{"id":421459,"date":"2026-10-07T19:16:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/421459\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T19:16:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:16:16","slug":"jacksonville-bold-for-10-7-26-wyman-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/421459\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacksonville Bold for 10.7.26: Wyman at work"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The <a href=\"http:\/\/florida.gop\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Republican Party of Florida<\/a> has welcomed House Speaker Pro Tempore <a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/archives\/822837-duggan-launches-jacksonville-mayor\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Wyman Duggan<\/a> to the Jacksonville Mayor\u2019s race with a $100,000 donation to his <a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/archives\/821968-duggan-committee-name-change\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">political committee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sept. 19 contribution to the recently rechristened \u201cBetter Jacksonville Committee\u201d is something none of the other four Republicans in the crowded 2027 Election field has received.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Duggan_Wyman-5238-copy.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-822881 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Duggan_Wyman-5238-copy-640x360.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"  \/><\/a>Wyman Duggan enters Jacksonville\u2019s Mayor\u2019s race with GOP money and momentum behind his campaign.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The donation suggests that statewide GOP interests see Duggan as a better bet than political newcomers like Ron Armstrong, Keith Brown, Harry Long and Fitz Gerald Despres.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duggan just launched his campaign Friday, and his committee spent more than $31,000 during the week of Sept. 25, which is the last date for which fundraising reports are currently filed with the state of Florida. One name worth watching down the stretch: the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/dos.elections.myflorida.com\/committees\/ComDetail.asp?account=75217\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Very Conservative<\/a>\u201d political committee. Duggan\u2019s committee gave it $30,000.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All told, Duggan\u2019s committee has nearly $1.4 million on hand. While that dwarfs the money available to all other challengers, it doesn\u2019t come close to the roughly $2.4 million the incumbent had on hand as of Sept. 25 between her campaign account and her political committee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duggan launched his campaign Friday and outlined his campaign message after filing paperwork. He argued that \u201cconsolidated government is breaking down\u201d under the incumbent.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cUnder this administration, we have had disputes involving JEA, the JTA (Jacksonville Transportation Authority), and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, and JAA has threatened to sue the city. We have a strong Mayor form of government. We are supposed to have a Mayor who rolls up their sleeves and solves problems. That includes bringing the independent authorities addressed in our city charter to the table and saying: We need to work together for all of Jacksonville \u2014 not inside your silo, and not for your parochial interests,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duggan also picked up a unanimous endorsement from the Jacksonville Young Republicans this week.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAffordability is the defining issue for young professionals,\u201d said John Scott, President of the Jacksonville Young Republicans. \u201cWhether buying a home, paying utility bills, starting a business, or raising a family, the cost of building a future matters. Wyman has made affordability a top priority and has a proven legislative record of delivering tax relief and fighting for responsible government.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duggan, who said he was \u201chonored to receive the endorsement,\u201d understands the group\u2019s concerns about costs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cFamilies and young professionals should be able to build their future right here in Jacksonville. As Mayor, I\u2019ll work to make our city more affordable by keeping taxes, fees, and utility costs in check and ensuring taxpayers get the value they deserve from City Hall,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has also released an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WymanDuggan\/status\/2107160189619064932\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">ad<\/a> focusing on increased spending under the incumbent and how he would turn the tide.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201c(Jacksonville Mayor Donna) Deegan has city health spending at record levels. Property tax revenue has soared. Our garbage fees have doubled. And JEA just raised our rates again. That\u2019s not putting Jacksonville families first. That\u2019s making government bigger at your expense,\u201d Duggan said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polling is with the incumbent for now, at least when Duggan is tested head-to-head against her.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deegan led Duggan by 20 points in a recent <a href=\"http:\/\/stpetepolls.org\/files\/StPetePolls_2026_Jacksonville_August20_EA29NZ8.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">St. Pete Polls<\/a> survey of likely voters, drawing 53% support in a hypothetical head-to-head contest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the First Election in March won\u2019t present a binary choice. All Duggan needs to do is keep Deegan from winning a majority, which would let her be re-elected without a May runoff in the General Election.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In transit<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the wake of staff and service reductions at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jaxdailyrecord.com\/news\/2026\/sep\/17\/jta-reducing-more-services-laying-off-employees-to-address-further-budget-concerns\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Jacksonville Transportation Authority<\/a> driven by a deficit and persistent rate hikes at JEA, Deegan thinks appointees to the Boards of JTA, JEA, and other independent agencies should learn something about municipal finance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Based on her comments Tuesday, they don\u2019t quite know enough for the job in some cases.