City Council At-Large Group 5 candidate: Niki Brunson

Name: Niki Brunson

Family: Son – Nicholas Brunson, age 29; Granddaughter – Kylie Nicole Brunson, age 4; Mother – Suzette Brunson; Sister – Apiphonee Ross

Occupation: Business and Brand Development Consultant

Political/Government experience: TRUE Commissioner since 2016 appointed by the Urban Core CPAC, Chair of TRUE Commission Legislative Bill Tracking Subcommittee since 2016, Chair of the Taxation, Revenue, Utilization, and Expenditures Commission of Jacksonville City Council, Candidate for City Council District 7 in 2015

Years lived in Jacksonville: 49

Campaign website: www.brunson4jax.org

Why did you decide to run for office: I could not live with the results associated with intervention and prevention initiatives related to reducing violent crime, improving equitable access to quality public education in distressed neighborhoods, system issues perpetuated by the lack of transparency and accountability to residents to improve quality of life experience.

What is the biggest problem facing Jacksonville as a city overall, and how specifically would seek to address that: The biggest problem facing Jacksonville overall is disengaged leadership who lack the lived experience to be subject matter experts on the contributing factors like: trauma, low education performance, incarceration, and skills gaps for residents who face social, emotional, and skills gaps and disparities in publicly funded services.

What makes your constituents unique, and how would that influence your time in office: My constituents are unique; because, they live in Jacksonville and are all being impacted by disparities and their issues are subordinate to special interest agendas for public spending. My socially sensitive vision for leadership will be used to stimulate conversations and educate residents about legislative decisions, which shall be used to coordinate resolutions, and improve social and emotional returns for residents throughout Jacksonville.

What would be your main budget priority for the upcoming fiscal year: Capital Improvements, independent authorities, intervention and prevention partnerships, public works, parks and recreation, the neighborhood department and public service grants

How do you define what you hope Jacksonville will be ten years from now: One of the Top 10 "Best Places to Live" because it has low violent crime, best public schools, picturesque environment: healthiest, cleanest, greenest, friendliest with equitable access to public and private services.

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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.