Fw: Jacksonville Bold for 6.24.26: Copyright kerfuffle

Senate controversy, housing news and political moves dominate Jacksonville ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Angie Nixon is making her bid for the U.S. Senate, and she’s leaning on her record as a vocal advocate for progressive policies during her time on the House floor. Case in point: On June 2, the Jacksonville Democrat posted a video on Threads featuring her speech on The Florida Channel, in which she called for greater investment in affordable housing. But there’s a catch. The video was produced with taxpayer dollars, and state law is clear: campaigns cannot use such footage for commercial purposes, including campaign messaging, without explicit permission. Nixon argues that this shouldn’t be an issue, saying her social media accounts are personal, not official campaign platforms. Angie Nixon makes her point on the House floor during the 2026 Legislative Session. “This wasn’t the campaign that did it. Which is why campaign info wasn’t on it,” she told Florida Politics about the post. “I used this account before I filed to run for office. Always shared Florida Channel info, much like every other Representative and Senator does.” Threads, the social media platform, only launched in 2023 — well after Nixon’s first election to the Florida House. Her Threads account is linked to an Instagram profile she started in March 2020, the same year she won her House seat. Many lawmakers indeed share clips from The Florida Channel, the state-funded outlet that broadcasts every minute of floor debate during Legislative Sessions. The Legislature allocates funding to the channel each year as part of its public affairs programming. Political consultants familiar with the rules told Florida Politics that it’s widely understood: using Florida Channel footage for campaign purposes is off-limits. One consultant noted that the only legal way to use such video is to purchase it directly from official House or Senate videographers. This isn’t a new issue for The Florida Channel. Unauthorized use of its footage has been a recurring problem, prompting the outlet to start displaying disclaimers on its online feeds back in 2017. “ANY editing, embedding or distribution is strictly PROHIBITED,” reads a message before users can play any video. “Direct linking to complete video files is permissible, except in the case of political campaigns.” Indeed, state law makes use of public educational broadcasting, a category that includes The Florida Channel, punishable as a second-degree misdemeanor with up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Nixon maintains that the accounts where she shares video aren’t used exclusively for campaign purposes. “I don’t have official campaign accounts. They’re personal, which is why I share personal things on them often,” she said. “You see, I am also sharing info on my wedding anniversary. I share info on my kids.”

House party   Duval County's House Districts 13 and 14 are drawn with a heavy Democratic advantage and with less than two months before the Aug. 18 Primaries that will decide their futures, two known political quantities are best positioned to win. The one in HD 13, former Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson, seeks a return to the Florida House, where she served for four terms ending in 2010. Audrey Gibson and Kim Daniels lead fundraising in key Jacksonville House Primaries. And the one in HD 14, Rep. Kim Daniels, is seeking her third term in her current role and her fifth term in the House in total. Both face intraparty opponents, and both are ahead in fundraising to date. In HD 13, which includes the Westside and Northwest Jacksonville, Gibson has raised $17,361 and has spent $2,514 so far. Leslie Jean-Bart, a local attorney and political activist who last ran for the House against Daniels several cycles back, entered the race less than a month ago and has some ground to make up. She has raised $2,350 and lent her campaign $2,000 and has spent $2,022 so far. Write-in Brice Gaillard theoretically awaits the winner in the General Election. Self-funding is going the other way in HD 14, a District that includes the Northside, Downtown, Brooklyn, Arlington, and other parts of the Southside. Daniels, a preacher by trade, is lending her campaign money as she has throughout her political career. She's put in $35,000 of her own cash and supplemented it with $21,840 in fundraising. Daniels’ sole opponent, Rhian Tutson, is a former Florida Highway Patrol trooper, a DCPS technical manager, and an appointed Commissioner on the Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission. Tutson has raised $1,838, lent herself $150, and has spent $1,836 so far on qualifying and setting up a UPS box. No one filed to close the Primary, meaning that everyone in the District will be able to vote on August 18.

