and early voting starts March 7

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EVENTS and RESOURCES
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The election is March 22, and early voting starts March 7

Last Week on First Coast Connect
Feb 17 Listen to Warren Lee
Feb 22 Listen to Rick Mullaney
Feb 23 Listen to Alvin Brown
Feb 24 Listen to Audrey Moran
Feb 28th Mike Hogan (will not appear)
March 15th Steve Irvine

Mar 3 – FPRA is hosting an analysis/panel of experts moderated by #jaxmayor show’s own Abel Harding on the Mayor’s race from 11:30 to 1 at River City Brewing. Non-involved observers include Bruce Barcelo, Jim Bailey and Matt Corrigan. More info at http://fpra-jax.org/.

ThinkVoteJax
Thursday 3/3 at 8pm The role of government in Growth/the Environment
Sunday 3/6 at 10am School Matters Special: Mayoral Forum on Education
Monday 3/7 at 8pm Debate #2 The role of government in Economic Development
Thursday 3/17 at 8 Debate #3: The role of government in Public Health & Safety

Candidate surveys from the St. John’s Riverkeeper

What do you consider to be the most significant threats to the health of the St. Johns River and its watershed and, if elected, what will you do to address those problems

Live chats with each candidate on Jacksonville.com
Warren Lee, Alvin Brown, Mike Hogan, Audrey Moran and Rick Mullaney

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MIKE HOGAN NEWS
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Mike Hogan pulls out of more forums and debates

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-02-25/mike-hogan-will-only-attend-two-four-tv-mayoral-debates

Mike Hogan Abortion bomb
Is Mike Hogan gaffe prone?

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2011-02-24/story/jacksonville-mayoral-hopefuls-take-shots-tea-party-forum

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NEWS
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Glorious Johnson takes aim at Rick Mullaney’s pension

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-26/story/former-rival-takes-aim-jacksonville-mayoral-candidates-pension

Mayor’s race: How pension and budget are intertwined

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-26/story/mayors-race-how-pension-and-budget-are-intertwined

Mallaney to stop funding skyway http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-02-23/rick-mullaneys-skyway-pledge-draws-attention-forum
Observation from listening to all these Mayor forums is how fucked up this city is. We are in really bad shape. Education, Violence, Business Development, Pension, etc.

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MEDIA MONITORING
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http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-02-24/another-rick-mullaney-ad-no-punches-thrown-%E2%80%94-yet

Mullaney: New ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy9piQ6aJXw

@abelharding : Overwhelmed by sheer volume of @Mullaney4Mayor ads on @wtlvdotcom tonight. Haven’t seen one for other candidates.#jaxmayor

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2) FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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ELECTION ISSUES – PENSION
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Hogan require employees in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan to take money when they leave, not roll it over as an investment. Slash appointed positions at City Hall, reforming the city’s purchasing code and eliminating funding for the Human Rights Commission.

Brown pledged to review the budget and pension plan to find ways to cut costs and eliminate duplicative and ineffective services. Will create a financial review task force of experts to oversee a top-to-bottom review of city programs and services, including size and salaries of mayor’s staff and appointees. Brown said he would take a 20 percent pay cut to lead by example.

Lee would give a certain percentage of a payout to people drawing a pension then restructure the plan. by repealing the garbage, stormwater and drainage fees. He proposed no changes to the budgeting process. Will look at appointed employees and specific budget cuts.

Moran require employees to work longer before earning benefits, modifying benefits to current employees, possibly moving general employees to a 401(k) plan, cuts in appointed officials, fleet management and the city’s use of space.

Mullaney shift to a market-based DROP plan instead of a guaranteed 8.4 percent return, increase minimum service requirements from 20 to 25 years, increase employee contributions from 7 to 8 percent and push the cost-of-living increase back to year five. Also contains a combination of cuts and a restructuring of finances, including pensions, salaries, purchasing, procurement, contracts, privatization and technology.

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In This Episode

We profile Mike Hogan and Rick Mullaney. We discuss news from the week and our favorite tweets. In our Media Monitoring segment this week we discuss Audrey Moran and Mike Hogans’ first TV spots.

