There’s a laundry list of doors that Jacksonville political candidates must knock upon when trying to mount a formidable campaign.

The Fraternal Order of Police always finds its way to the top of that list. But with candidates in the 2011 mayoral election saying pension reform is among the to*****ues, some are questioning if that endorsement carries the same weight it has in previous years.

Former General Counsel Rick Mullaney made a point of sending out a news release saying he chose not to sit down for an endorsement interview.

This year the union is behind Duval County Tax Collector Mike Hogan, a decision made official Friday evening after the rank and file voted this week, local Fraternal Order of Police President Nelson Cuba said.

The vote mirrors the recommendation of the union’s political committee, which made its choice after interviewing all major candidates except Mullaney.

Hogan, a Republican who previously served on the City Council and in the state Legislature, said Friday he’s honored to have the support of the police and said he believes the endorsement is as important as ever.

Hogan said he didn’t know specifics on Mullaney’s decision, but said from his previous campaigns “the folks that weren’t seeking it were the people who realized they weren’t going to get it.”

Cuba and Mayor John Peyton have had a public feud the past year over contract negotiations. The mayor even urged a group at a political luncheon to be cautious of candidates endorsed by the police and fire unions — the same unions that helped thrust him into office.

Next spring’s results will tell if the police union backing still carries the same weight, said Matt Corrigan, chairman of the political science department at the University of North Florida.

“The question this year is are people going to see it as someone who supports public safety or someone who is beholden to the union?” Corrigan said.

The police union appears to have more at stake this year than in the past, so it’s as important for Cuba and his members to pick the winner, said Bert Ralston, a political consultant who is not working for any of the mayoral candidates.

Hogan said he did not make any promises, other than that he would not raise taxes to fund increased pay or benefits for officers.

But Audrey Moran, another Republican candidate who did sit for the endorsement interview, said she thinks her not committing to keeping pension benefits the same for current employees led in part to the union choosing another candidate.

Cuba said Moran was the only candidate interviewed who would not limit pension reform only to new employees.

After the union leadership recommended Hogan, Moran still took a run at the rank and file officers. Her campaign sent an e-mail to all union members pleading her case, highlighting her years as an assistant state attorney and her relationship with law enforcement.

The e-mail was sent on officers’ work e-mail accounts, which Sheriff John Rutherford called “inappropriate” through a department spokeswoman. Rutherford talked with Moran campaign volunteer Michael Munz, who agreed to delete the e-mail database.

Cuba blasted Moran for the e-mail, calling it “bad judgment.”

Moran said she respects law enforcement and actively sought the army of volunteers the police union brings with an endorsement. But it comes with a caveat now, she said.

“It also means everywhere you go, the candidate with that endorsement will get the question: ‘What did you promise them?’ ” Moran said. “And it’s a fair question.”

Cuba said while his members are obviously concerned about pay and benefits, they also live here and want a mayor that will be best for the city. Cuba said his union plans to help Hogan’s campaign in any way needed — from volunteers knocking on doors, to putting up signs to writing checks.

The union also interviewed publisher Jim Bailey, a Republican, and Democrats Alvin Brown and Warren Lee. Brown is a former Clinton administration aide and Lee works for the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The election is in March with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election in May.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-12-10/story/how-much-weight...