Deegan dollars   A real estate company that Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan has trumpeted gave the most money of any entity to her Duval for All political committee in the first 12 days of June. JWB Real Estate, whose HomeStep down-payment assistance program was promoted by Deegan in 2024, gave $24,000 of the $55,250 raised to the account during the abbreviated fundraising period. Donna Deegan continues building a sizable campaign war chest ahead of Jacksonville’s next Mayoral Election. The company has made news for pre-emptively rejecting applicants with eviction proceedings filed against them, a claim some say also excludes Black applicants. It also charged early termination fees to military tenants in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which it attributes to an administrative error. JWB President Alex Sifakis served on a Deegan transition committee in 2023, and the relationship between the company and the chief executive has only flourished since. The company has given the political action committee more than $52,000 since November 2024. Deegan's committee now has nearly $1.7 million on hand, and thus far, significant opposition hasn't filed to run against her, even though nine candidates are currently running in total. The group's strongest fundraiser, Republican Ronald Armstrong, has less than $6,000 in his campaign account. Megachurch Eleven22 and its pastor, Joby Martin, are helping to get the candidate on the ballot. "He's just doing what the Lord's told him to do," Martin said during a recent service. Armstrong isn't likely to be the establishment Republican candidate. House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan is expected to launch a campaign. Duggan and other candidates have time to make a move. Qualifying for the 2027 Mayoral Election is in January.

Sing-alongs only   Sen. Clay Yarborough wants to know more about how the city of Jacksonville plans to celebrate its LGBTQ+ community next week, but representatives of Deegan say there is nothing to be concerned about. In a letter, the Senator wondered what "speeches, presentations, and live performances" are being contemplated for the annual Pride Month celebration in the City Hall atrium. The event starts at 10 a.m. on June 26. Jacksonville’s annual Pride Month celebration returns to City Hall next week. "Because the advertisement is publicly posted and with City Hall being a taxpayer-funded, publicly accessible building, it is assumed that minor children are also being encouraged to attend and celebrate at this event at which the presentations and live performances are planned to take place," Yarborough wrote. He invoked SB 1438, which takes issue with performance that "depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or specific sexual activities" and "appeals to a prurient, shameful, or morbid interest," as the legal basis for his concern. A spokesperson for Deegan’s Office said Yarborough’s concerns are unfounded, as no "drag performances or adult-themed content" are planned. Rather, the performances contemplated are chorus versions of Cyndi Lauper’s "True Colors" and of "Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz." "We are not aware of any state law that bans singing," Deegan’s spokesperson added. Deegan's support of the LGBTQ+ community has nettled Republicans at times. In 2023, the Mayor was the grand marshal of a Pride parade, at which it was alleged that condoms were thrown at attendees by participants in the event.

Millie’s moment   Duval County Democrats are going in a new direction regarding the Chair of the local party during this year’s gubernatorial election cycle and an early 2027 local cycle. Millie Leeds is the group's new leader. The longtime activist and operative takes over from Daniel Henry, who is stepping down after more than seven years at the helm of a county party that saw more short-term Chairs in the years leading up to him. The high points of his run were flipping the Mayor's Office Democratic with the election of Donna Deegan in 2023, a shift preceded by Joe Biden carrying the county three years earlier. Millie Leeds takes over as Chair of the Duval County Democratic Party. Henry is a rising star in the state party, and he will continue to serve as First Vice Chair under Nikki Fried. Leeds comes to her current role after having been Second Vice Chair of the local party, President of the Jacksonville Young Democrats, Press Secretary, and northeast regional director for the Florida Young Democrats, in addition to working on the Kamala Harris campaign for President. She sees mobilizing the grassroots as key to her job. "For too long, political organizations have often been forced to focus on one voter-contact effort at a time," Leeds continued. "By building a stronger foundation today, we can create the capacity to run multiple programs simultaneously — from canvassing and phone banking to texting, postcard writing, digital outreach, and candidate support. The future of our party depends on building a larger, more connected team that can engage voters in every neighborhood of Duval County." Republicans have made inroads over the years into what once was a healthy Democratic advantage in registered voters in Duval County. Democrats have a roughly 5,000-voter advantage among more than 644,000 registered voters. Republicans have done a better job of turning out their voters, meaning that Democrats, in winning elections such as the 2023 Mayoral race, relied on winning the war for non-party and Republican crossover voters.

