Mayor-elect Donna Deegan announces bipartisan picks for leadership before taking office

By Michelle Vecerina

Published Jun. 30, 2023, 4:04 p.m. ET | Updated Jul. 13, 2023

Donna Deegan, candidate for Jacksonville mayor. (Photo/Donna Deegan's campaign website)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Jacksonville Democrat Mayor-elect Donna Deegan announced her new bipartisan picks for leadership Thursday as she is set to take office July 1, according to Florida Times-Union.

Deegan put three former Jacksonville city council members in high ranking positions including outgoing council member and former mayoral candidate Al Ferraro, former council president Scott Wilson, and former council member Garrett Dennis.

“I’m excited to announce this bipartisan group of leaders who will be joining my administration,” Deegan said. “They represent the culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and transparency that we will bring to City Hall. I look forward to working with them to deliver a new day in Jacksonville.”

Ferraro, a Republican will serve as the director of neighborhoods, Wilson, a Republican will serve as council liaison, and Dennis, a Democrat will serve as director of boards and commissions, according to the news outlet.

Ferraro was elected as a city council member in 2015 and was subsequently re-elected in 2019, serving District 2, and could not run again due to term limits. He ran for Jacksonville mayor and did not advance in the May runoff election.

Dennis represented District 9 on city council from 2015-2022 and resigned to run for the Florida House of Representatives. He is currently leading Deegan’s transition infrastructure committee.

Wilson served District 4 on the city council from 2015 to 2019 and was elected to serve as council vice president. He was then elected to serve as council president during the 2019-2020 council year.

The full list of the appointments announced Thursday include: