Florida is holding elections, including for municipal offices in Jacksonville, on March 21, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of Feb. 28. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.
Donna Deegan (D) is running for mayor of Jacksonville, and the general election is on March 21. Here’s how Deegan responded to the question: “What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?”
“As Mayor, my top priorities will be to address infrastructure, public health and safety, and build an inclusive economy. First, I will work to improve the conditions of neglected neighborhoods by repairing crumbling infrastructure, which I believe is essential for the growth and development of our city. …Second, I will focus on improving public health access and education. …Third, I aim to foster an inclusive economy by collaborating with current corporate partners and attracting businesses that align with this goal, to ensure that all residents of Jacksonville benefit from economic growth. …I believe, as mayor, my best levers for reducing crime are economic. A collaborative approach that combines causes of poverty, education, food insecurity and of course partnership with our sheriff.”
Click here to read the rest of Deegan’s answers.
Joshua Hicks (D) is running for Jacksonville City Council At-large Position 2, and the general election is on March 21. Here’s how Hicks responded to the question: “What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?”
“We need to ensure we are fixing and upgrading the infrastructure in older neighborhoods, including fixing streets, adding sidewalks and street lights, replacing septic tank systems, eliminating food deserts, addressing neighborhood parks in disrepair, and listening to the needs of the communities. …We need to take a citywide approach to affordable housing including removing construction barriers, requiring a percentage of affordable units in new developments, and rethinking zoning so we can bring in more multifamily units. …We need to be promoting the available resources to businesses in every neighborhood, not just certain parts of the city. Those resources can include façade grants, incubator programs, merchant associations, and more.”
Click here to read the rest of Hicks’ answers.
If you’re a Florida candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.
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