Latest news with #DonnaDeegan
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Duval GOP closes registration gap to under 10,000 for the first time
The Duval GOP is closing in on the local Democratic Party when it comes to voter registrations, with the gap now below 10,000 voters for the first time. Still, local Democrats see some silver linings in the data. Newly elected Duval GOP Chair Charles Barr celebrated the release of the new voter data. He argued it shows local registration efforts are paying off. 'We've had people out, boots on the ground and you know we've just been shaking the bushes to get voter registrations,' said Barr. The latest stats mark a milestone in what has been a multi-year push to close the registration gap. As recently as 2018, that gap was closer to 40,000. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] But Duval Democratic Party Chair Daniel Henry still sees the battleground county as a Democratic stronghold. He noted Democrats still hold the lead, despite other major battleground counties like Miami-Dade and Hillsborough flipping to Republicans in recent years. 'And in reality, it's about a 90-vote difference compared to where we were 30 days ago. So, I'm just gonna chalk this up to smoke and mirrors,' said Henry. And he attributed the holdout to the popularity and success of local Democratic leaders, including Mayor Donna Deegan, whose approval ratings have held over 60 percent. 'I think it speaks to the strong message that we're giving here locally,' said Henry. But Barr noted that as those other counties have flipped, the state party has set its sights on Duval. 'I'm excited to turn this county Red. People said it can't be done, but you know, unless you get out and get boots on the ground and work hard and have some great volunteers like I have you won't do it, but I know that we can do it,' said Barr. Statewide, Republicans outnumber Democrats by 1.3 million. By the 2027 election, Barr said it's his hope to cut the Republican disadvantage here in Duval down to fewer than 5,000. Regardless of party or county, you can register to vote online here. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland is latest Republican exploring run for mayor
Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland is exploring a run for mayor in 2027, saying he is "all in" on becoming a candidate but wants to gauge whether there is a path for a Republican challenger to defeat Democratic incumbent Donna Deegan. He joins City Council member Ron Salem among current Republican officeholders considering a challenge to Deegan. Three Republicans have already filed including the founder of the Grounds of Grace coffee company. Holland, who has repeatedly won countywide races for property appraiser and supervisor of elections, has tested running for mayor in previous election cycles. He said he's reached the point in his career that if he's going to run for mayor, the 2027 election would be the last slot for him to do it. "This is my window, my opportunity to do this," he said. "I'm not discouraging anyone from running. It's going to take several people running to really find out what the electorate wants." He said he has told his supporters that if he runs, he'll pledge to serve just one four-year term as mayor. "I think there are some real serious issues to come in the next term and I don't want to run with the mindset of how do I get re-elected," he said. Holland would be a familiar name on the ballot. He served on City Council from 1999 to 2005 when he won a special election for Supervisor of Elections. He served 10 years in that post and then won election as property appraiser from 2015 to 2023 when voters elected him again as supervisor of elections. He said compared to recent mayors who did not have prior experience in elected office, he thinks his background would be an asset. He said he understands the city's budget and would have a good working relationship with Republicans and Democrats on City Council. He said he plans to do polling after City Council approves the 2025-26 budget and then aim for making a decision in November. Salem, who has won election twice in countywide voting for an at-large council seat, also has said he is considering a run for mayor. "I travel around town and I run into people who encourage me to get into that race and I will continue to evaluate it," Salem said. "I think there's still ample time to determine if the community would rally around my candidacy if I ran." Salem will be in the thick of the summer budget hearings because he serves on the council's Finance Committee. Three Republicans have filed so far for the 2027 mayor's race: Ronald "Ron" Armstrong, Jr., Harry Daniel Long III and Brian Hicks. Armstrong has been the most active candidate. He has raised $13,476 and created a campaign website while doing a petition drive to qualify him for the 2027 ballot. He founded Grounds of Grace coffee company that supports Sponsored by Grace, a nonprofit that works on community revitalization and helping children who are growing up in poverty. In a campaign video, Armstrong said he was addicted to drugs and alcohol when he came to Jacksonville in 2010, but he was able to gain purpose "when the Gospel changed my life." He said others helped put him on a path toward sobriety and starting a family. "I was given a chance I didn't deserve right here in this city and that's why I'm running for the mayor of Jacksonville in 2027 to serve this city that gave me a chance," he said. UNF poll: Views on Mayor Deegan, Sheriff Waters and State Attorney Melissa Nelson Campaign trail: JSO commander Deborah Wesley runs for council seat as incumbent Freeman weighs House race His website says his initiatives include expanding mental health resources, strengthening families and revitalizing communities. "What would it look like if we bridged the gap between the life we hope for and the people we can be?" he said in his campaign video. "Join me in the movement to bridge the gap." This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland weighs mayoral run Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Florida mayor urges calm after dramatic arrest of driver whose window was smashed by police
