Jacksonville Mayoral Election 2023

[thelakelander]

This is a little long but is a very good top to bottom analysis of all the Countywide races. Well worth the time to read.

 https://mcimaps.substack.com/p/issue-108-jacksonville-gives-democrats?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=357835&post_id=122151993&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email

Thanks for posting this link. There's a lot of good analysis in this.

[jaxoNOLE]

Deegan prioritizing more police officers and including two former LEOs in her transition team is a great first step to show she intends to keep her campaign promises and it wasn't all empty talk to win over moderate independents and Republicans.

Can't wait to see this budget and what the rest of the priorities will shake out to be. I imagine she'll stay pretty true to her word, because she'll likely need a bipartisan coalition for re-election even if the R edge in Duval is becoming thinner.

[fsu813]

Deegan prioritizing more police officers and including two former LEOs in her transition team is a great first step to show she intends to keep her campaign promises and it wasn't all empty talk to win over moderate independents and Republicans.

Can't wait to see this budget and what the rest of the priorities will shake out to be. I imagine she'll stay pretty true to her word, because she'll likely need a bipartisan coalition for re-election even if the R edge in Duval is becoming thinner.

Burton, Glover, Gay, Delaney, Miller, Smith.

Great to see quality leaders in a position to influence the administration.

[Steve]

Deegan prioritizing more police officers and including two former LEOs in her transition team is a great first step to show she intends to keep her campaign promises and it wasn't all empty talk to win over moderate independents and Republicans.

Can't wait to see this budget and what the rest of the priorities will shake out to be. I imagine she'll stay pretty true to her word, because she'll likely need a bipartisan coalition for re-election even if the R edge in Duval is becoming thinner.

Well, what did Alvin Brown in was his handling of finances. He was also lukewarm when it came to a few social issues that the democrats are pretty passionate about, which led to lagging support from his own party. Deegan is definitely off to a good start here.

[thelakelander]

Brown shaked hands and kissed babies for four years. He never really got into (or was able to accomplish) the niddy griddy of what he campaigned on. Deegan will be a success as long as her team can deliver on what they campaigned. A bipartisan team to address the city's true challenges and opportunities is a good start.

[Ken_FSU]

Donna's staff starting to fill out.

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/618291-donna-deegan-brings-familiar-names-into-administration-leadership/

Such a refreshing change from the good ol' boys.

Anna Brosche as CFO will surely ruffle some establishment feathers.

[Charles Hunter]

and Lekeesha Burton will ruffle T.K.'s feathers

[jaxlongtimer]

Donna's staff starting to fill out.

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/618291-donna-deegan-brings-familiar-names-into-administration-leadership/

Such a refreshing change from the good ol' boys.

Anna Brosche as CFO will surely ruffle some establishment feathers.

Will be interesting to see what changes might come to DIA, Public Works and the Planning Department.  Seems these are all ripe for fresh blood.

Interesting to see Melissa Ross is also joining Deegan's team.  She certainly has a feel for what's on citizen's minds after 14 years hosting First Coast Connect. 

[thelakelander]

Anna Brosche as CFO will surely ruffle some establishment feathers.

Yes, I'm sure.

Nevertheless, they loss and that's the name of the game in that political world.

They'll be fine. It's not like the establishment hasn't ruffled other's feathers before.

[jaxlongtimer]

Anna Brosche as CFO will surely ruffle some establishment feathers.

Yes, I'm sure.

Nevertheless, they loss and that's the name of the game in that political world.

They'll be fine. It's not like the establishment hasn't ruffled other's feathers before.

Deegan, as promised, looks to be working hard to be inclusive and, in so doing, has acknowledged establishment concerns to some degree.  The expected change is that the establishment will have to wait in line at the trough just like John Q. Citizen and can't move to the front to clean it out leaving nothing for everyone else  .

[marcuscnelson]

Feel like the outgoing administration has been remarkably amicable with the incoming one so far. Maybe that's not Curry's decision, or they're just trying to get the hell out of there without too much fanfare, but it's kinda nice.

Somewhat surprised that Melissa Ross is choosing to leave radio after all this time to join, but it's interesting. Including her, lot of exciting names involved here. Obviously their performance isn't a guarantee, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they do, and this team seems as likely as any to hit the ground running.

Will be interesting to see what changes might come to DIA, Public Works and the Planning Department.  Seems these are all ripe for fresh blood.

Strong leadership in those areas could go a long way. Especially with Deegan's vision of striving for more grant funding. Her administration probably has a better shot than any in recent history at landing a lot of federal money if they work for it, which is important with that funding being for a limited time.

[jaxlongtimer]

Will be interesting to see what changes might come to DIA, Public Works and the Planning Department.  Seems these are all ripe for fresh blood.

Well, it looks like Boyer may be hanging in there for at least another year.  I hope Deegan can bring her back from the "dark side." 

DIA board extends CEO Lori Boyer’s contract one year with a $10,400 raise

She will continue to lead the Downtown Investment Authority with a salary increase to $221,550.

Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer will lead the city agency through at least June 2024 with a $10,400 pay bump.

The DIA board voted unanimously June 21 to extend Boyer’s employment contract and increase her annual salary 4.8% from $211,150 to $221,550.

This is the second of two extension options in Boyer’s contract first approved by the board when she was hired as CEO in June 2019.

The salary increase is contingent on City Council’s approval of DIA’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget, which will be up for debate and a vote in September as part of the annual city budget process.

The board awarded her first one-year contract extension in June 2022. 

She received a 5.4% pay raise in 2022 from $200,000 to $211,115.

Boyer received her first pay raise as CEO in June 2021 with a $20,000 bump when the board agreed to amend her contract.

She was named the DIA CEO after serving two terms as a Council member representing District 5, which includes San Marco and the Downtown Southbank.

During her time leading DIA, Boyer led an update to Downtown’s Business Investment and Development and Northbank and Southbank Community Redevelopment Area Plans.

She also helped negotiate $129.75 million in public incentives for Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s estimated $387.6 million Four Seasons hotel-anchored Shipyards development near TIAA Bank Field, among other new developments and adaptive reuse projects of existing Downtown buildings.

Since 2020, Boyer has helped coordinate plans for an interconnected Downtown riverfront park system.

Boyer was selected four years ago after a national search over two other candidates from outside Jacksonville.

She replaced interim CEO Brian Hughes, who filled the position for several months after former DIA CEO Aundra Wallace left to become president of JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development division of JAX Chamber.

[jaxlongtimer]

It's official!... Mayor Donna Deegan.

Installation ceremony in front of about 1,000 people was also carried live on WJXT.  It was well done - heartfelt, moving, humorous, spiritual and unifying in spirit - refreshing for a politically oriented event.  Off to a great start and hope she can deliver on even half of her hopes for the City.

[jaxlongtimer]

Ever wonder what happened to former mayor, Lenny Curry  ?  He went where many politico's go to pasture, as a lobbyist.  Would be interesting to see how their clients were treated when he was mayor.

Not sure, but I believe the City has some ethical standards regarding former officials lobbying the City or working for companies having relationships with the City.  Would be interested in how this dovetails with that.

Former Mayor Lenny Curry joins Ballard Partners
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jul/17/former-mayor-lenny-curry-joins-ballard-partners/

[thelakelander]

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/07/17/new-mayor-donna-deegan-presents-17b-budget-to-city-council/