7-OH no   Attorney General James Uthmeier is adding more 7-OH-related products and chemicals to a list of banned substances in Florida. Uthmeier said he has signed an emergency rule expanding the number of banned substances. Those products contain chemicals that are derivatives of or similar to 7-OH, shorthand for hydroxymitragynine. Uthmeier invoked an executive order in August to ban the drug, which he said is an offshoot of the opioid crisis. The drug was readily available at smoke shops, vape stores, convenience stores and gas stations. James Uthmeier expands Florida’s crackdown on 7-OH products and related compounds. The additional products restricted under the expanded order include Hydroxy, 7Tabz and 7OHMZ. Additional chemicals that are being banned include 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, 7-acetoxymitragynine, 9-hydroxycorynantheidine, 10-hydroxycorynantheidine, MGM-15 and MGM-16. The provisions of the expanded executive order include a rule that no product may contain more than 1 milligram of the chemicals per gram. Any product containing any amount of 7-OH or its related compounds must also contain at least 100 times more regular mitragynine by mass. That criterion is so high that manufacturers won’t be able to meet it, thereby keeping the product off store shelves. The rule also mandates Schedule I placement, which enables felony-level arrests, prosecutions, product seizures and shutdowns of illegal manufacturers and sellers. The chemical 7-OH is a derivative of the plant kratom, which is cultivated generally in Asian countries and has been drawing increasing attention as use of the substance is growing. Rep. Dean Black said he’s committed to adding the new elements to the bill he sponsored in the House. “We face a true public health emergency. … People are dying, and people’s lives are being ruined,” the Jacksonville Republican said.

House huntin’   The cost of buying a house on the First Coast rose in May. The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) released market data on the median price of a single-family home in the six-county region. The cost of a home increased to $410,000 in May, up 6.1% from a year ago, when the median price was $386,500. It’s also a jump from the April median price of $390,000, a 5.1% jump. Home prices on the First Coast continue climbing despite mixed sales activity. Home sales were mixed, though. There were 1,969 closings on the First Coast last month, down from May 2025, when 2,064 homes sold. That’s a 16.2% decline. But sales increased from the previous month, with 1,914 homes sold in April, representing a 2.9% increase. NEFAR President Kim Knapp said she’s upbeat about the First Coast housing market. “May’s data highlights a market that is adjusting to a more sustainable pace. Inventory growth is creating additional opportunities for buyers, while strong consumer interest continues to support home values and sales activity,” Knapp said. The inventory numbers were also mixed. There were 7,109 homes on the First Coast market in May, a notable 15.1% drop from May 2025, when there were 8,370 homes for sale. But last month’s inventory was an 8.6% increase from April’s figure of 6,544. Duval County, home to Jacksonville and the region’s largest market, saw notable declines in home sales in May, with 926 closings. That’s an 11% drop from a year ago and a 2.3% decline from April. The median sales price came in at $340,000, a 3.5% uptick from last year and a 3% increase compared to April. St. Johns County, one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties, posted solid home sales, with 576 in May. That’s a 5.9% jump over May 2025 and a 14.5% increase compared to April. The median sales price came in at $580,000, a 5.5% increase from a year ago, but a 1.2% decline from April. Nassau County had 121 closed sales in May, a 1.6% decline from the prior year. But it’s a 9% hike from April. The median sales price in Nassau was $480,000 in May, a 3.6% increase in both the annual and monthly comparisons. Clay County’s housing market struggled a bit in May, with 297 sales. That’s a 1.7% increase in the year-over-year gauge, but a 2.3% drop from April. The Clay median sales price was $359,900 last month, a 2.5% decline from May 2025 and a 1.4% fall from April.

Affordable assistance   Two nonprofit organizations seeking to help in the affordable housing crisis on the First Coast just got a big helping hand. JPMorganChase provided $650,000 to both Ability Housing and United Way of Northeast Florida. The funding will be used to update the organization's financial systems and information technology. That will all eventually assist both groups in helping families find and stay in homes they can afford. Ability Housing and United Way of Northeast Florida receive housing-focused grants from JPMorganChase. Ability Housing will use $350,000 to improve efficiency in leasing rental units at the 92-unit Villages of New Augustine in St. Augustine. United Way will use a $300,000 grant to enhance its Jacksonville Community Development Corporation and build upon its efforts to address financial instability among families in the First Coast region. “The funding to upgrade our financial and IT systems arrives at a perfect time, as we are growing, intending to support the demand for more affordable housing units,” said Reggie Fullwood, CEO of Ability Housing. Betsheell “Billie” Udofia, Vice President & Program Officer for Global Philanthropy at JPMorganChase, said the contribution is part of the company’s commitment to community. “It takes collaboration at all levels to solve Northeast Florida’s affordable housing challenges. When we work together, we can build a stronger foundation for future impact,” Udofia said. “We’re proud to collaborate with Ability Housing and United Way of Northeast Florida to reinforce this essential work to create real progress and face this crisis head-on.”