Show intro

#jaxmayor
Joey Marchy from Urban Jacksonville
Abel Harding Business Reporter and Political Blogger from the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville.com
Twitter: JaxMayorShow
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JaxMayorShow
Email: JaxMayorShow@gmail.com
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id418770210 (please rate us)
Send a question to @JaxMayorShow, JaxMayorShow@gmail.com or on Facebook.com

Voter Registration Deadline

Voter Registration and early voting. Deadline to register is 29 days before the election so February 22nd.

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EMAILS and TWITTER QUESTIONS
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@SunshineEmpire: Who do you both feel are the most likely two candidates to reach an inevitable run off?

Abel: I don’t think we know enough to answer that question at this point. TV just starting.

Note: 3 candidates are talking with us: Warren Lee, Audrey Moran and Mike Hogan. Begs the question if a candidate doesn’t tweet and wins, is Twitter a relevant political tool for our city?

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EVENTS
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DVI is hosting 2 candidate forums 2/18 AND 23

Feb 18 – Downtown In-depth – our mayoral forum on Friday, February 18th

http://downtownjacksonville.org/Media/InTheNews/11-01-30/Downtown_In-Depth_a_Mayoral_Forum.aspx

Next Week on First Coast Connect
Feb 22 Rick Mullaney
Feb 23 Alvin Brown
Feb 24 Audrey Moran
Feb 28th Mike Hogan
March 15th Steve Irvine

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Notes on Twitter
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Few people heading out to live tweet forums, something new for a Mayors race: @TrumanDem Headed out to Dist 1 cand forum at 7:00. @eirksetzer Tonight I’ll be posting live from the RCRC Jacksonville mayoral forum. You have been warned. #jaxpol #jaxmayor

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NEWS
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Voter Registration and early voting. Deadline to register is 29 days before the election so February 22nd.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/abel-harding/2011-02-17/john-peytons-endorsement-not-coveted-jacksonville

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-02-06/story/anti-crime-group-says-next-jacksonville-mayor-needs-focus-public-safety

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-13/story/jacksonville-mayoral-race-voters-want-focus-creating-jobs

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/abel-harding/2011-02-16/mike-hogan-alvin-brown-split-union-endorsement

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/timothy-gibbons/2011-02-17/alvin-brown-calls-foul-ad-group-supporting-rick

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/paul-pinkham/2011-02-17/three-gop-mayoral-candidates-square-forum-convention

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2) MEDIA MONITORING
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Audrey Moran 30 second commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVJhuF7uXVo
Mike Hogan 30 second commercial: http://hoganformayor.com/mike-hogan-home.php

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2) FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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Candidate Profiles
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http://news.jacksonville.com/specials/mayorsrace

Mike Hogan (http://hoganformayor.com)
Rick Mullaney (http://mullaneyformayor.com)

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In This Episode

We profile Audrey Moran and Warren Lee. We discuss news from the week and our favorite tweets. We also have two new segments this week: Events and Media Monitoring. In events we talk about debates and forums coming up around the city so you can stay informed. Media monitoring takes at candidate advertising and messaging.

Show Notes

Joey Marchy from Urban Jacksonville
Abel Harding Business Reporter and Political Blogger from the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JaxMayorShow
Email: JaxMayorShow@gmail.com
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id418770210

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EVENTS
————————————————
DVI is hosting 2 candidate forums 2/18 AND 23

Feb 18 – Downtown In-depth – our mayoral forum on Friday, February 18th

Feb 23 – Forum with all Downtown candidates (District 4, 7, 9 and At-Large 4, 5) except one or two attending.

Mar 3 – FPRA is hosting an analysis/panel of experts on the Mayor’s race from 11:30 to 1 at River City Brewing. Non-involved observers include Bruce Barcelo, Jim Bailey and Matt Corrigan.

luncheon prices are: $35 for non-members of fpra and $25 for members. The invite will go out next week. I can send you the info. And the website is http://fpra-jax.org/.

Alvin’s meeting: http://www.alvinformayor.com

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Notes on Twitter
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@MaxImprovement in response to your blog post over the weekend said: It is not an either/or, nor an “and”. First things first, cuts and then what next. Multitasking or multitaxing.

