Voters elect Jennifer Webb, Jennifer Daunch to Gulfport City Council

A pair of Jennifer’s are joining the Gulfport City Council following Tuesday night’s municipal election.

Former state Rep. Jennifer Webb and former emergency dispatcher Jennifer Daunch both won seats on the Council on the same night residents voted on 10 local referenda.

Webb was elected to the Ward 3 seat with 71% of the vote over opponent Keri Nelson. Webb is a longtime Gulfport resident and a former Democratic state Representative for House District 69, where she served from 2018 to 2020. She currently serves as Executive Director of Live Tampa Bay. She previously worked on community initiatives, including Project Opioid Tampa Bay, and also founded a public affairs consulting firm. Her campaign focused on transparency, community engagement and helping the city continue recovering from recent hurricanes while planning ahead for longterm growth in a way that includes both longtime residents and newcomers.

Nelson is a public administration professional with more than two decades of experience in government at the local, county and state levels. Nelson previously worked as a marine biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before moving into policy, natural resource management and coastal permitting roles in county government. She later worked in Gulfport’s City Clerk’s office and now serves as a project manager overseeing a human resources information system modernization effort. Her campaign emphasized improving efficiency in city operations, responsible budgeting, and decision-making rooted in professional experience in government administration.

Webb got an early congratulations from Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried on Tuesday night.

“I could not be more proud of councilwoman-elect Jennifer Webb on this victory,” Fried said.

“Jennifer has planted deep roots in Gulfport and that love of community has called her faithfully into service. As a councilwoman she will bring the same expertise, care, and thoughtful solutions to the people of Gulfport that she showed when representing them in the legislature. In this new role that is closer to the home she loves and the community she serves, Jennifer will only continue to build upon her legacy of excellence, efficiency, and improving the lives of everyday people. We’re proud of Jennifer and her involvement with our Take Back Local program. By providing candidates with resources and on the ground support, the Florida Democratic Party continues to swing the pendulum in our direction.”

Daunch was elected to the Ward 3 seat with 54% of the vote over opponent Joe Guenther. Daunch is a Gulfport resident who works in code enforcement in St. Pete Beach. She previously worked in community development in Treasure Island and as a former emergency dispatcher with the St. Pete Police Department, as well as an agency in Cleveland. Her campaign centered on improving communication between residents and City Hall, streamlining permitting and city processes, supporting local businesses and the arts, and preserving Gulfport’s community character while maintaining safe neighborhoods and transparent government.

Guenther is a longtime Gulfport resident and local business owner. His campaign centered on his experience operating a business in the city, arguing that gives him firsthand insight into how local policies affect families, workers and entrepreneurs. The campaign is focused on fiscal responsibility, support for local businesses, balanced development, public safety and infrastructure improvements while emphasizing transparency and responsiveness from City Hall.

Voters also cast ballots on 10 local referenda aimed at curbing longterm sweetheart leases of city-owned property, changes to City Council and mayoral term-limits, addressing criminal misdemeanors and forfeiture of office, and calling for City Charter review every five years.

Residents approved a measure to reduce the time period city-owned property can be leased from 30 years to five, and approved a measure that ensures lease agreements are based on fair market value according to a licensed appraiser.

Meanwhile, voters rejected a change to local governance that would have allowed City Council members to serve three-year terms instead of two-year terms, but approved new term limits of not more than three consecutive terms for both Council members and the Mayor. Residents also approved a measure directing current Council members who have served three consecutive terms to wait at least two years to qualify for election to their prior office once again.

Residents rejected a measure reversing existing policy that makes City Council member convictions for directing staff or pushing for the appointment or removal of a city employee a second-degree misdemeanor.

Another measure approved Tuesday indicates City Council seats become vacant upon the death, resignation, removal from office in a manner authorized by law, or forfeiture of office upon a majority vote of the remaining City Council members.

Voters also approved a measure to amend the City Charter to provide for forfeiture of office by Council members if they lack qualifications for the office; are convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; or fail to attend three consecutive regular meetings or four regular meetings in a 12-month period.

And voters approved a measure amending the City Charter to provide for Council member removal from office for violations of the charter or adopted rules after an independent magistrate hearing, upon which there is a finding of intentional, willful, flagrant or continuous violations.

The City Charter presently provides review every 10 years, but voters also approved the final measure on Tuesday’s ballot calling for complete review of the City Charter every five years by a Citizens Committee appointed by the City Council.