JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The voters have spoken and they have elected Republican Lenny Curry to the mayor's office. Incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown conceded to Curry just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Despite being defeated, Brown sounded very optimistic at his watch party in The Jacksonville Landing.
He spoke to supporters telling them to celebrate because they worked hard on spreading his message. Brown said he called Curry to congratulate him on his victory but vowed to remain committed to Jacksonville.
One supporter told Action News he believed the rain stopped a lot of people from going out to vote in the last two hours before polls closed.
"I think he has done great things for the city so far and if he had a second chance I think things would've improved a lot more," said George Gillis.
The room got the loudest when Brown thanked God for blessing him to be Jacksonville's mayor, he said he looks forward to the future.
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"I'm so proud of the progress we made over the last four years. On putting Jacksonville first, creating opportunity for all, 36,000 new jobs, unemployment cut in half, downtown is thriving. We left a strong foundation to build on, I'm excited about it aren't you?" said Brown.
Meanwhile, Curry was emotional as he took the podium in front of his supporters at the Hyatt downtown, after his father and wife thanking his family, his kids for their support.
"You're it, Molly, I don't know what else to say," Curry said.
Curry promised much of what we've heard over the last few months during his campaign over the past few months: more cops on the streets and a better economy and a united Jacksonville.
"This will be a safe city again," Curry said.
Curry said this was a long campaign, and there were a lot of doubters that he would be standing here as mayor tonight, but he made them one promise before leaving the podium.
"One Jacksonville, one people, one purpose; hold me accountable," he said.
Curry won with 51 percent of the vote vs. Brown's nearly 49 percent.