A Jacksonville Republican member of the Florida House is gearing up for re-election, and an event this evening at Epping Forest will provide fuel for the machine.

Rep. Dean Black’s event, which starts at 5:30, features a lot of prominent names on the host committee, including U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, state Sen. Clay Yarborough, House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan, state Rep. Jessica Baker, Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico, VP Nick Howland, and others.

Black, the former Chair of the Duval County Republican Party, is currently running unopposed for another term in HD 15.

Fundraising has been modest thus far. He’s raised more than $36,000 and had almost $28,000 on hand as of the end of June, which was the closing date for the quarterly reports required by the Florida Division of Elections.

Black beat Democrat Gary McManus in 2024 with 65% of the vote, so his re-election to a third term isn’t in much doubt.

Save the date

Speaking of candidates, a gubernatorial hopeful is in Jacksonville on Monday.

Former House Speaker Paul Renner will be speaking to Duval County Republicans.

Even though Gov. Ron DeSantis said Renner made an “ill-advised decision” to run, his entry complicates the race, especially given U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is running with the blessing of the President.

Florida Politics obtained the first interview with the new candidate, and if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s available here.

Union label

Mayor Donna Deegan got some key support in the property tax dispute with the City Council, which looks for a ⅛ mill cut, from public safety unions this month.

Kelly Dobson, head of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, and Randy Reeves, who helms the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 530, said the proposal “will severely damage the ability of our city to pay for needed public safety issues in the years ahead,” per Jacksonville Today.

Why this matters: The Mayor may be able to position the first responder unions so that they do not endorse opponents in 2027.

Deegan already created a path for police officers and firefighters to get on the Florida Retirement System, which is supposed to curb attrition challenges.

Time will tell if that works. But by undoing the pension reform Lenny Curry got through at the height of his political capital, Deegan clearly found a way to get the unions on board, and so far, their purpose remains united.

As of Tuesday night, the proposed millage rate reduction has not been put in the budget. Final vote is in 13 days, though, and it is expected to come up again.

Lucky 13

As uncertainty continues over the next move of incumbent Rep. Angie Nixon in Florida’s House District 13, a new candidate is launching a campaign in the safely Democratic Jacksonville seat.

Earlier this month, Shemiah Rutledge of the Northwest quadrant opened a campaign account, making her the first candidate to declare intentions ahead of next year’s elections.

The 36-year-old Rutledge, a six-year Navy veteran who just got her degree from Southern University Law Center, is preparing to take the Bar in February ahead of a career in criminal defense either in Florida or Minnesota, where she interned. So, she’ll be off the campaign trail for a few months before that.

But when she’s on the trail, don’t expect her to say anything negative about the incumbent. That represents a departure from some of the bruising campaigns Nixon has faced since 2020.

During a conversation on Friday, Rutledge praised Nixon as “a great leader” who has “done a fabulous job” and works to “bring the community together and fight for the community.”

“I’m not against Angie Nixon. She’s my current Rep., and if she does run and win, you know, good for her. I’ll just run at another time. I’m not going to sit here and knock her, nothing like that. It’s not that serious,” Rutledge said.

Gavels galore

Gov. Ron DeSantis is picking two new judges for area courtrooms.

Benjamin Rich, a former assistant state attorney in the 7th Circuit and a graduate of the Florida Coastal School of Law, will take the position left by Judge Lauren Blocker on the St. Johns County Court. Blocker was picked for a 7th Circuit vacancy back in May.

Randall Daugustinis will join Blocker on the 7th Circuit, replacing the retired Stasia Warren.

She is an FCSL graduate with experience as an ASA in the 7th and 10th Circuit.

Yoho’s pick

A former North Florida Congressman is weighing in on a Florida House race, backing Marshall Rawson over the son of the current officeholder.

“Marshall Rawson is a conservative fighter with a backbone to get things done for his constituents in Tallahassee,” said Ted Yoho, who represented Florida’s 3rd Congressional District from 2013 until 2021.

“Any Floridian can take a look at Marshall’s track record and know that he is a tried-and-true public servant and America First conservative. Marshall will stand up to the radical rhetoric of the Left and ensure that our communities are safe, our freedoms stay intact, and that we preserve our agricultural industry. I fully stand behind Marshall’s campaign and endorse him to be the next State Representative for District 10 in the Florida House.”

Rawson, a member of the Florida Guard who aided Gov. Ron DeSantis’ illegal immigration fight in Texas and who also served under Secretary of State Cord Byrd as a legal aide in addition to interning at the Department of Agriculture, is “excited and honored” by the endorsement.

“Yoho has been a bold leader when it comes to the strengthening of the U.S. on the world’s stage, an advocate of Florida agricultural growers, and in Congress, he was not afraid to vote alone when necessary. We need more independent conservatives in Tallahassee, and I look forward to being that for District 10,” Rawson said.