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NEWS
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Warren Lee contacted me on Facebook interested in posting an op-ed on Urban Jacksonville. Any candidate is invited to do the same. I know all of you are listening, or should be.

We are now in the iTunes store. Please go to the podcast page and review the showhttp://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id418770210
Database: Contributions and expenditures of Jacksonville mayoral candidates http://jacksonville.com/content/database-contributions-and-expenditures-jacksonville-mayoral-candidates

The Net Worth of Every Candidate on the March Ballot http://www.jaxobserver.com/2011/02/10/the-net-worth-of-every-candidate-on-the-march-ballot/

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401574/abel-harding/2011-02-09/downtown-redevelop

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2) MEDIA MONITORING
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Audrey billboard

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2) FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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Candidate Profiles
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http://news.jacksonville.com/specials/mayorsrace

Mayoral candidates Warren Lee and Audrey Moran use the same Washington consulting firm

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/deirdre-conner/2011-02-02/mayoral-candidates-warren-lee-and-audrey-moran-use

Both Moran’s campaign and Gaillot staunchly deny that there is any involvement between the two campaigns — although they share Alvin Brown as a political fo.

Warren Lee (http://warrenleeformayor.com)
Audrey Moran (http://www.imwithaudrey.com)

This Show Is Seriously Awesome

#jaxmayor is an evolutionary, first-of-its-kind, audio podcast. Although I had a slight recording recording issue (we will hammer out the left/right audio issue by next show) the production and content on this show is top notch. This is the best podcast I have put together to date. The content is amazing and I know you will find it informative. I hope you share it with your friends.

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Updates Since We Recorded

1. Warren Lee does his own tweeting
2. Steve Irvine actually does have a Facebook page » here
3. Audrey Moran received Associated Builders and Contractors endorsement

What Is This Show About?

I started the #jaxmayor show to help educate the City of Jacksonville on the 2011 mayors race. I want to cover the race in a way no one else can or will, in an accessible, audio format. Abel Harding and I will discuss candidates, news, issues and the role technology and culture plays in the race.

#jaxmayor is scheduled for eight episodes between now and the March 22nd election. Should we have a run-off election (if you listen to the show you know we will) we’ll extend the show to the final election date. It will be recoded on Thursday night and published Friday morning.

What’s Up With the Name #jaxmayor?

Yes, we did name the show after the Twitter hashtag #jaxmayor. People in the city are using this tag in their tweets to organize content around the topic of the mayors race.

Our show embraces technology and recognizes the pivotal role it plays. This is the first year in Jacksonville’s history that technology will play such a large role and we want the show to discuss the impacts of technology and how it will influences the race.

In a way the name a nod to all the people out there discussing these issues saying yeah, we hear you. We know what’s going on, this is a huge deal. In addition it is a good opportunity to market the show on a daily basis.

Show Notes

This is literally an inside look at my notes from tonight’s show. I won’t always post them like this, but I thought it would be an interesting insight into how the show was run.

Show intro
#jaxmayor
Joey Marchy from Urban Jacksonville
Abel Harding Business Reporter and Political Blogger from the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville.com
Twitter: JaxMayorShow
Facebook: JaxMayorShow

Send a question to @JaxMayorShow or Facebook.com/JaxMayorShow

* show name WHY
* about this podcast
* schedule: every Friday from now until the election and we will continue the show if there is a runoff
* what we will cover in the show (news, candidate and issue profiles)
* twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/jaxmayor
* election is march 22nd, how can someone win?
* early voting
* http://news.jacksonville.com/specials/mayorsrace/

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NEWS
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1) Former Mayor Jake Goldbold (77) joins Moran’s campaign to help with voter outreach » how significant?

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-03/story/godbold-joins-morans-mayoral-campaign

Mike Hogan’s camp, which had sought Godbold’s endorsement. “Clearly, Audrey’s Obama-like liberal policies, like pro-choice and higher taxes, are being embraced by our former Democratic mayor,” said senior consultant Paul McCormick.

Godbold said he thought his endorsement could deliver tens of thousands of votes and large amounts of money but didn’t believe either would be deciding factors.

