JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Mayor-elect Alvin Brown has tapped some big names in the community to help lead his transition team.
In less than thirty days, Jacksonville will swear in its first African-American mayor. Thursday, he named his transition team. Some of them include, former opponent for mayor Audrey Moran, State Representative Mike Weinstein, State Senator Tony Hill, and Delores Weaver, the wife of the owner of the Jaguars. They're part of an is part of an 40-member task force to analyze what's been working for the city and to make recommendations for changes.
One key part of the group will be tackling unemployment. Brown has an ambitious plan and knows what he wants. "I want a thriving and vibrant downtown," said Brown.
Brown tapped FSCJ President Steve Wallace to be on the Workforce Development Committee to help make that happen. Wallace says his work at the college has helped in get ready to help Brown.
That's just one part. "One thing we have to do is help the port," said Brown. Brown says Jaxport has to be a priority. "If we do it right, we can bring 35,000 jobs to Jacksonville," said Brown.
Wallace says jobs are a key component of Brown's master plan. "There is no more important issue in Jacksonville," said Wallace. "Small businesses, we have to make sure they have capital and credit and work with the Chamber to bring jobs and and expand and grow," said Brown.
But while the economy is tough right now, Wallace is confident Brown's transition team will turn things around. "It'll be one of the first cities in Florida to emerge from the recession, and we'll emerge stronger than we went in," said Wallace.
Brown's transition team will have their first meeting Friday afternoon. Brown takes office July 1st. His transition team says they'll have reports on his desk about how to improve the city by the end of this month.