“His statement of support means a great deal to me as I fight for Florida’s future. Given the opportunity to serve in the state House, I promise to be a strong advocate for our farmers and ranchers and will champion our founding principles and the way of life that we cherish here in North Florida.”

Rawson is the second filed candidate, joining Chase Brannan, the son of the outgoing lawmaker, in the field.

Mousa move

A well-known local figure is going out on his own.

Nick Mousa, the son of the late Jacksonville city administrator Sam Mousa, is launching his own consultancy: Bold City Nexus.

Mousa says the new venture is “drawing on my career experience to date in business, development, and government relations” and “will be focused on partnering with organizations to help drive economic growth in all its forms.”

Most recently, Mousa served as a senior business adviser for GAI Consultants, Inc., bringing nearly a quarter century of experience to this space as a “retained fractional consultant — offering executive-level insight and hands-on support without the overhead of a full-time hire.”

Shamari Lewis can’t lose?

A Republican is leaping into a challenging Jacksonville City Council race.

Shamari Lewis will present as a candidate in heavily Democratic District 9, where incumbent Tyrona Clark-Murray is expected to run again.

“I have formally filed and entered the race for Jacksonville City Council District 9,” Lewis said during remarks outside the Duval County Supervisor of Elections office. “As a third-generation native of this community, I understand its roots as well as its challenges. I will put District 9 first, prioritizing public safety and economic opportunity. Throughout this campaign, I will work every day to earn your support and your trust. Together, we will make Jacksonville the greatest city in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.”

Aspirational words to be sure.

Murray had 55% of the vote in 2023.

Manufacturing musings

First Coast manufacturers are reporting another concerning month for production contracting in August, accounting for seven months straight of questionable indicators.

The University of North Florida (UNF) issued its monthly Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey (JEMS) report and several manufacturing sectors showed contraction or remained unchanged last month. The August results were slightly better than July’s survey, when 10 out of 12 sectors contracted.

But Albert Loh, the Interim Dean of the UNF Coggin College of Business, who oversees the survey, said there’s still hesitance and wariness among North Florida manufacturers.

“The August Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey revealed that both production and employment contracted. Export orders remained steady, inventories remained stable, and supplier deliveries slowed slightly, suggesting that supply chains are stable but strained. Overall, the data reflect a local economy that is stuck in a cautious holding pattern,” Loh said in his summary of the survey.

UNF researchers from the JEMS project reach out to First Coast manufacturing companies each month to see where they stand on production and several other factors.

While many sectors show continued signs of contraction or unchanged production, there were some positive elements to the report. New orders did expand, rising from a 43 index figure in July to 51 in August. That’s a key indicator.

The expansion means “slightly more local manufacturers are seeing an increase in new orders than those seeing a decrease,” Loh said, adding there is still some concern. “While local manufacturers are seeing new orders increase, concerns over tariffs and costs persist, and many companies remain hesitant to ramp up their operations fully.”

Other North Florida manufacturing areas that showed signs of expansion included business activity outlook over the next year, supplier delivery times and average input prices.

However, there are a dozen sectors that the survey measures, and the remaining eight either contracted or remained unchanged in August.

Overseas head honcho

JAXPORT officials announced this month that Juan Pablo Acosta Magana has joined the commercial team of the hub and is taking over the job that oversees the cargo shipments to and from Latin America. That includes shipping interests to South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Magana has about two decades of experience in international trade and logistics. He’s also worked in Latin America, augmenting shipping on the global market. He served in sales and customer service roles at shipping companies such as Maersk Line, Hapag-Lloyd, and Hamburg Süd, and has experience in supply chain coordination and management.

Magana is a native of Venezuela and earned his master’s degree in science in logistics and supply chain management from Florida International University.

UNF for real?

UNF is getting real by offering more curricula in artificial intelligence (AI).

UNF announced there is now instruction for an “AI for Work and Life” certificate program at the Southside Jacksonville campus. The program began registration on Monday and will finish classes for enrollees on Dec. 31. The program is free.

“UNF is offering this bold and innovative AI for Work and Life certificate program to help the public navigate a time when AI is quickly transforming the world,” said UNF President Moez Limayem. “We are proud to offer this certificate free for the remainder of 2025, since understanding and applying AI appropriately can help unlock opportunities at work and beyond.”

The program is not limited to UNF students and is open to anyone wanting to enroll. It’s specifically open to professionals from any line of work, along with the school’s students who are focusing on getting ready for jobs in and related to AI. There are no prerequisites for entering the program.

“This certificate is designed to give everyone an entry point into the world of artificial intelligence, whether you’re a high school graduate curious about how AI is changing the job market or a lifelong learner who wants to keep up with the rapidly evolving technological landscape,” said Josh Gellers, a UNF professor who serves as the first Faculty Fellow for AI and is Director of the Digital Humanities Institute. “Above all, this program approaches AI in a way that is both informative and fun.”

