JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State Rep. Wyman Duggan officially launched his campaign for Jacksonville mayor Friday, promising conservative leadership focused on controlling city spending, improving basic services and investing in neighborhoods outside of downtown.
“I’m Wyman Duggan and I’m running for mayor of Jacksonville,” Duggan said.
Duggan, a Republican who is term-limited in the Florida House, said he decided to run after hearing concerns from residents about city spending, government accountability and a lack of attention to Jacksonville’s neighborhoods.
“When I talk to people across this city, I hear the same thing over and over again: They love Jacksonville. They believe in Jacksonville. But too often they don’t feel like City Hall is working for them,” Duggan said.
Duggan criticized the city’s handling of transportation, including the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s plans for autonomous shuttles and changes to Skyway and bus service.
“Jacksonville did not need an expensive urban science fair project while workers are trying to get to their jobs and seniors are trying to get to the doctor,” he said. “That is not a transit problem. That is a leadership problem.”
After Duggan highlighted recent budget issues and scrutiny of JTA this week, calling it “Donna Deegan’s JTA,” the mayor’s office responded that JTA is a regional transportation agency and that JTA’s staff is made up of state employees.
“It’s disconcerting that an eight-year member of the state legislature and current Speaker of the House is either unaware of the structure or intentionally misleading the public,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.
Duggan said his first priorities as mayor would include reviewing the city budget, improving coordination among Jacksonville’s independent authorities and addressing what he called a breakdown in consolidated government.
He said the city’s budget has grown by roughly $500 million over the past four years. Duggan said he would review $300 million in potentially wasteful spending identified by the city’s chief financial officer.
He also said he wants to examine fees on Jacksonville residents’ JEA bills and other costs, saying relief should be available to renters, homeowners, businesses and nonprofits.
The Duval County Democratic Party responded by questioning Duggan’s legislative record and accusing him of prioritizing Tallahassee over Jacksonville.
Millie Leeds, Chair of the Duval County Democratic Party, said Duggan supported policies that shifted authority away from local governments, imposed unfunded mandates on municipalities and could reduce funding for public safety, parks, libraries, roads and infrastructure.
“Jacksonville deserves a leader who stands up for our community every day, not someone whose record consistently favors Tallahassee over local families,” Leeds said.
Duggan said he had expected his elected service to end with his House term but decided to run after seeing problems with city spending, neighborhood investment and consolidated government.
“You see a problem and you go fix the problem,” Duggan said.
News4JAX has reached out again to Deegan’s campaign for a response following Duggan’s announcement, and this story will be updated once we receive a response.
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