Davis and Deegan discuss priorities, argue attack ads at mayoral forum

JACKSONVILLE, Fla (FLV) – Jacksonville mayoral candidate Democrat Donna Deegan and Republican Daniel Davis discussed their priorities during an hour-long mayoral forum Tuesday as they head into the May 16 election.

The first topic the candidates discussed during the forum, hosted by WOKV News, was crime, which is Duval County voters’ number one concern.

Davis mentioned that when he was on city council, he “led the charge” of adding 100 new police officers to the streets and put them in the “highest crime areas.”

Davis said during his time on city council, he also focused on bringing city leaders out into the community and “crime went down.”

“You can’t argue with that, the numbers are the numbers,” Davis said. “And we were able to put the bad guys in jail and keep them there. And we were able to help folks that weren’t prisoners in their own homes, be able to take over their neighborhood again. And that’s something I’m going to do as your next mayor.”

Davis said he’s going to partner with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters to add 200 new police officers to the streets over four years.

He also said “we need to focus on” how we keep children out of the criminal justice system.

Deegan said with Jacksonville’s growing population, it is going to be “very important” to fund additional officers to make sure there are enough officers on the streets.

“So we need enough officers, but we also need to make sure that we’re getting underneath the causes of crime,” Deegan said.

Deegan said that a child who does not have literacy by third grade is “very likely” to be involved in crime, so “investing in literacy programs” is one of her priorities.

The two candidates got into a heated debate while discussing recent attack ads against Deegan. 

In a new ad for Davis, Waters, who endorsed Davis, said Deegan’s “radical policies” would make Jacksonville “less safe” with background footage of Black Lives Matter protests. 

“Donna Deegan’s radical policies would make our families and my officers less safe, that’s why I’m supporting Daniel Davis. He’s the only candidate I trust to make public safety the top priority,” Waters said in the ad.

Another ad displayed Black Lives Matter Protests and a quote from Deegan supporting civilian review boards to “hold our police officers accountable.”

In response, Deegan released an ad to the claims against her and said the “attack ads […] aren’t facts.”

During the Forum, Deegan said Davis “continues to run an ad lying,” claiming that she is “trying to take charge of the police.”

Davis reiterated that those were her words in the ad. 

“Anybody who gets taxpayer dollars in this city should be held accountable,” Deegan said. “And for him to go on television and say things about me that are not true.”

In response, Davis said, “They’re your words.”

Deegan interrupted and said, “Can you just take responsibility for the ads you’re running?”

“You say you want to keep police officers accountable,” Davis said. “As mayor, I want the citizens to know I’m holding the criminals accountable. And I’m going to give the support to our men and women in blue who put their lives on the line every day.”

“So that’s the distinct difference. I’m not lying about anything. They’re your words on TV, saying you want to hold the police accountable.”

The candidates were asked about bringing back some of the Jacksonville Journey programs, which is a nonprofit that funds programs designed to prevent crime or make neighborhoods safer.

Deegan brought up that “while Daniel was on the city council, we let go with the Jacksonville Journey.”

Davis responded, saying, “That’s not the case. I was not on city council at that time.”

He said that former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown “dismantled the Jacksonville Journey and defunded the police department.”

“Why would the Fraternal Order of Police, why would former Sheriff John Rutherford, why would current Sheriff T.K. Waters all endorse my campaign if I was responsible for what Ms. Deegan just said?” Davis said.

Deegan called Davis’ endorsements “political theater.”

During Davis’ closing message, Davis said he “loves” Jacksonville and told voters that when they’re choosing who the next “CEO” of the city should be, they should “consider the volume of experience that I have, and that I bring to the table.”

“I would ask you on May 16, to vote for me, we’ll be able to hit the ground running day one, and this is not an on the job learning situation,” Davis said.

During Deegan’s closing message, she said she is “all about unity” and is “not running ugly attack ads like [Davis] is.”

“I am happy that my focus has been on the people of this city and it will continue to be on the people of this city when I’m the mayor, and I ask for your vote,” Deegan said.

Early voting for the mayoral election begins May 1.