Jack Capra, candidate for State House of Representatives - District 18, receives orders to report for duty in Baghdad

JAG Commander will continue House race from Green Zone

For Immediate Release                                     

Jacksonville, Fla., March 3, 2008 – Commander Jack Capra, candidate for Florida House of Representatives, District 18 and member of the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps, is being mobilized for an unprecedented fifth tour of duty overseas since the events of 9/11. Cmdr. Capra is heading to Baghdad, Iraq for a six-month tour beginning in April as a member of the JAG Corps.

Cmdr. Capra, who returned from a year-long tour at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in July 2007, plans to remain in the race for the Florida House of Representatives. “I have absolutely no intentions of dropping out of my race for the Florida House. I am once again being called on by my country to serve all Americans and when I return, I will be fully prepared to serve all the constituents of District 18,” Capra said.

While the primary election for his race is August 26, Cmdr. Capra will not return from Iraq until November. Reacting to the circumstances, Capra said, “We are fortunate to live in a technological age where I will still be able to actively stay in touch with both voters and all of the issues in District 18 while I am in Baghdad.”

Cmdr. Capra plans to communicate with his constituents via emails, webcams, teleconferencing, blogs and the Capra campaign website. In addition, Capra will also have a team on the ground to represent him during his physical absence. “I am extremely blessed to have a wonderful team here in Duval and St. Johns counties who will represent my positions and campaign platform while I am overseas serving the American people,” Capra said.

“I do not see this as an unreachable hurdle in my quest for the District 18 seat - rather an exciting challenge. I am confident that, once informed, the voters of District 18 will find me the candidate with the right qualifications, values, and leadership abilities to represent them in Tallahassee,” Capra said.

The Florida House of Representatives, District 18 area covers Duval and St. Johns counties from Vilano Beach north to Mayport, west from St. Johns Bluff and Southside Boulevard/Baymeadows area, and south along U.S. Highway 1. For more campaign information visit: www.votecapra.com.

The Florida Times-Union

March 3, 2008

All politics local, even from Iraq

By MARK PETTUS,
The Times-Union

Jack Capra had planned to spend the next few months campaigning for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives. He still plans to do that - only now from Iraq, where he's being deployed as a naval reservist. 

Capra, a lawyer employed by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, is also a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps. He just received orders to deploy to Baghdad for a six-month tour - his fifth deployment overseas since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

He is running for the District 18 seat currently held by Don Davis, who cannot run again due to term limits. District 18 encompasses parts of both Duval and St. Johns counties and stretches from Vilano Beach to Mayport. Capra will face Jacksonville City Council Member Elaine Brown and Ponte Vedra Beach resident Ronald "Doc" Renuart in the Republican Primary Aug. 26.

Capra says being called away to serve during the campaign puts him at a disadvantage, but one he believes he can overcome - despite Brown's greater name recognition.

"I think we can do it or I wouldn't even try," Capra said.

This isn't the first time military service has set back a Capra candidacy. Before he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in July 2007, he planned to run for the Jacksonville City Council seat currently held by Stephen Joost.

Capra was serving as a city councilman in Vero Beach when the Sept. 11 attacks happened. When he received orders to return to uniform shortly afterward, he resigned his seat, but had already filed to run again. Despite not campaigning, he was re-elected but was unable to return and declined the office.

This time, Capra says that although he will miss the primary, and possibly the general election as well, he knows he'll be back in time to take office, so he's continuing his campaign. He expects to rely heavily on teams of supporters and staff in both Duval and St. Johns Counties.

"We plan to crank up the technological aspect of the campaign, using the internet and telecommunications as much as possible," he said. "I'll blog daily and use the phone and a Web cam to stay in touch with the campaign. We'll be in constant communication."

Capra is not the first Northeast Florida candidate to run for office while deployed. In 2006, Clay County School Board Member Charles Van Zant Jr. won reelection while deployed and for several months continued to hold office despite serving overseas. He later took a leave of absence and his father was appointed to serve in his place until he returned.

mark.pettus@jacksonville.com, (904) 287-0618