JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The race to become Jacksonville’s next mayor has a new contender.
Republican State Representative Wyman Duggan made his candidacy official Friday by filing paperwork with the Supervisor of Elections to take on incumbent Mayor Donna Deegan in the March Unitary Election.
In his opening message, Duggan blamed Deegan for controversies springing up at independent agencies.
Especially JTA, which recently announced nearly 200 layoffs, reduced bus services, and the upcoming suspension of Skyway and NAVI services as the agency grapples with a $39 million budget shortfall.
Duggan hit the NAVI self-driving shuttle in particular.
“Jacksonville did not need an expensive urban science fair project while workers are trying to get to their job and seniors are trying to get to the doctor,” said Duggan.
Duggan also vowed to lower spending, reduce property taxes and reorient the city’s focus away from a downtown development first mindset.
When asked how he intends to reduce city spending, Duggan highlighted the need to get away from cash incentives for downtown developers.
“To say that we need to incentivize luxury apartments on the Southbank when families are struggling, when they’re tightening their belts and seniors are tightening their belts and small businesses are tightening their belts, makes no sense to me,” said Duggan.
The Deegan campaign defended its downtown focus.
“Jacksonville is experiencing unprecedented momentum and earning national and global recognition. Now is the time to build on that progress—not go backward,” said a spokesperson with the Deegan campaign in a statement.
Deegan’s campaign also highlighted the administration’s investment of tens of millions of dollars in historically disinvested neighborhoods and claimed that it has worked collaboratively to “address challenges at independent authorities that are overseen by local, state, and federal government”.
But Duggan argued the mayor has a duty to hold their appointees to those independent authorities accountable.
“A mayor should appoint serious people who ask hard questions and make sure the people paying the bills are not treated like an ATM,” said Duggan.
Duggan enters the race with about $1.4 million in his political action committee compared to Mayor Deegan’s $2.2 million cash on hand.
But money isn’t everything.
Deegan won her first race despite being outspent nearly three-to-one.
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