A Florida mayor has urged calm after video emerged of a black driver having his window smashed by police during an arrest. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said she understands the public 'angst' over the dramatic clip of William McNeil Jr's detention on February 19. But she has called for civility as an investigation into the incident continues. Plea for civility: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan has weighed in on the controversy surrounding William McNeil Jr's violent arrest Glass flies: Dashboard footage from the February 19 arrest showed Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officers breaking McNeil's window - even as he seemed to comply with their orders The driver was pulled over because he did not have his headlights on. In the dashboard footage, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officers were seen breaking McNeil's window, punching him in the face, pulling him out of his car, then striking him again as they threw him to the ground to arrest him. 'I understand the angst. I understand the upset, I get all of that,' Deegan told News4Jax. 'But at the end of the day, let's wait and see where it all goes. Hopefully there's a good resolution. 'I am a very pragmatic thinker when it comes to how these things go, and it's not to diminish whatever happened there. 'I'm simply saying there has to be an investigative process,' the mayor continued, adding she has 'faith that that process will be carried out.' 'But I can't really say much beyond that because there is a lawsuit that may happen,' as McNeil has now retained famed civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and Harry Daniels to represent him after they said the now-viral video sparked 'outrage across the country.' A police report obtained by News4Jax stated that McNeil, 22, was pulled over after an officer allegedly saw his headlights and taillights were off in inclement weather. But when the video begins, McNeil expresses confusion about why he was pulled over with another officer, who is on the passenger side of his car. 'When he pulled me over, he walked up and I opened my door because my window doesn't work, and I said, "What did I do wrong?"' McNeil said. 'He said, "Well, for one, your headlights are off under this weather." I'm like there's multiple people with their headlights off first of all, and then there's no rain.' The officer whom McNeil was talking to replied: 'It doesn't matter. You're still required to have headlights on.' McNeil asked the officer to show him the law that requires that, and the officer told him he would once he stepped out of the vehicle. At that point, the college student asked the officer to call his supervisor - when Officer D Bowen smashed his window and punched him in the face while shouting at him to exit the vehicle. In the police report, Bowen alleged that he believed McNeil was reaching for a knife under his seat and was 'continuing to pull away from officers' during his arrest. Yet McNeil's video showed that when Bowen broke the window and punched McNeil asked him to show his hands, McNeil complied. It also seemingly refuted Bowen's claim that McNeil was not wearing his seatbelt - as the North Carolina college student could be seen with his buckle across his chest, and Bowen having to unbuckle it himself. Ugly scenes: Cops from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office broke McNeil's window, punched him in the face, pulled him out of his car, then hit him again as they threw him to the ground Once McNeil was free, he was pulled out of the car and was punched by a second officer, while a group of cops forced him to the ground. An officer then shouted, 'What is wrong with you?' but when McNeil tried to reply that he was putting his hands behind his back, the cops told him to stop talking. At a news conference on Wednesday, McNeil claimed he suffered from a concussion and a tooth fracture that required nine stitches in the aftermath. 'That day I just really wanted to know why I was getting pulled over and why I needed to step out of the car,' he said. 'I didn't do anything wrong. I was really just scared,' McNeil insisted, though he ultimately pleaded guilty to resisting arrest without violence and driving with a suspended license, according to Fox 13. His attorneys are now arguing the violent arrest was the result of racism - noting that McNeil is a black man and the arresting officers were white. 'What happened to William McNeil Jr is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights - like asking why you've been pulled over - can be met with violence for black Americans,' they said in a statement. Struggle: McNeil was punched again and after was pulled out of the car and told to stop talking while he tried to explain to cops that he was putting his hands behind his back 'William was calm and compliant. Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight. 'This wasn't law enforcement, it was brutality,' the lawyers continued, urging the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to release all video from the incident. 