Ask Candidates to Sign the Pledge

Credit: Johnny Milano for The New York Times

Jacksonville is holding unitary elections for City Council and Mayor on on March 19, 2019. Voters need to know which candidates will make the St. Johns a priority and lead the charge to address the problems that degrade our river's health. As a result, St. Johns RIVERKEEPER has asked all of the candidates running for Jacksonville City Council and Mayor to sign a Resiliency Pledge and complete our Candidate Survey.

HAVE YOUR CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TAKEN THE PLEDGE TO CREATE A MORE RESILIENT JACKSONVILLE?
Ask candidates if they have taken the pledge to support a City-led analysis of flood risk and public infrastructure vulnerability, and the implementation of an action plan to protect our waterways and citizens from property damage and rising waters.

CANDIDATES WHO HAVE SIGNED THE RESILIENCY PLEDGE!
Also, read the linked Candidate Surveys to know where your candidates stand on river issues.

Mayoral Candidates

Omega Allen, Mayor
Anna Lopez Brosche, Mayor - Candidate Survey
Jimmy Hill, Mayor - Candidate Survey

City Council District Candidates

William Bishop, City Council District 1 - Candidate Survey
Joyce Morgan, City Council District 1 - Candidate Survey
Carson Tranquill, City Council District 2
Scott Wilson, City Council District 4
Timothy Yost, City Council Distrcit 4
Michael Boylan, City Council District 6 - Candidate Survey
Ju'Coby Pittman, City Council District 8
Celestine Mills, City Council District 10 - Candidate Survey
Reginald Blount, City Council District 10
Charles Fetzer, City Council District 10 - Candidate Survey
Sunny Gettinger, City Council District 14 - Candidate Survey
Jimmy Peluso, City Council Distrcit 14

City Council At Large Candidates

Connell A. Crooms, City Council At Large Group 1
Lisa King, City Council At Large Group 1 - Candidate Survey
Darren Mason, City Council At Large Group 2 - Candidate Survey
Matt Carlucci, City Council At Large Group 4 - Candidate Survey
Don Redman, City Council At Large Group 4
Chad Evan McIntyre, City Council At Large Group 5
Niki Brunson, City Council At Large Group 5 - Candidate Survey

CANDIDATES WHO HAVE ONLY TAKEN OUR CANDIDATE SURVEY

Harold McCart, City Council At Large Group 4 - Candidate Survey

We need your help! Take Action Today.

1. Call your candidates and ask them if they will sign the Resiliency Pledge.
2. Share and pass out the Resiliency Pledge Flyers to your friends, family, and colleagues.
3. Attend a Candidate Forum in your district (see below). Sign up with St. Johns Riverkeeper to pass out flyers and have a Riverkeeper information table at this event. (See our list of Candidate Forum Questions you can ask your candidates).
4. Encourage candidates to complete St. Johns RIVERKEEPER's City Council and Mayoral Candidate Surveys.

UPCOMING CANDIDATE FORUMS

Feb 25 | Distict 2 Forum by North Jax Organizations (6pm)
Florida State College North Campus @ Jacksonville
Auditorium, 4501 Capper Road 32218

Feb 28 | Mandarin
Mandarin Community Club
12447 Mandrain Road 32223

WHY WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION:

Hurricane Irma was a wakeup call for Jacksonville and the State of Florida. The historic flooding was shocking. The property loss, economic impact, and human toll were heartbreaking.

Unfortunately, scientists are predicting slower and more intense storms, further increasing the risk to low-lying communities like ours.

Northeast Florida Regional Council recommends planning for rising waters of 1 to 3 feet by 2060.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects an increase in water levels in the river by up to 12% during smaller, “high frequency” storms within the next 5 years.

Other major cities throughout the country are focused on becoming more resilient and better equipped for a future of rising waters.

Jacksonville's time to act is now by:

Protecting our natural defenses (wetlands and buffers) and restoring tributaries;
Implementing green stormwater infrastructure, such as bioswales, rain gardens, and urban trees;
Improving the permitting process to reduce and mitigate flooding impacts to neighbors, waterways, and public infrastructure