Most politicians won’t shut up, but Daniel Davis can’t seem to find his voice, at least not to answer any questions.
The Jacksonville Daily Record invited the mayoral candidates to answer a list of questions via email. All the candidates responded, except Davis.
The Jacksonville Business Journal sponsored a meet the candidate series, with most of the mayoral candidates answering a series of questions. The Davis campaign declined.
The Florida Times-Union invited the candidates to their newsroom to answer questions about their vision for the mayor’s office and the city. One by one all the candidates did just that, except Davis.
WJCT’s Jacksonville Today created a Mayoral Matching quiz to “see which candidate aligns most with your views.” All the mayoral candidates were invited to fill out the same multiple-choice questionnaire. Again, Davis declined. Omega Allen was the only other candidate who failed to participate.
Davis seems to have no problem finding money, he has raised the most, he just can’t seem to find his words.
These are some of the questions Davis has refused to answer;
The city has spent millions on incentives for businesses to relocate or expand in Jacksonville. What would be your policy on incentives?
Downtown development, including financial incentives, has been a priority for past administrations. What will your strategy be for Downtown and should the city continue those incentive policies?
Many business leaders have raised the issue of a shortage of affordable housing in Jacksonville. What do you feel the city should do to satisfy the housing needs of a growing population?
As Downtown redevelops, the issue of the city’s homeless population there has increased. What will your strategy be for providing and funding homelessness services along with providing a positive economic and business climate?
The city has billions in long-standing infrastructure needs that are yet to be funded. What do you feel is the city’s greatest infrastructure need and how should the city pay for it and other projects?
Those are easy enough, or should be easy enough for anyone who wants to be Jacksonville’s next mayor.
Maybe Davis has been so silent on the issues and questions in general because he worries if he starts answering questions he will be asked tougher ones.
Could he be afraid people are going to ask him about his leadership position with Trinity Baptist Church and Trinity Christian Academy?
Or about any involvement by Trinity’s Pastor Tom Messer in the coverup of pastor and school founder Bob Gray’s alleged sexual abuse of children? Alleged only in that Gray died before he could be tried on the charges.
No, I doubt Davis would like to answer any questions about why Trinity Christian Academy’s former football coach, Dennis Cassell called the school “the perfect pedophile paradise”.
Davis is silent now, just like so many were silent then.