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOur Board members are citizen volunteers who give their time to serve this city, and they deserve every tool we can provide them to do that job well,\u201d said Deegan. \u201cTaxpayers deserve confidence that the people overseeing their money understand the budgets, audits, and ethics rules in front of them. This order puts that training within reach today. Working with the City Council, we\u2019ll make these standards permanent through legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/donna-deegan.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-751992 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/donna-deegan-640x360.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"  \/><\/a>Donna Deegan pushes stronger financial training for appointees overseeing Jacksonville\u2019s independent agencies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Until a bill codifies the standards, the Mayor can only suggest process improvements.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">These include governance and audit training on fiduciary duties, internal and external audits, internal controls and fraud awareness, Florida\u2019s Sunshine Law, public records laws, and state and City ethics rules.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chief Financial Officer Anna Brosche\u2019s office will be responsible for training Board members of agencies that want help, after a 90-day ramp-up period. Starting next year, Board members will learn how to read financial statements. The training will also cover credit ratings, pension risks, and bond covenants.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CFO\u2019s office will also offer \u201centity-specific briefings\u201d to Board chairs upon request.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deegan also seeks \u201cchief executive certification of financial submissions from independent agencies to the City, so the Mayor, City Council, and Council Auditor can rely on the numbers and spot risks early.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In related news, Deegan says she will comply with Attorney General <a href=\"https:\/\/jaxtoday.org\/2026\/10\/06\/deegan-subpoenaed-in-jta-investigation\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">James Uthmeier\u2019s<\/a> subpoena of records of a meeting she had last year with former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstcoastnews.com\/article\/news\/politics\/florida-subpoenas-mayor-deegan-former-jta-megan-hayward\/77-e5f659f8-78bb-440f-a589-59985e677d07\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Jacksonville Transportation Authority<\/a> Board member <a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionnewsjax.com\/news\/local\/shes-lying-former-jta-board-member-blasts-mayor-calls-criminal-investigation-into-agency\/2J72QOGI7BFPTMTRCEDGLKJN3Y\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Megan Hayward<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And she will make them public thereafter.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWe were asked for those notes, and the general counsel said they\u2019re not public record because they are personal notes that were not shared,\u201d Deegan said on Tuesday\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UdqzN9sG6I0\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">First Coast Connect<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAnd so we don\u2019t want to set that precedent. But we will, of course, turn whatever we have over to the Attorney General, and then we\u2019ll make those things public because that will be the proper process. We didn\u2019t want to set a bad precedent for future Mayors and others when things aren\u2019t public record. Bottom line is, we\u2019re always happy to cooperate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pledge to release the records comes less than 24 hours after one of her declared opponents in next year\u2019s municipal election, House Speaker Pro Tempore <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WymanDuggan\/status\/2107626916517695562\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Duggan<\/a>, called on Deegan to do so.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aaronbean.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-813496\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791400569_67_aaronbean_ad.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another campaign<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters has officially filed for another term.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cFour years ago, I asked Jacksonville to trust me to keep our city safe, and we\u2019ve delivered. We\u2019ve achieved historic reductions in murders and gang-related violence, and crime is at record lows. We\u2019ve invested in our agency, boosted officer morale and put transparency and community engagement at the forefront,\u201d Waters said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TK-Waters.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-822731 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/TK-Waters-640x410.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"410\"  \/><\/a>TK Waters makes it official, filing for another term as Jacksonville Sheriff.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI love this city, serving it alongside the men and women of JSO is the honor of my life \u2014 and I\u2019m not done. I\u2019m proud to officially file for re-election because we\u2019ve built something that works, and it\u2019s time to finish the job,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Waters, who retired from active duty as chief of investigations, is the third straight elected Republican Sheriff and the second Black Sheriff in Jacksonville history.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He first won election in a <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/T.K._Waters\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Special Election<\/a> in 2022, defeating a Democratic opponent by more than 10 points.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Special Election was called after former Sheriff Mike Williams resigned amid a residency controversy. Gov. Ron DeSantis backed Waters even before the race started.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Waters faced no opposition in 2023\u2019s General Election.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This time around, his only filed opponent is no-party candidate Donzalo Solomon.