Normandy Landing   Housing Trust Group has broken ground on Normandy Cove, a 144-unit affordable housing community on Jacksonville’s Westside that will reserve half its apartments for active-duty military members and veterans. The development, planned for 7375 Sheldon Drive, will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for income-qualifying residents earning 30%, 60% and 70% of the area median income. Monthly rents are expected to range from about $470 to $1,716, News4JAX first reported. Normandy Cove breaks ground on Jacksonville’s Westside with housing reserved for veterans and military families. The military and veteran set-aside includes 5% of units for veterans experiencing homelessness. HTG is partnering with Hope4Veterans and the Sulzbacher Center to connect residents with services, including employment assistance, financial management, homeownership opportunities and veteran-focused programming. “Normandy Cove is a direct response to the housing mismatch in Jacksonville, where service members and working families are increasingly being priced out of the communities they serve,” said Matthew A. Rieger, HTG’s President and CEO. The financing stack includes $20.8 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity, a $27.5 million TD Bank construction loan, a $16.4 million Berkadia/Freddie Mac permanent loan, $11 million through the State Apartment Incentive Loan program, $1.5 million from Jacksonville’s Housing and Community Development Department Revolving Loan Fund, and $500,000 from the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority. Amenities will include a swimming pool, fitness center, business center, clubhouse, outdoor amenity deck and dedicated office and meeting space for veteran service providers. A planned second phase would add 99 units, bringing Normandy Cove to 243 residences.

Financial favors   One of Jacksonville’s top engineering firms has a new leader overseeing the company’s finances. England-Thims & Miller (ETM) has hired Stephen Baker as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer. Baker boasts 15 years of experience in finance, accounting and tax work. His background is in real estate, development and infrastructure-related projects. “Stephan’s finance experience, real estate background and strategic mindset are an excellent fit for ETM as we continue to grow,” said Tyler Mathews, President and CEO of ETM. “Stephan joins us at an important moment in our growth. His leadership will help our executive team continue building the discipline and infrastructure needed to support the opportunities ahead.” Stephen Baker joins England-Thims & Miller as Chief Financial Officer. Image England-Thims & Miller. Baker has deep roots in the Jacksonville area and is a native of the city. He’s also coming from Corner Lot, a land development firm that has been growing on the First Coast in recent years, where he was Vice President of Tax and Finance. Baker has extensive tenures at other prominent firms in Jacksonville, including a stint as Senior Tax Manager at Ernst & Young. He held the same position at KPMG and served as a Senior Tax Associate at Smoak, Davis & Nixon. Baker acknowledged that landing the CFO post with ETM is a feather in his cap. “This is an exciting opportunity to join a company that is helping shape communities across my hometown,” Baker said. “ETM has a strong reputation, a talented team, and a clear vision for growth.”

Major accomplishment for a minor   One of the young stars of golf, Jacksonville Beach’s Miles Russell, took the next step in his career and made some memories along the way. Russell, 17, qualified for last week’s U.S. Open and not only made the cut but finished tied for 39th in the process. Miles Russell celebrates a breakthrough U.S. Open performance with his father at Shinnecock Hills. After hitting his tee shot on the final hole on Father’s Day, the Jacksonville Beach native gave his father, Joe, a gift he’ll never forget. After consulting with USGA rules officials, Miles had his caddy, Ramon Bescansa, hand over the bag and bib to Joe, and the father and son walked up the 18th fairway together. What a moment. "It was a surprise," Miles Russell said. "(Former pro golfer and Jacksonville resident Steve Wheatcroft) recommended it to me at the start of the week when I qualified. And it's like, 'Oh well, I got to make the cut for it to happen, right?'" Russell made the cut and then shot even-par 70 in the final round at the challenging course at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York. His success should not be a surprise. The top-rated junior in the world played the final two rounds with another top amateur, Jackson Koivun, 21, a two-time SEC player of the year at Auburn. His first two rounds were played with three-time major champion Padraig Harrington and another Jacksonville resident, former British Open winner Cam Smith. Quite the first major for Russell. “It was a great week,” Russell said. “I mean, just to be here is an honor, and it's pretty special to be here. So, to play good golf on Thursday and Friday and make it to the weekend is really cool.” It wasn’t the first time Russell had made a notable decision involving his caddy. When Russell earned his spot in the U.S. Open in a qualifier, his caddy was a future Florida State teammate, Charlie Woods, Tiger’s son. Russell’s honors are beginning to stack up. He has won the American Junior Golf Association’s Player of the Year award twice. He nearly qualified for the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open as a 15-year-old. Then, he became the youngest player to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour, the developmental tour below the PGA Tour. He is the youngest player from the First Coast to compete in a major and the second youngest player to make the cut at the U.S. Open since World War II. Beau Hossler was four months older when he made the cut in 2012. Russell’s career is just beginning, but his performance and the memories he made with his dad will be highlights for years to come.

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