Marketing Maven

Baptist Health is adding a new executive to the Jacksonville organization.

Sarah C. Sanders was named executive vice president and Chief Consumer Officer effective Monday. She’ll lead digital strategy for the hospital network in North Florida and Southeast Georgia. She will also oversee marketing, communications, advertising, community impact, and other initiatives involving media and community engagement.

“Sarah is an innovative and mission-focused leader with a remarkable ability to get to the heart of a community’s health care needs,” said Michael A. Mayo, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “Her leadership will be invaluable as we continue to build meaningful relationships with our patients, ensuring they feel seen, heard and cared for throughout every step of their health care journey.”

Sanders has more than two decades of experience in marketing and communications in the health care field. She arrives in Jacksonville after serving as Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the University of California, San Francisco Health System.

“It’s a privilege to join an institution so deeply rooted in the community and trusted by generations of patients and families,” said Sanders. “I’m looking forward to strengthening these connections so that we can continue to meet patients where they are, providing guidance and care that truly fits their needs.”

United St. Johns Way

St. Johns County Commissioner Sarah Arnold is stepping up her community service as she’s joining the Board of Directors for the United Way of Florida.

Arnold, who holds the District 2 Commission seat, announced she’s now helping to run the charity on the state level.

“I am humbled by the extraordinary opportunity to represent Northeast Florida, specifically, St. Johns County,” said Arnold. “Having grown up volunteering with United Way, working as an employee for United Way of St. Johns County, and now this ‘full circle’ moment of serving on the Board of Governors, I am so grateful to be afforded this pathway to make a difference throughout the state of Florida.”

Arnold moves into the statewide network, which is the umbrella for 28 local United Way organizations that serve Florida’s 67 counties.

The United Way of Florida welcomed Arnold into the fold.

“The heart that Sarah Arnold brings to the work of United Way is palpable,” said Melissa Nelson, President and CEO of United Way of Florida. “But it isn’t just her passion; it is the commitment and insights she brings to serve Florida residents who struggle financially or when responding to challenges in life.”

Palm Coast is fire

Palm Coast is putting on the finishing touches on the last elements of a new fire station in the coastal community.

The city literally topped off its latest Fire Station 22 at Palm Coast Parkway Northeast and Colbert Lane. City officials announced the final beam was placed on the top of the station by contractor Wharton-Smith and design team Schenkel Shultz.

The latest facility is one of two new fire stations that are in the final stages of construction in the Flagler County town. The other is Fire Station 26 in Seminal Woods.

“What an exciting day for the City of Palm Coast,” Johnston shared. “This fire station, here at Palm Coast Parkway and Colbert Lane, and its sister station in Seminole Woods, represent an investment in lives because every minute saved can mean the difference between devastation and hope. Just as this structure reaches higher, so does our commitment to our residents. We are building for today, but we are also building for tomorrow — a stronger, safer Palm Coast.”

Jaguars deploy Tank to Philly

An NFL team rarely carries four running backs on the active roster. Even more rare is that all four are active on game day. But that’s the way the Jaguars trotted out for the season opener Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

It will not be the same moving forward.

On Monday, the Jaguars traded running back Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles for a pair of draft picks.

Bigsby ran for a team-high 766 yards and seven touchdowns. Now, he’s joining the defending Super Bowl champions.

Why the move?

This offseason, under new general manager James Gladstone and new head coach Liam Coen, the Jaguars decided that they could do better with the running game. The team used a pair of draft picks on the position, selecting Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and choosing Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen in the seventh round. Tuten has the speed to be a game-breaker, while Allen excels at pass protection and was a tremendous pass catcher in college, setting Syracuse running back records with 64 receptions and 521 receiving yards in 2024.

When Travis Etienne, who was limited by injuries last season, returned to form in training camp, the Jaguars began to consider their options.

For now, each of the three remaining running backs will play a different role. Etienne will serve as the starter and figures to get the bulk of the carries. Tuten is seen as a starter in the making and will undoubtedly fill the role as the backup. Allen will see the field on most third-down plays because of his pass blocking and receiving ability.

Etienne is signed through the end of the season, having exercised his fifth-year option as a first-round pick. The question remains as to his future. If Etienne has a strong season, as he did in 2022 and 2023 when he topped 1,000 yards, it makes sense for the Jaguars to sign him to a new deal. However, there is always a risk as running backs age. While Etienne is only 26, he missed his rookie season with an injury, and how he plays the rest of the season will dictate his future.

On Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Etienne ran for 143 yards, nearly half coming on the longest run of his career, a 71-yard scamper that set up a touchdown. It was the first time in more than a year that Etienne had looked as explosive as he did in his early career and in college at Clemson.

“You could feel him all day. You definitely felt him having a little bit more burst than maybe other guys on the grass,” Coen said. “He looked fresh, he looked fast, he took care of the football. He did a great job.”

The Jaguars will look to build on the season-opening win on Sunday as they travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

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