Congratulations, Mayor Donna Deegan!

[Lunabell]

Newly elected Democratic mayor of Jacksonville, Florida!!

She ran on a platform of improving the city’s infrastructure, increasing access to health care for the city’s residents and bringing businesses to Jacksonville that “want to be part of growing a better, fairer, more inclusive city” and “value our increasing diversity.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4007704-florida-democrats-win-mayors-race-in-jacksonville-dealing-blow-to-desantis/

IN YOUR FACE, LIL' WHITE BOOTS!! Florida wants diversity and a return to democracy.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. Florida Democrats flip the Jacksonville mayor's office in a major upset

Link to tweet

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/florida-democrats-flip-the-jacksonville-mayor-s-office-in-a-major-upset/ar-AA1bhKiV?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=9f124466fb74450a9df39ad8004bfbe7&ei=25

Democrat Donna Deegan won the Jacksonville mayoral race Tuesday night, a shocking upset that hands Florida Democrats a major shot of energy less than six months after they were trounced in the 2022 midterms and considered left for dead by the national party.

Deegan came into Election Day as the decided underdog against Republican Daniel Davis, who is the head of the city’s chamber of commerce and had a significant fundraising advantage. He was endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, but that support was lukewarm. The governor did not do events with Davis or put his political muscle behind his candidacy.

With all of the city’s 186 precincts reporting, Deegan had a 52-48 advantage over Davis, who was vying to replace current Republican Mayor Lenny Curry and was term-limited.

“Everyone said it could not be done in Jacksonville, Florida,” Deegan said, according to video of her victory speech. “We did it because we brought the people inside.”

The city of Jacksonville's official Twitter account sent a tweet congratulating Deegan Tuesday night, writing, "We look forward to your leadership and vision as you help guide our City into the future."

[jaxexpat]

2. Hallelujah! The tide doth turn, thankfully, again.

Her righteous battle will continue to be an uphill struggle, if she'll wage it. There are entrenched unelected elements who presume authority over the directionality of the city's interests and consider the assets of the community their own to commandeer as they see fit. Their go-to methods, in descending order of implementation, are the coercing of city commissioners, mis-informational propaganda and, if it gets too tough for the easy win, they also hold "majority shares" in the sheriff's department (the little army commonly known as the JSO).

JSO may be remembered as the checkpoint enforcers on duty to harass/prevent black voters' access to the polls (or anywhere else) in November 2000. Their effort was effective enough to create an unelected G. Bush, POTUS. They're still there, role model for the worst aspects of LEO's across the nation as they refine their neo-Gestapo technique, meeting the challenge of a society where it must be assumed every citizen is armed and dangerous, per statute.

Many are hopeful in light of a Democratic victory and the usual roadblocks remain. Confederate Park may have changed its name and its statue may no longer loom over the city's horizon, but its spirit has a few decades before it too will fade into oblivion. The fortunes of "developers" still remain the greatest economic driver of the economy. The basket of opportunities is, as usual, light-ish and fragile.

How soon before the games begin, the games to prove which faction will sustain dominance in the playing fields of politics in our fair city straddling the St. Johns.

[lark2]

3. Woohoo - Donna Won!!!

Joyce Morgan also won for property appraiser. Two good, deserving Democratic women advanced. Proud of my city!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. This makes me smile

Link to tweet