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2) TWITTER
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* Faves
* Twitter Total

Mike Hogan 233 (1605)
Audrey Moran 443 (1408)

Steve Irvine 0 (0)
Rick Mullaney 147 (900)

Alvin Brown 56 (339)
Warren Lee 339 (285)

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Candidate Profiles
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Steve Irvine (http://savingjax.com)
Alvin Brown (http://www.alvinformayor.com)

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Outro
————————————
#jaxmayor
Joey Marchy from Urban Jacksonville
Abel Harding Business Reporter and Political Blogger from the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville.com
Twitter: JaxMayorPodcast
Facebook: JaxMayor

The St. Johns Riverkeeper is launching a new website today called CleanerGP.com The website is part of a campaign to encourage Georgia-Pacific (GP) to abandon its plans to build a pipeline to the St. Johns River and to pursue alternative solutions to its wastewater pollution problems. 

This website is a counter blow to Georgia Pacific’s own CleanerStJohns.com which tries to build a case in support of the pipeline. Here is a little more background on the pipeline:

The Georgia-Pacific paper mill in Palatka has been discharging its wastewater into Rice Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns, since 1947.  Unable to meet water quality standards in Rice Creek, Georgia-Pacific (GP) wants to build a pipeline almost four miles long to divert its wastewater into the heart of the St. Johns River.  The proposed pipeline would be a major setback to the ongoing efforts to reduce pollution and restore the health of the St. Johns.   
 
Determined to find a solution, St. Johns RIVERKEEPER recently hired a team of engineers and water-quality experts to analyze the GP study that was used to justify the pipeline.  The preliminary findings of the St. Johns RIVERKEEPER analysis clearly demonstrate that viable alternatives exist and important questions about the pipeline remain unanswered.   The final results of the technical review will be released soon. 

Some of the website features include

• A pipeline timeline, a fact sheet about GP and the proposed pipeline and a letter to Governor Rick Scott” from the Riverkeeper himself, Neil Armingeon.
• Downloadble banners for blogs and websites and a custom Facebook profile picture people can use to show support and raise awareness for stopping the pipeline.
• An online petition you can sign that will be sent to Governor Rick Scott.

Finally a message from Neil, the St. Johns Riverkeeper

“Building a pipeline to relocate polluted wastewater to the heart of the St. Johns River is not a solution.  This will only add additional pollutants to a river that is already sick.  We believe that viable alternatives exist that would allow GP to meet water quality standards in Rice Creek, keep jobs in Putnam County , and help protect the St. Johns River.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement of either candidate, just an objective look at their campaign websites.

Correction » Saturday October 3rd 2009

I’ve discovered, through the research of a commenter, that the Mike Hogan website below is NOT the website of the Mike Hogan running for Mayor of Jacksonville. So, in an attempt to correct this I have saved the original post here as a PDF and updated this post. Apologies to the Hogan campaign and his current or future online strategist. Once Hogan gets his website together I’ll revisit the analysis.

Yesterday Audrey Moran and Mike Hogan announced their intent to run for mayor of Jacksonville in 2011. What struck me about this announcement and subsequent research was the completely different experiences I had when I visited the candidate websites.

Audrey Moran » imwithaudrey.com

Audrey Moran appears to have a good base for her future online strategy. One thing I’m happy to see is the use of video on the homepage. Audio and video are key to producing engaging online experiences.

It’s also way to build a relationship and face recognition with people who visit the site. I would recommend enabling the video embed code so people can place it on their own websites. I would also upload the video to YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook. All places where people can copy the embed code and share the video.

There are clear calls to action, donate and media room so people have a sense of what they can do on the site. If the goal is to have people donate, I would say this design accomplishes the goal, it’s the first thing my eye moves to when I view the homepage.

The Moran campaign also plans to use Twitter and Facebook (not set up yet) to build an online community of voters. High on the Twitter list of to-do’s would be completing the profile with an icon and a description. I’d also like to see a campaign blog at some point.

I’ll take a look at the effectiveness of these things once they get up and running.