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Water works<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moving from Sheriff Waters to water quality \u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds was in Ponte Vedra this week pushing his plans to protect the finite resource via \u201ca new statewide restoration grant program to bring the proven Everglades model to Florida\u2019s other iconic waters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOn the east coast, we\u2019re tackling nutrient pollution to restore the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns River. In the heartland of Florida, we will protect the natural flow, clarity, and health of our world-famous freshwater springs. Along the Gulf, from the panhandle down to southwest Florida, we are restoring vital seagrass beds and shielding fragile coastlines,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Jacksonville-Bold-Byron-Donalds-Wastewater.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823756 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Jacksonville-Bold-Byron-Donalds-Wastewater-640x357.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\"  \/><\/a>Byron Donalds discusses water policy with Debbie Mayfield, Sam Greco and Kim Kendall in Ponte Vedra.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also promised to do more about \u201cwastewater infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cClean water starts with modern pipes and modern plants. Leaking, aging septic systems and recurring sewer overflows after heavy rains threaten our health and pollute our bays,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cFlorida must become a leader in wastewater innovation. We are prioritizing funding to move vulnerable properties off of failing septic tanks and onto central sewer lines. We are helping local communities eliminate sewer overflows for good. We are investing in next-generation treatment technologies that capture and recycle nutrients before they ever reach our waterways. Some people might say that we have to choose between the environment and our economy. But here in Florida, we know better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Donalds has not emphasized environmental issues much in this campaign and has been attacked by opponents in both the Primary and the General Election for advocating for data centers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With this initiative, he is taking a page out of DeSantis\u2019 2018 playbook, in which DeSantis focused on water quality and pledged to protect the environment with a plan that may appeal to swing voters who haven\u2019t decided between him and Democrat David Jolly.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baptistjax.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-760844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791400571_458_Baptist_Wolfson-ad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Union label<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Fraternal Order of Police is backing Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland in next year\u2019s election.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNick Howland has championed public safety and fully funded JSO since his very first days on City Council. And, as the Council\u2019s liaison to JSO for more than three years, he has been a trusted partner committed to safe neighborhoods and safer streets. Nick has had our backs, and FOP 5-30 is proud to back him for his re-election,\u201d said union head Randy Reaves.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Howland-copy-Large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-788539 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Howland-copy-Large-640x360.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"  \/><\/a>Nick Howland adds the Fraternal Order of Police to his re-election corner.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Howland is \u201chonored\u201d by the endorsement and \u201cgrateful to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep Jacksonville safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He says he will \u201calways stand with our law enforcement officers and make public safety a top priority.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Howland is running unopposed in At Large Group 3.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Landing land<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The North Florida Land Trust (<a href=\"https:\/\/nflt.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">NFLT<\/a>) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbfl.us\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">City of Fernandina Beach<\/a> have acquired nearly 10 acres of property, adding conservation land to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbfl.us\/104\/Egans-Creek-Greenway\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Ron Sapp Egans Creek Greenway<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtor.com\/realestateagents\/5673ff400fa417010071ea7b\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Sherry Quattlebaum<\/a> donated one property of nearly nine acres, and the city bought the second, about one acre, from Pineland Holding Co. The city now owns and manages both conservation and recreation land.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Greenway is a protected area of more than 300 acres along Egans Creek, open to the public as an undeveloped park for passive recreation. The new properties help connect additional conservation lands to the Greenway.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Egans-Creek-Greenway.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823757 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Egans-Creek-Greenway-640x427.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\"  \/><\/a>Egans Creek Greenway grows greener with nearly 10 more acres protected for conservation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">NFLT and the city recently renewed a memorandum of understanding under which both identify properties for conservation, and each contributes funding. NFLT\u2019s share comes from its <a href=\"https:\/\/nflt.org\/ameliaforever\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Amelia Forever Fund<\/a>, created in 2019 to protect remaining natural spaces on Amelia Island.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIt was great that we could hit the ground running after restarting our partnership with the City of Fernandina Beach to find and protect property for future generations,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/nflt.org\/2024\/03\/20\/get-to-know-more-about-allison-defoor-nflts-president-and-ceo\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Allison DeFoor<\/a>, NFLT President and CEO.