'We demand full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and justice for William McNeil Jr' Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters has since announced that he has instructed his department to begin both a criminal and administrative review of his officers' actions. 'These administrative reviews are ongoing, but the state attorney's office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law,' he said as he released body camera footage from the incident. It showed McNeil had been repeatedly told to exit his vehicle when officers first pulled him over. He had his car door open at the time - but he later closed it and appeared to keep it locked for about three minutes before the cops forcibly removed him. 'Yes, there was force that was absolutely used by the arresting officers and yes, that force is ugly,' the sheriff acknowledged. 'The reality is that all force, all violence is ugly. Just because force is ugly does not mean it's unlawful or contrary to policy.' Florida Gov Ron DeSantis also defended the officers' actions, as he implied McNeil's video was posted online to advance a 'narrative' and generate attention on social media. 'That's what happens in so many of these things. There's a rush to judgment,' he told The Hill. 'There's... a desire to try to get views and clicks by creating division.' In the meantime, Mayor Deegan said she is asking the public 'to be a little patient' while the investigation continues.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Mayor weighs into dramatic arrest of driver after footage of cops smashing his window went viral
The mayor of a Florida city where cops were caught on camera smashing a driver's window because he did not have his headlights on has weighed in on the controversy. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said she understands the public's frustration with the events surrounding William McNeil Jr.'s arrest on February 19 - but urged civility as an investigation into the incident continues. In the dashboard footage, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officers were seen breaking McNeil's window, punching him in the face, pulling him out of his car, then striking him again as they threw him to the ground to arrest him. 'I understand the angst. I understand the upset, I get all of that,' she said. 'But at the end of the day, let's wait and see where it all goes. Hopefully there's a good resolution,' Deegan told News4Jax. 'I am a very pragmatic thinker when it comes to how these things go, and it's not to diminish whatever happened there, I'm simply saying there has to be an investigative process,' the mayor continued, adding that she has 'faith that that process will be carried out.' 'But I can't really say much beyond that because there is a lawsuit that may happen,' as McNeil has now retained famed civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and Harry Daniels to represent him after they said his now-viral video sparked 'outrage across the country.' A police report obtained by News4Jax stated that McNeil, 22, was pulled over after an officer allegedly saw his headlights and taillights were off in inclement weather. But when the video begins, McNeil expresses confusion about why he was pulled over with another officer, who is on the passenger side of his car. 'When he pulled me over, he walked up and I opened my door because my window doesn't work, and I said, "What did I do wrong?"' McNeil said. 'He said, "Well, for one, your headlights are off under this weather." I'm like there's multiple people with their headlights off first of all, and then there's no rain.' The officer whom McNeil was talking to replied, 'It doesn't matter. You're still required to have headlights on.' McNeil asked the officer to show him the law that requires that, and the officer told him he would once he stepped out of the vehicle. At that point, the college student asked the officer to call his supervisor - when Officer D. Bowen smashed his window and punched him in the face while shouting at him to exit the vehicle. In the police report, Bowen alleged that he believed McNeil was reaching for a knife under his seat and was 'continuing to pull away from officers' during his arrest. Yet McNeil's video showed that when Bowen broke the window and punched McNeil asked him to show his hands, McNeil complied. It also seemingly refuted Bowen's claim that McNeil was not wearing his seatbelt - as the North Carolina college student could be seen with his buckle across his chest, and Bowen having to unbuckle it himself. Once McNeil was free, he was pulled out of the car and was punched by a second officer, while a group of cops forced him to the ground. An officer then shouted, 'What is wrong with you?' but when McNeil tried to reply that he was putting his hands behind his back, the cops told him to stop talking. At a news conference on Wednesday, McNeil claimed he suffered from a concussion and a tooth fracture that required nine stitches in the aftermath. 'That day I just really wanted to know why I was getting pulled over and why I needed to step out of the car,' he said. 'I didn't do anything wrong. I was really just scared,' McNeil insisted, though he ultimately pleaded guilty to resisting arrest without violence and driving with a suspended license, according to Fox 13. His attorneys are now arguing the violent arrest was the result of racism - noting that McNeil is a black man and the arresting officers were white. 'What happened to William McNeil Jr. is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights - like asking why you've been pulled over - can be met with violence for black Americans,' they said in a statement. 