To Sum It Up

There’s a new, untapped generation of voters who are immune to messages in direct mail and campaign commercials, they expect to be engaged in a different way. Engaging those people will be key. Mike Hogan, Audrey Moran or anyone running for Mayor will need to fully embrace digital media to see success in 2011.

With Tallahassee proven itself too small to contain the political ambitions of Charlie Crist, the race for Florida’s next Chief Executive is wide open.

Alex Sink, the state’s CFO, looks as if she will sail to the Democratic nomination without opposition. Bill McCollum, the state’s Attorney General, has so far failed to draw a primary opponent, although State Senator Paula Dockery is said to be considering challenging him.

Regardless of which candidates are put forth, there are serious questions that should be raised of the candidates on both sides of the ticket. And, they are questions that are of vital importance to every Jacksonville resident.

Jeb Bush was arguably Florida’s most powerful governor in recent history. During his tenure, the role of of the Governor was expanded like never before. Prior to 2003, Florida’s Governor was merely one of seven equal votes on the state cabinet. The cabinet voted on all executive level decisions, which meant an alliance of four votes could override the Governor on any executive level decisions.

In 1998; however, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that shrunk the cabinet to three positions, greatly expanding the power of the governor. At the same time, voters approved an amendment that eliminated the Board of Regents, which governed the state’s higher education and shifted that responsibility to the new Florida Board of Governors, which are appointed by the Governor.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush answers a question during the opening day of the Foundation for Excellence in Education national summit, with U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Thursday. photo via Orlando Sentinel

Charlie Crist has continued to expand the role of the governor while in office, using his position to push through the deceptively named “Save Our Homes” Amendment. (Deceptive, in that it marginally cut property taxes while negatively impacting funding for Jacksonville and other local governments.)

With the memory of these two most recent chief executives in mind, here are five questions Duval County voters may want to ask as they begin to think of how they will vote next November.

1. Where does the candidate stand on the expanded role of state power at the expense of local governments?

The candidate’s position on this issue should begin to emerge rather quickly as they hit the campaign trail. Are the candidates pushing an agenda that includes cutting property taxes?

If so, they are most likely masking an effort to further weaken the ability of local governments to provide essential services to their citizens. They are also removing the option to cut taxes from local governments and consolidating it in Tallahassee.

2. Does the candidate support the Crist practice of using non-recurring revenues and trust fund raids to balance the state budget?

Sink was quick to announce her opposition to trust fund raids, but McCollum has remained ominously silent on the issue. The practice of depleting trust funds, particularly when the market is so low, is dangerous for Florida and something that will have dire consequences in the long term.

3. Where does the candidate stand on water issues?

This is one that will be quite difficult to pin any candidate running for statewide office down on, but it’s one that Duval County residents should be very concerned about. The recent decision by the St. Johns River Water Management District to allow Seminole County to remove up to 5.5 million gallons of water from the St. Johns River each day will not bode well for the long-term health of the river.

Central Florida has known for years that their growth is not sustainable, but will a gubernatorial candidate be willing to upset the vote-rich I-4 corridor to state the obvious?

4. Where does the candidate stand on the sales surtax that Gov. Crist vetoed?

This is an issue of particular importance to Duval County residents. Duval is at a disadvantage when compared to every other county in the state because of the inability of our elected commission—the city council—to levy a sales tax surcharge to fund indigent care.

Crist inexplicably vetoed a measure that passed the legislature unanimously that would have allowed Jacksonville to shift the burden for indigent care from the city’s operating budget to a half-cent sales surtax, freeing up much-needed funds for other services.

5. Where does the candidate stand on the Fair District Florida effort?

Fair Districts Florida is an effort to put two amendments on the ballot that would fundamentally alter the redistricting process in Florida. Redistricting in Florida has grown increasingly partisan in the last several decades.

Groups have been marginalized and districts throughout the state have been drawn in ways that make no geographic sense—it’s glaringly apparent that they exist for one of two reasons: To either protect an incumbent or minimize a specific segment of the population. It’s important to know where the next Governor of Florida would stand on this issue—after all, she (or he) would play a major role in drawing new districts after the 2010 census.

Of course, these are just five of the many issues facing the state, but they are a start. It will be interesting to hear both sides address them as the election nears.