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cEgans Creek Greenway is an amazing community asset, and adding land will increase the ecosystem benefits, including providing a wildlife corridor that is uninhibited by development. Now these properties will remain in their natural state forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quattlebaum, a former schoolteacher and real estate professional, bought the property in the early 2000s and donated it as part of her estate planning. The land is almost entirely wetlands buffering Egans Creek. She donated it to the city through NFLT.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOver the years, I have seen articles about the land trust\u2019s work and felt that it was advantageous to work with them to donate the land to the city,\u201d Quattlebaum said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/nflt.org\/2026\/10\/05\/north-florida-land-trust-and-the-city-of-fernandina-beach-partner-to-extend-egans-creek-greenway\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">UNF presidential approval<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flbog.edu\/board\/governors\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Florida Board of Governors<\/a> has unanimously approved Michael P. Shannon as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unf.edu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">University of North Florida\u2019s<\/a> eighth President.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shannon won\u2019t officially take office until Jan. 4.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI am deeply grateful for the confidence of the UNF Board of Trustees and Florida Board of Governors and for the opportunity to serve this great University,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unf.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/09\/Shannon-eighth-president-confirmed.html\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Shannon said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cUNF is at an inflection point and has tremendous momentum. Now we have an opportunity to build on that thoughtfully and boldly, strengthening the student experience, investing in our people and growing our impact without losing what makes UNF special.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Michael-P.-Shannon.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-816784 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Michael-P.-Shannon-640x307.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"307\"  \/><\/a>Michael P. Shannon gets the green light to become the University of North Florida\u2019s eighth President.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UNF Board of Trustees approved Shannon earlier this month. The move followed a Presidential Search Committee naming him the sole candidate.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He\u2019ll be succeeding Moez Limayem, who resigned to become President at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usf.edu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">University of South Florida<\/a>. Angela Garcia Falconetti has served as UNF\u2019s interim President.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The single-candidate selection process <a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/archives\/816875-jacksonville-bold-for-8-26-26-presidential-pushback\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">drew criticism<\/a> from Florida House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison. He and other lawmakers have argued universities have leaned too heavily on naming only one finalist for presidential searches \u2014 a critique also raised during USF\u2019s selection of Limayem.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shannon currently serves as President of the <a href=\"https:\/\/ung.edu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">University of North Georgia<\/a>, a post he\u2019s held since 2023. That school enrolls about 20,000 students, comparable to UNF\u2019s roughly 19,000, a figure that set a Fall enrollment record at the Jacksonville campus.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">UNF Board of Trustees Chair Steve Moore said Shannon\u2019s background makes him well-suited for the role.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cMike is a natural leader who understands the power of public higher education to transform lives, just as it transformed his own, and the importance of strong community partnerships,\u201d Moore said. \u201cHe will bring a student-first mindset, a commitment to academic excellence and the experience and vision to help UNF reach even greater heights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Healthy nature<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectonehealth.org\/project-one-health-jax\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Project One Health JAX<\/a> is throwing more support for nature and health initiatives at the University of North Florida (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unf.edu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">UNF<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Project One Health JAX, an initiative of the Winston Family Foundation, is investing $620,000 in the Institute of Environmental Research and Education (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unf.edu\/environment\/index.html\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">IERE<\/a>) at UNF. The funding will support the university on Jacksonville\u2019s Southside, grow its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unf.edu\/environment\/nature-and-health-new.html\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nature and Health Center<\/a>, and expand initiatives that promote health through increased connections with nature.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Center is Florida\u2019s chapter of the national <a href=\"https:\/\/natureandhealthalliance.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nature and Health Alliance<\/a>, and UNF calls it Florida\u2019s first and only.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AdobeStock_479786331-scaled.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823759 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AdobeStock_479786331-640x427.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\"  \/><\/a>Michael P. Shannon gets the green light to become the University of North Florida\u2019s eighth President.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UNF Center was founded in 2025 and focuses its research and community involvement on the relationship between nature and humans. IERE Director and Professor Erin Largo-Wight has overseen much of the research in the nature and health field at UNF and said the Project One Health JAX gift is substantial.