Early voting begins for Jacksonville city elections
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Early voting for Jacksonville city elections began Monday as voters consider candidates for mayor, city council, and property appraiser.
Voters in Duval County have two weeks before the May 16 election.
One of the biggest races in the election is the mayoral race between Republican candidate Daniel Davis and Democrat Donna Deegan.
Last week, the mayoral candidates discussed their priorities during an hour-long mayoral forum.
Crime has been a centerpiece of the recent mayoral forum and debate as Duval County voters consider it one of their top concerns.
Davis has pointed back to his track record on city council. Davis said he “led the charge” to add 100 new police officers to the streets and put them in the “highest crime areas.”
If elected as mayor, the candidate said he would partner with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, who endorsed Davis, to add 200 new police officers to the streets over four years.
Deegan said with Jacksonville’s growing population, it is going to be “very important” to fund additional officers but has emphasized improving third grade literacy programs to decrease crime.
“So we need enough officers, but we also need to make sure that we’re getting underneath the causes of crime,” Deegan said.
The mayoral race has been heated on the airwaves as Davis attacked his opponent for her “radical policies.”
A recent ad featured Waters who said Deegan’s “radical policies” would make Jacksonville “less safe” with background footage of Black Lives Matter protests.
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.”
The two candidates got into a heated debate while discussing the attack ads against Deegan during the mayoral Forum.
Deegan said Davis “continues to run an ad lying,” claiming that she is “trying to take charge of the police.”
The candidates facing off in city elections:
Republicans Mike Gay and Lindsey Brock for City Council District 2.
Republican Joseph Hogan and Democrat Jimmy Peluso for City Council District 7.
Democrats Reggie Gaffney Jr. and Tameka Gaines Holly for City Council District 8.
Republican Mike Muldoon and Democrat Tyrona Clark-Murray for City Council District 9.
Republican Raul Arias Jr. and Democrat Ramon Day for City Council District 11.
Republican John Draper and Democrat Rahman Johnson for City Council District 14.
Republican Chris Miller and Democrat Charles Garrison for City Council At-Large Group 5.
Republican Jason Fischer and Democrat Joyce Morgan for the property appraiser seat.
