Duval voters split on importance of JEA scandal in mayor’s race

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The attempted sale of JEA has become a flashpoint in the mayoral race and voters are taking note.

Republican mayoral candidates Daniel Davis and Councilmember LeAnna Cumber have traded blows attempting to tie the other to the failed sale of JEA.

READ: ‘Blatant weaponization of city hall:’ Mayoral candidate LeAnna Cumber decries council investigation

Democratic candidate Donna Deegan posted a campaign video on social media highlighting the scandal and Republican candidate Councilmember Al Ferraro has been touting his opposition to the attempted sale of digital ads.

But is it an issue voters care about?

The voters we spoke with were split.

“I do care about that, yeah,” said Jennifer Roberts.

“I think it’s a huge topic. It’s important,” said Lewis Everett.

“It’s not about me. I have different issues,” said Vladimir Makhitm.

“That’s not necessarily gonna factor into my decision,” said Alaina Johanson.

UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder noted with both Cumber and Davis taking the brunt of the JEA criticism, it could open the door for an unexpected result in March.

“Davis and Cumber both made the calculation that each other was their biggest impediment to getting to May and so they’ve gone after each other,” said Binder. “And have they beaten each other up enough that maybe there’s this weird circumstance where another person finishes first and second?”

While we did find some voters who said a candidate’s ties to the JEA scandal could be a make-it-or-break-it issue for them, none of the people we spoke with listed JEA as their number one issue.

Instead, they named things like crime, homelessness and downtown development.

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