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAs Project One Health JAX developed its vision for helping children and families spend more time outdoors, there was a natural alignment with the work already underway at UNF,\u201d said Largo-Wight.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThis investment allows us to build upon years of research and community partnerships while creating more opportunities for students, educators, healthcare professionals and families to experience the health benefits of nature.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Project One Health JAX is also sponsoring the Florida Nature and Health Symposium scheduled for Nov. 20 at UNF.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Champion spirit<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marty Fiorentino, founder of The Florida Group, took the mic as keynote speaker at the National MS Society\u2019s recent Dinner of Champions, which spotlighted Teresa Eichner.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/MS-Dinner-of-Champions-2026-183-copy-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823731 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/MS-Dinner-of-Champions-2026-183-copy-640x284.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"284\"  \/><\/a>Marty Fiorentino takes the mic at the National MS Society\u2019s Dinner of Champions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The City of Jacksonville PIO, National MS Society Florida Board Trustee and Jax Bourbon Social founder was honored for her leadership, service and commitment to the MS community.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A strong Jacksonville showing for a worthy cause.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Spread love<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local leaders want your peanut butter again this year \u2014 but it\u2019s for a good cause.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All month long, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF\/IFAS) Extension Duval County will participate in the Peanut Butter Challenge to boost food pantry stock.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Peanut-butter-challenge.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823760 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Peanut-butter-challenge-640x336.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"336\"  \/><\/a>Jacksonville\u2019s Peanut Butter Challenge spreads a little generosity \u2014 one jar at a time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Drop off your donations at the UF\/IFAS Extension Duval County office (1010 N. McDuff Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32254), City Hall (117 W. Duval St., Employee Services Mezzanine Floor), Jacksonville public libraries, the Ed Ball Building (214 N. Hogan St., Rose Nettles Public Works, 10th Floor), or Standard Feed and Seed (1236 Kings Road).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe work that goes into planning a successful donation drive is about more than collecting peanut butter. It\u2019s about building relationships with new partners, creating opportunities for people and organizations to get involved, and raising awareness about the needs within our community. Each new partnership helps us reach more people and, together, make a greater impact for local families,\u201d said Tracy Akers Williams, Extension Marketing Manager.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beach party<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Jacksonville Jaguars may be out of town next year, but as a consolation prize, Jacksonville Beach is making it easier to drink to forget they\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionnewsjax.com\/news\/local\/jacksonville-beach-approves-expanded-bar-capacity-jaguars-move-orlando-next-year\/FXTER76DIND3FNTETMYI2OF4BI\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Action News Jax<\/a> reports approval of a two-year pilot program at beach bars that allows more outdoor drinking.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Jacksonville-Beach-Stadium-outdoor-drinking.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823762 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Jacksonville-Beach-Stadium-outdoor-drinking-640x348.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\"  \/><\/a>Jacksonville Beach gives outdoor drinking more room under a new two-year pilot program.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For now, local bar owners say it\u2019s a soft launch because people can still get to see the games in person.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI think people are trying to stay, get to the stadium while they can before it\u2019s closed down and before the Jags are going to be away next year,\u201d said Heather Rooney of Lynch\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">House proud<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hubbard House has won The Florida Group\u2019s annual 904 Day Charity Giveaway, earning recognition during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month for five decades of service to Northeast Florida. The organization provides emergency shelter and other assistance to survivors of domestic violence and their children in both Duval and Baker counties.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a full-service certified domestic violence center, Hubbard House offers an Outreach Center, a round-the-clock Domestic Violence Hotline and programs designed to help families find safety and support. These services extend the organization\u2019s reach beyond emergency shelter, providing survivors with additional resources during a crisis and support as they move forward.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/HUBBARD-HOUSE-FLORIDA-GROUP-904-DAY-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823732 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/HUBBARD-HOUSE-FLORIDA-GROUP-904-DAY-640x360.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"  \/><\/a>Joe Mobley and Joe Kovacocy celebrate Hubbard House winning The Florida Group\u2019s 904 Day Charity Giveaway.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over its 50-year history, Hubbard House has answered more than 147,000 hotline calls and served more than 168,000 survivors and their children, according to the announcement. The figures underscore the scale of the organization\u2019s work across the two counties over half a century of serving local families.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Florida Group announced the selection with a message celebrating Hubbard House\u2019s long-standing role in the community. The recognition comes in October, when National Domestic Violence Awareness Month draws attention to survivors and the services available to them. The group highlighted the center\u2019s continuing work supporting survivors throughout Northeast Florida.