JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City Councilman Bill Bishop, who finished third last week in the race for mayor of Jacksonville, announced Tuesday that he will not be endorsing either of the two candidates in the runoff.
Bishop said he cannot back either Republican Lenny Curry or Democratic Mayor Alvin Brown in the May 19 runoff election.
"Considering how the campaign has gone so far and my belief that it's important that candidates answer direct questions with direct answers, I haven't seen enough of that to actually make an endorsement," Bishop said.
His announcement drew cheers from supporters gathered on the steps of City Hall. His statement that he planed to run for mayor again in 2019 drew more applause.
"My vision is clear and my passion for Jacksonville's future is stronger than ever," Bishop said. "I believe that it takes a lot more preparation than we did, and all things happen in their own time. We learned a lot in this campaign and we'll be smarter going forward."
Bishop drew 30,944 votes, or 17 percent, in Jacksonville's first election. He said neither candidate asked for his endorsement, but he was solicited by campaign staff from both sides.
Asked what advice he would give those who supported him who now have to make a choice between Brown and Curry, Bishop would only say: "I would just ask everyone do their homework. ... I've got six weeks like everybody else to figure out where I'm going to go."
News4Jax asked Brown and Curry for reaction to Bishop's decision.
Brown's campaign manager, Isaiah Nelson, issued a statement, saying, "Mr. Bishop's long record of honest public service to Jacksonville speaks for itself. Mayor Brown has always respected Mr. Bishop's leadership and looks forward to continuing to work with him to put Jacksonville first. These divisions in party boss Lenny Curry's own party show just how unqualified he is."
The Curry campaign released this statement: "Councilman Bishop ran a good campaign and came in third place. Like all voters in Jacksonville, we welcome his involvement and work to restore Jacksonville's greatness. The best way to do that is to change the direction of this city and put new leadership in place in City Hall. Lenny Curry has a vision and a written plan, he has the backing of law enforcement professionals who endorse his plan for public safety, and as a job creator and accountant he has the professional experience to reform and restore taxpayers' trust in the city's finances."
Bishop said he intends to remain a registered Republican, but added, "Most things that affect cities are not partisan."
Bishop said he would continue to speak out through the end of his City Council term in June, then be active in civic affairs in the coming months and years.