Last night our endorsed candidate for Mayor, Mike Hogan (R) came in first in a field of six candidates and will face Alvin Brown (D) in a May runoff.

Our local newspaper, The Times Union also unveiled a new look on the same day.  The paper is narrower in size and the type face has a cleaner look.  Although the look may be different, the content is still liberal-leaning and does not represent the citizens of Duval County.  Their readership would improve IF they listened to those who live here.  Their endorsement of the third runner up was another out of touch decision, sending subscribers to other forums to get the news.  We are confident their excuse will be that it was because of low voter turnout.  We wish the TU well with their new look and hope they will begin to listen to those who could build their revenues and keep them in business. 

Although the turnout may have been low, the Tea Party Members turned out and voted for Mike Hogan as their next Mayor.  We did not stay home and instead exercised our right to vote – a gift given to us by our founding fathers. 

The Mayoral race included six candidates.  Four of those candidates participated in the First Coast Tea Party’s process.  Two Republicans (Hogan and Mullaney), one Democrat (Warren Lee) and one Independent (Steve Irvine) answered our questionnaire, met with our leadership council for personal interviews and Hogan, Mullaney and Lee attended our Mayoral Town Hall.  A straw poll was taken and Hogan won, thereby receiving the endorsement of the First Coast Tea Party.

Alvin Brown and Audrey Moran chose to ignore the Tea Party and did not participate in any of our process.  We believe they received bad advice from their political consultants by ignoring such a large group of concerned citizens who voted yesterday. 

We are thankful to each of those who participated in our process and we send a special thanks to Rick Mullaney, Warren Lee and Steve Irvine for their dedication to their city and their desires to see improvement in how our city is run.  We wish them the best and hope they will get some well deserved rest.

As for Mike Hogan:  CONGRATS to you and your team for a well-run campaign.  You stayed on message and never once attacked your opponents.  Your campaign was refreshing and we know your leadership as our Mayor will be too. 

We believe the next 60 days will be tough and Mike Hogan will need our support.  He will need your time, your talents, your energy and your financial help.  Please contact the Mike Hogan campaign at http://hoganformayor.com/mike-hogan-home.php and offer your support. 

The Tea Party understands the issues and we have shown we will work hard for our candidates.  Your influence is growing.  Before we start focusing on the 2012 election at the national level, we need to get our Jacksonville hometown house in order.  Electing Mike Hogan as our Mayor will be the first step in that process.

Stay tuned.  We will let you know how you can “Meet Mike” at various FCTP events or online town halls between now and May. 

NOTE:  Please inform your friends and neighbors about our 3^rd Annual Tax Day Tea Party Rally at the Landing on April 15^th.  Live from the Landing, It’s Friday Night!!

Governor Scott will be there as well as two super stars from TV’s Saturday Night Live and Home Improvement.  Also – Andrew Breitbart – the one who exposed ACORN and took them down as a community organization will also be on our stage.  FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: http://www.fctpcommunity.org/events/live-from-the-landing-its

Please download this flyer April%2015%20Live%20from%20Landing%20smaller.pdf and forward it to everyone you know.  Post it on Facebook and Twitter so we can spread the message.  We have no money for marketing this event so we need your help to spread the word.

SPEAKING OF MONEY -- DONATIONS FOR THE FIRST COAST TEA PARTY ARE NEEDED AND GLADLY ACCEPTED AT:  http://firstcoastteaparty.org/?page_id=36

It will cost us approximately $10,000 for this event on April 15^th.  We are praying you can help us offset these costs with a generous donation.