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jaguars trending positively<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Jaguars are for real.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Sunday\u2019s 22-17 win in Cincinnati wasn\u2019t the prettiest, it was a road win against a team expected to contend for the playoffs this season. It was also the first time that Trevor Lawrence had beaten the Bengals. He now has wins over every other team in the NFL.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What matters most is how the win positions the Jaguars roughly a quarter of the way through the season as they prepare for back-to-back games in London. At 3-1, the Jaguars trail only the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC standings. Four other teams are also 3-1 (Buffalo, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Las Vegas). In the AFC South, the Jaguars lead Indianapolis by one game, while Tennessee and Houston still look for their first win of the season.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Trevor-Lawrence-Jaguars.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-823763 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Trevor-Lawrence-Jaguars-640x360.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"  \/><\/a>Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars head across the pond with a 3-1 record and postseason ambitions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the NFL went to a 14-team playoff format, with seven teams in each conference qualifying for the postseason, teams starting 3-1 have made the playoffs 75% of the time. It\u2019s not a lock, but the Jaguars are positioned well to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As for the division race, the Jaguars are the only team to have outscored the opposition this season. The Colts have been outscored 104-102 but have managed two wins. The Jaguars have outscored the opposition by 51 points, the best margin in the AFC and second only to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Jaguars\u2019 defense has limited the opposition to 53 points. Only the undefeated Minnesota Vikings have allowed fewer points.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And most optimistically for the Jaguars, they can play better. On Sunday, the team committed an uncharacteristically high 13 penalties. Trevor Lawrence missed a wide-open Brenton Strange on what would have been a game-clinching completion. The defense totaled only two sacks on 41 dropbacks by Joe Burrow (39 throws and two scrambles).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, the Jaguars\u2019 offensive line allowed too much pressure on Lawrence, who was sacked four times and under duress on several other pass plays.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, the team prepares for a two-game stretch in London. On Sunday morning, the Jaguars will kick off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the Philadelphia Eagles (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network). Philadelphia opened the season with wins over the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans before losing to the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the Eagles, the Jaguars face the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium. If the Jags return to Jacksonville with two wins, they\u2019ll be in prime position to make consecutive postseason runs for the first time in more than a quarter-century.<\/p>\n<p>___<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stay Bold. Stay informed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.cmail20.com\/t\/i-l-vtrkjit-trlttytrd-ty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external noreferrer nofollow\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/floridapolitics.cmail20.com\/t\/i-l-vtrkjit-trlttytrd-ty\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790270129379000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0-X0gCuz2ByeJ50Mg-lMV8\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Sign up for Jacksonville Bold<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.cmail20.com\/t\/i-l-vtrkjit-trlttytrd-tj\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external noreferrer nofollow\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/floridapolitics.cmail20.com\/t\/i-l-vtrkjit-trlttytrd-tj\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790270129379000&amp;usg=AOvVaw05A7NaZ2NvmXEef2l9VB27\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.cmail20.com\/t\/i-l-vtrkjit-trlttytrd-tt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external noreferrer nofollow\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/floridapolitics.cmail20.com\/t\/i-l-vtrkjit-trlttytrd-tt\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790270129379000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0JT6Om-5Ph3yplWaPHYaFb\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"CToWUd aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791400576_256_FloridaPolitics-GeneralInterest-SignupPage-640x640.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" data-bit=\"iit\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Republican Party of Florida has welcomed House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan to the Jacksonville Mayor\u2019s race&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421460,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[445,5890,5712,116,5893,4040,118,121,128686,166343,117,34446,17707,501,799,34448,166344,166345,14217,42858,124416,15562,14231,5908,13771],"class_list":["post-421459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jacksonville","tag-byron-donalds","tag-donna-deegan","tag-hubbard-house","tag-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville-bold","tag-jacksonville-city-council","tag-jacksonville-headlines","tag-jacksonville-jaguars","tag-jacksonville-mayor","tag-jacksonville-mayors-race","tag-jacksonville-news","tag-jacksonville-politics","tag-jacksonville-transportation-authority","tag-jea","tag-jta","tag-marty-fiorentino","tag-michael-p-shannon","tag-national-ms-society","tag-nick-howland","tag-north-florida-land-trust","tag-northeast-florida-politics","tag-teresa-eichner","tag-tk-waters","tag-university-of-north-florida","tag-wyman-duggan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=421459"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421459\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/421460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=421459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=421459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}