JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After Mayor-Elect Donna Deegan’s historic win Tuesday night, she’ll now have to turn her attention to implementing her agenda.
She’ll enter the office with a lot potentially working against her.
Democrats performed at the top of the ticket, clinching the property appraiser and mayor’s office, but Republicans maintained a 14-5 supermajority on the council and already held the office of the sheriff.
Deegan committed to working with Sheriff TK Waters Tuesday night, despite his staunch endorsement of her opponent. “I have every belief that Sheriff Waters will do the same thing. Politics is what it is,” said Deegan.
That same evening, Sheriff Waters told Action News Jax it was time to come to the table. ”The politics part is over,” said Waters. His top asks for the incoming administration: More officers on the streets.
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It’s a proposition Deegan supported on the campaign trail.
“It’s not just about adding numbers for the sake of adding numbers. It’s about adding numbers in the right places,” said Waters.
As for dealing with the council, Deegan said her goal is to allow members to speak for themselves.
”It starts with giving people permission to give their opinions, to share their vision, to bring everybody’s ideas in. I think that’s the culture we’ve been missing in this city,” said Deegan.
Council Vice President Ron Salem (R-Group 2 At-Large), who is expected to take over as Council President in July, said the Republican supermajority is likely thinner than it appears on paper.
At least one member, Councilmember Matt Carlucci (R-Group 4 At-Large), has not hesitated to reach across the aisle on even the most controversial issues, like the removal of Confederate monuments.
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Carlucci also openly endorsed Deegan in the mayor’s race.
”We have not had that issue in my four years on the council,” said Salem.
But Salem added he sees issues where the common ground will be easy to find with the new administration.
”She has some interests she’s expressed in healthcare and I think I’ve been a bleeding advocate on the council on healthcare,” said Salem.
Democratic strategist Steve Schale said ultimately city leaders will rise or fall together.
”In the end, I think, you know, for the betterment of Jacksonville solving big problems like figuring out the stadium, figuring out infrastructure, figuring out crime. Every politician is gonna benefit if they get it right,” said Schale, who grew up in Jacksonville before going on to work on major national campaigns including both of former-President Barack Obama’s Presidential runs.
And while in many ways the election may not have panned out for Republicans, Chair of Chairs for the Republican Party of Florida Evan Power said Republican crossover voters will be carefully watching over the next four years.
”We’re gonna have to hold her accountable ‘cause she said she would govern a lot like a Republican and this will be her opportunity to prove that,” said Power.
Only time will tell how well the two sides manage to get along.
Deegan will be sworn in on July 1st, just six and a half weeks from now.
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