With the City Council At-Large Group 5 race wide open, three newcomers running for public office are seeking the seat.
The field includes two executives from the nonprofit sector and a former vice chair of the local Republican Party organization.
The five at-large council members represent the entire county, as opposed to their 14 colleagues who represent geographical districts.
The race became one that will definitely put a new council member in office when Robin Lumb announced in December he would not seek a second term.
Samuel C. Newby, who has worked for PepsiCo for nearly 30 years, is a former vice chairman of the Republican Party of Duval County and one of the founders and former chairman of the Florida Assembly of Black Republicans.
Newby also served as president of the Joseph E. Lee Republican Club and chairman of the board of Johnson Family YMCA.
He serves on the board of the Wayman Academy of the Arts Charter School.
He said his priorities will be community safety, education and promoting business development.
Newby would support hiring as many as 100 police officers, but said crime prevention programs for young people also must be enhanced.
“As an African-American male, until I was 40 years old, I was afraid of the police,” he said. “We need to bring the police and youth together.”
Newby said he would work with the Duval County School Board to improve education, which he called “the key to a great city” and one of the elements Jacksonville could use to attract businesses.
To support small business development, Newby said he would seek to establish a task force that would study ways to make it easier to start a small business in Jacksonville.
Describing himself as “the only conservative in the race,” Newby said he would not raise taxes and believes the best financial course for Jacksonville is to “live within our means.”
Newby has raised nearly $11,000, including a personal contribution of $5,350.
Democrat Ju’Coby Pittman is CEO and president of the Clara White Mission. One of her goals will be to advocate for the nonprofit community during the city’s annual budget process.
“Every year, the nonprofit community is at City Hall, pleading, and every year we get cut,” said Pittman.
“We need a fresh perspective on the council and someone who can help the other members understand the importance of nonprofits,” she said. “Instead of becoming disenchanted, I decided to offer myself as a candidate.”
The city’s pension obligation to police officers and firefighters also is on Pittman’s agenda.
Providing more police officers in high-crime neighborhoods and creating crime prevention programs for young people also are part of her platform.
“We need more after school programs in neighborhoods,” Pittman said.
While working to attract businesses to Jacksonville is key, it’s equally important to sustain existing businesses, she said.
Pittman has raised $77,425 for her campaign, including a personal contribution of $8,000.
Republican Michelle Tappouni also has a background in the nonprofit sector.
A 25-year veteran of the construction industry, Tappouni is property development manager for Ability Housing. The organization develops affordable rental housing for homeless families and individuals and for adults with disabilities.
She is chair of the city Environmental Protection Board and was chair of the JAX2025 Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force.
She said she thought of herself as a person who works behind the scenes, but after observing almost every council meeting the past eight years, she decided to seek a seat on the dais.
“I realized I know the answers to questions council is asked,” Tappouni said. “I feel very ready to jump in there.”
She cited the pension as a major issue facing the city. If an agreement is not reached before July 1 when the new council is sworn in, that will be the new group’s top priority, she said.
On the subject of Downtown revitalization, Tappouni said there’s quite a bit of momentum, considering the proposal to redevelop the Laura Street Trio and the Barnett Bank Building, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s plan for the Shipyards property and the residential and retail project slated for the former JEA site along the Southbank.
“There is no lack of opportunity,” she said. “We have to make sure that City Council and the administration are ready to take action and work together.”
Tappouni has raised $76,345, including a personal contribution of $2,024.
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