'William was calm and compliant. Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight. 'This wasn't law enforcement, it was brutality,' the lawyers continued, urging the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to release all video from the incident. 'We demand full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and justice for William McNeil Jr.' Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters has since announced that he has instructed his department to begin both a criminal and administrative review of his officers' actions. 'These administrative reviews are ongoing, but the state attorney's office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law,' he said as he released body camera footage from the incident. It showed McNeil had been repeatedly told to exit his vehicle when officers first pulled him over. He had his car door open at the time - but he later closed it and appeared to keep it locked for about three minutes before the cops forcibly removed him. 'Yes, there was force that was absolutely used by the arresting officers and yes, that force is ugly,' the sheriff acknowledged. 'The reality is that all force, all violence is ugly. Just because force is ugly does not mean it's unlawful or contrary to policy.' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also defended the officers' actions, as he implied McNeil's video was posted online to advance a 'narrative' and generate attention on social media. 'That's what happens in so many of these things. There's a rush to judgment,' he told The Hill. 'There's... a desire to try to get views and clicks by creating division.' In the meantime, Mayor Deegan said she is asking the public 'to be a little patient' while the investigation continues.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Jacksonville mayor says viral police punch video 'disturbing' as probe moves forward
The mayor of a Florida city where a viral video was recorded showing an officer punching a male driver in the face during a traffic stop has described the incident as disturbing and called on due process to run its course. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said she understands the public's frustration and emphasized she is taking a pragmatic approach to it. "I understand the angst," Deegan told local news outlet News4Jax. "I understand the upset. I get all of that. But at the end of the day, let's wait and see where it all goes. Hopefully, there's a good resolution." The video, which was taken in February, began circulating on social media last week and shows William McNeil Jr. staring at the camera as an officer is seen smashing his driver's side window and demanding that he get out. "Exit the vehicle now!" the officer says. The officer then strikes McNeil in the face before he is dragged out of the car and taken into custody. The viral footage began with McNeil talking to an officer about why he was pulled over, recounting how an officer told him his headlights were off during apparent inclement weather. In the bodycam footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, McNeil is seen refusing to hand over his license, registration and proof of insurance. McNeil remains in the vehicle and the window was eventually smashed. Officers said they found a large unsheathed serrated knife on the driver's side floorboard of McNeil's vehicle. Deegan said that some people have expressed frustration that she hasn't expressed more outrage. "I am a very pragmatic thinker when it comes to how these things go, and it's not to diminish whatever happened there, I'm simply saying there has to be an investigative process, Deegan said. "I have faith that that process will be carried out and we'll see where it goes. But I can't really say much beyond that because there is a lawsuit that may happen." Deegan reminded viewers that Jacksonville has a consolidated government meaning she and the sheriff, Sheriff T.K. Waters, are independently elected and have separate responsibilities. "It is my job to run the city. It is his job to run the police department." She credited Waters for releasing the bodycam video and attempting to be transparent, though she stopped short of making judgments. "He shows the video. He shows the bodycam videos. However you feel about this, I think that the sheriff has come out and tried to be as transparent as he can with the process," Deegan said. "I think that I would just ask people to be a little patient. Waters said Monday while releasing a longer bodycam video of the incident that he had instructed his agency to immediately began both a criminal and administrative review of the officers' actions. "These administrative reviews are ongoing, but the state attorney's office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law," Waters said. Attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels announced they are now representing McNeil after the video sparked "outrage across the country." They said there was a racial component to the incident, given that McNeil is a Black man and the officers are white. "What happened to William McNeil Jr. is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights — like asking why you've been pulled over — can be met with violence for Black Americans," they said in a statement. "William was calm and compliant. Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight," "This wasn't law enforcement, it was brutality. All video from JSO should be released to ensure there is transparency for McNeil and the community. We demand full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and justice for William McNeil Jr."
