Mayor, state attorney embroiled in River Run rivalry

Who will win this political grudgmatch, played out over 15K

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry may be the most fit mayor to lead the city.

Last year, he became the first sitting mayor to run the Gate River Run. This year, he was set to run again, but was not planning on trying to improve on his time from last year, when he crossed the finish line with the No. 1 bib with a time of 1:24:37. But a challenge by state attorney Melissa Nelson may have changed his strategy.

Nelson threw down the gauntlet for this year's race, her first since being elected as state attorney.

"I had planned on taking it easy this year," Curry said. "This was the first year that I was going to put competitive juices aside and enjoy the run and the sights and sounds, but now I'm going to have to go out there and work for it."

Curry said he planned on reaching out to Nelson before Saturday's race, but he is suspicious that Nelson may be playing mind games with him.

"I think she just going to downplay it," Curry said. "I think she's pool sharking me."

News4Jax reached out to Nelson's office but has not heard a response.