Mayor-elect Donna Deegan announces members for transition team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Democrat Jacksonville Mayor-elect Donna Deegan announced seven more members to her transition team on top of the six she announced in May as she prepares to take office July 1.

The mayor-elect also announced committees that provide details about her policy priorities.

According to Jacksonville Daily Record, Deegan’s office said the transition committees will focus on infrastructure, health, economic development, public safety, arts culture, entertainment, constituency and community outreach, the military and veterans.

“These efforts are being led by collaborative leaders who bring deep community roots and long-established records of service,” Deegan said in a press release.

The committee leaders include current and former JEA, city council and Duval County school board leaders, higher education, medical, legal and nonprofit professionals, and a retired military officer.

The committees include:

• The Infrastructure Committee led by former council member Garrett Dennis. It will focus on neighborhoods, the Downtown riverfront, parks and recreation, resiliency, affordable housing and homelessness.

• The Health Committee led by physician, financial planner and educator Dr. Carolyn McClanahan. This committee will be responsible for locating candidates to appoint as the newly created position of city chief health officer. It will also focus on maternal and children’s health, primary and dental care access, mental health and addiction, elder care, social determinants of health and health insurance.

• The Economic Development Committee led by JEA Director of Economic Development and Jackosnville’s former Director of Business Development Ed Randolph. The committee will focus on permitting, small businesses, talent development and Downtown development.

• The Public Safety Committee will be led by former Jacksonville Journey Education Chair and former School Board Chair Attorney W.C. Gentry. The committee will focus on revisiting former Mayor John Peyton’s crime prevention Jacksonville Journey; a citywide effort to boost literacy and criminal justice reform.

• The Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee will be led by Yellow House founder and Director Hope McMath. The committee will focus on ways to retain local art talent, public and private programming, art in public spaces and buildings and attracting more public events.

• The Constituency and Community Outreach Committee will be led by University of North Florida Coggin College of Business Director of Graduate Programs and Professor of Finance Parvez Ahmed. The committee will focus on diversity, youth outreach, faith outreach, higher education and nonprofits.

• The Military and Veterans Committee will be led by retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Rick Snyder. The committee will focus on “the main issues and concerns facing our local military members,” establishing a veterans community center and the need for more access to veteran activities and services in Jacksonville.

On May 25, Deegan announced the first six members of her transition team, which include former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney, former Jacksonville Sheriff candidate Lakesha Burton, Founder and former CEO of the nonprofit Operation New Hope Kevin Gay, former Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover, Brightway Insurance Co-Founder and Executive Chairman David Miller and Florida Blue North Florida Market President Darnell Smith.

“Our administration will be guided by the principle that every person should have a voice in City Hall and a seat at the table,” Deegan said in May.