Mayor-elect Deegan names bipartisan transition team

jacksonville, florida – Jacksonville Mayor-elect Donna Deegan held her first press conference at City Hall on Thursday to announce a six-member bipartisan transition team.

“Our administration operates on the principle that everyone should have a say and a seat at the table in city hall. It will be an inclusive culture that invites leaders,” Democrat Deegan said.

The team includes former Jacksonville mayor and Flagler College president John Delaney (Republican), former sheriff Nat Glover, Brightway Insurance Executive Chairman David Miller, and Operation New Hope founder Kevin Gaye. , Florida Blue Market North Florida Regional President Darnell Smith, former sheriff nominees. and retired JSO Assistant Director Reyksha Barton. Burton He is a News4JAX Crime Safety Analyst.

“They are a great group of leaders, innovators, allies, collaborators, problem solvers who collectively embody our guiding values, the culture we strive to create. Gathered across the spectrum, they work with relentless optimism to elevate our city for the greatest good in this beautiful mosaic we call Jacksonville. It is deeply rooted in the community and has a well-established record of service over the years,” Deegan said.

Deegan said he met with Mayor Lenny Curry on Thursday morning and publicly thanked the mayor for helping the transition go smoothly.

Mayor-elect Donna Deegan meets with current Jacksonville mayor Lenny Curry. (Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4Jax – All rights reserved.)

“We both love Jacksonville and want to see our city grow and thrive, and I’m confident it will happen,” Deegan said.

The co-chair’s exact role wasn’t clear on Thursday, but Deegan said he would announce details in the coming weeks.

During the press conference, Deegan also mentioned the JSO’s budget and the police. She said a city of this size needs more police on the streets compared to the current level of police.

She said the day after a “violence against police” press conference hosted by local police leaders.

There, Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters said he would announce plans to bring more officers into the department with the goal of making the city safer.

“We’re going to build a town hall…I think once people see it, they’ll see how well we’re functioning understaffed and understaffed. Imagine what we could do if we had the right people to move it forward, and it would be amazing,” said Waters.

Bringing more police to Jacksonville would mean the sheriff would have to ask the Deegan administration for more money.

In the recent mayoral race, the sheriff endorsed Republican Daniel Davis for mayor. An advert for the Davis raid featured Waters, calling Deegan an extremist who defunded the police and endangered street safety for police officers.

So when Deegan was asked about increasing the JSO’s budget, she said: We need more police officers. And, as you know, we have set a budget that expires in the next few weeks and we’re taking a closer look at the budget right now. And we get to it all. ”

Deegan will take office in July.

The Town Hall, which Sheriff Waters was speaking about, will be held on July 19 at the Prime F. Osborne Convention Center.

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https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/05/25/brilliant-group-of-leaders-mayor-elect-deegan-names-bipartisan-transition-team/ Mayor-elect Deegan names bipartisan transition team

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