Jax Daily

Gordon Morgan recently retired as the Chief Assistant Clerk of the Duval County Circuit courts. He has decided to seek the Republican nomination to run for State House of Representatives in District 17, the seat currently held by Stan Jordan who is prevented from running for re-election due to term limits. Mr. Morgan recently took a few moments to answer some questions for JaxDaily…

JaxDaily: Our area is electing a lot of fresh faces to the legislature this year. What about your background and experience qualifies you to hit the ground running if you are sent to Tallahassee?

Gordon Morgan: Before retiring to run for the Florida House, I served as the Chief Assistant of the Duval County Clerk of Courts. I supervised 480 employees and a $20 million dollar budget.

The Clerk of Courts is a state office that requires interaction with a municipality so I am familiar with the kind of work that is necessary to maintain a positive relationship between Tallahassee and Jacksonville.

I am also glad to see new faces stepping up to lead. We have too many people trying to make a career on the backs of the hard working people of Florida.

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JaxDaily: What groups or individuals have endorsed your candidacy?

Gordon Morgan: I have been endorsed by the Retired City Employees of Jacksonville, The Ironworkers of Jacksonville, and the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters. I have also received the support of Jim Fuller, the Clerk of Courts for Duval County, and Henry Cook. I would also like to thank Mr. Tom Petway for encouraging me early in my campaign when I didn’t have any support.

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JaxDaily: What is your opinion on the St. Johns River Water Management District’s proposal to drain water from the river to supply Central Florida’s growing needs?

Gordon Morgan: For me, protecting the St. Johns isn’t just talk. I am a dues paying member of the St. Johns Riverkeeper and I believe the St. Johns is an absolute treasure the city should do everything in its power to protect.

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JaxDaily: What, if anything, can the state do to help the City of Jacksonville solve the high violent crime rates that we’ve been experiencing?

Gordon Morgan: I am old enough to remember a time when you could go to Regency Mall and not worry about being a victim of crime. I have been a victim of crime twice in my life. I was randomly shot in 1974 by the “Casanova Killer” Paul John Knowles and was dying before I had my life saved by firefighters in Arlington. During this campaign, I had my car stolen from my driveway. The crime problem is no joke.

I attended the Ft. Caroline neighborhood watch meeting the other night and heard Sheriff Rutherford lament as he is arresting the same people 2-3 times a month. That is absurd. As the Chief Assistant of the Clerk of the Courts, I was witness to this and I know that we need to send the message that you will pay the price when you commit a crime.

Lastly, the state can assist by providing extra funding not only for crime initiatives, but education as well. One of my platforms is to properly fund education to keep today’s kids out of tomorrow’s jails.

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JaxDaily: While you would probably admit to being considered the underdog in the race, you are out there aggressively campaigning and fundraising. What do you think your chances of actually winning are?

Gordon Morgan: I believe I have a very good chance. I haven’t had the money to do polling, but I have been conducting my own poll. I have been walking and knocking on doors every day since mid-February. The response has been great. I have just about covered every precinct in District 17.

As I have said many times, nobody is working harder than me in this campaign. I have walked in blistering heat and humidity, heavy rain, and lightning. I am a former U.S. Marine. I have no quit in me. This discipline is indicative of the way I will work for the people of District 17 in Tallahassee.

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JaxDaily: It seems that a write-in candidate has filed to run in your race, essentially with the purpose of closing the Republican primary to only Republican voters. First off, does this help or hurt your campaign? And secondly, how do you feel about the loophole that allows write-ins to be used to selectively close party primaries?

Gordon Morgan: Currently, it is totally legal so there is nothing to complain about. It doesn’t matter to me. I can only control how hard I work. If the write in candidate has a way to better the lives of the people of District 17, then bring them on.

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JaxDaily: What’s your favorite place to grab a bite to eat?

Gordon Morgan: Nothing beats the taste of my mom’s home style cooking. However, when I am out and about, I love to eat at the University Diner at Cesery and Merrill Rd. While campaigning on the north side, I have become fond of Terry’s and Toby’s.

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JaxDaily: Have you read any good books lately?

Gordon Morgan: No. I can’t walk, bang on doors, and read at the same time.

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JaxDaily: What other kinds of things do you enjoy doing while you’re not campaigning?

Gordon Morgan: My campaign manager won’t let me do anything else. I start at 6am and go until 9pm every day. I do recall having a Harley Davidson and some guns.

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JaxDaily: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few of our questions, is there anything else you’d like to add?

Gordon Morgan: I am not a politician. I am a hard worker and will be very straight and to the point with constituents. I don’t have any scripted answers that dodge questions.

Serving the citizens of District 17 is a full time job. It is what they deserve and it is what I will give them. I am the only candidate in this race that has retired to run for office.

Thank you for having me Austin.