City Council At-Large Group 4 candidate: Matt Carlucci

Name: Matt Carlucci

Family: My wife Karen and son's and daughter in laws Matt Jr. and Lauren Carlucci and their children Matthew III & Lilly Kate & Joe II and Victoria and their so Joseph Carlucci III

Occupation: Small Business owner, State Farm Insurance Agent

Political/Government experience: Elected two terms to City Council At Large Group 4; one term City Council District 4; City Council President 2001-2002 , Appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Florida

Years lived in Jacksonville: 62

Campaign website: VoteCarlucci.com

Why did you decide to run for office: I love this great city and because public service is in my DNA, my father served Jacksonville before me and because four generations of Carlucci's have been proud to call Jacksonville home. No one will work harder to create a strong heritage for succeeding generations. This is how I want to invest the prime years of my life.

What is the biggest problem facing Jacksonville as a city overall, and how specifically would seek to address that: Public safety, reducing crime and the murder rate. While some people living in Jacksonville feel safe in their neighborhoods and homes, we have many neighborhoods that need special attention due to our murder rate. To bring down crime there are issues we need to address:

Poverty: approximately 40% of our working population lives at or below the poverty level. We need to create an opportunity and hope for the young people, the lack of opportunity in our vulnerable neighborhoods leads young people to gangs and the problems they sow. Currently, 2 out of 3 children born into poverty will remain in poverty. We need to reverse this trend. I propose a deeper reach into these vulnerable neighborhoods with more after-school programs, particularly at the middle and high school levels. Programs that give youths opportunities to develop and use their talents and skills for work force development.

Creating Jobs and opportunity: Jacksonville has a healthy, strong and expanding economy, local businesses are expanding and new industries are moving here. We can take advantage of this growth by working with the school district to make sure we have a well-educated and highly trained workforce.

 What makes your constituents unique, and how would that influence your time in office: I am running for an At-Large seat on the City Council thus, I will represent everyone in the city. This is a demanding obligation that takes undivided attention. I pledge to be the hardest working person on the City Council.

What would be your main budget priority for the upcoming fiscal year: Three Priorities:

1. A comprehensive approach to crime reduction to include an appropriately staffed, trained and equipped police force to protect our families and reduce crime.
2. A deeper reach in our vulnerable neighborhoods, increasing & promoting prevention, intervention efforts and workforce development.
3. Increased after school and summer programs for elementary, middle and high school levels.
4. Infrastructure improvements including failing septic tank remediation and also funding resilience to storms and flooding.

How do you define what you hope Jacksonville will be ten years from now: I want the next generation to live in a city that is safe and has unlimited opportunities, has world-class schools, a vibrant downtown, access to culture and the arts, that has parks beaches and family spaces second to none, a great world seaport and honest and ethical government and safe from the rising waters from storms!

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EDITOR’S NOTE: WOKV asked all candidates in a race to answer the same questions, and the answers here are their unedited responses. WOKV has not independently verified information in these answers, nor is WOKV endorsing any candidates.