Republican Joe Carlucci won the District 5 council seat in the March election, as the top vote-getter of the two candidates in the race.
News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.
| CANDIDATES |
Joe Carlucci
Party affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Insurance Agency Owner
Age: (no response)
Your family: Married to my wife Victoria for 10 years. We have two boys, JoJo and Jack.
Education: Bachelors Degree - UNF
Political experience: (no response)
Over the last few months, we surveyed News4JAX Insiders to find out what they saw as the top issues facing our city, ahead of the city elections. These issues below are the top three – how would you address each one if elected?
Voters’ No. 1 issue: Crime
Jacksonville’s crime rate is continuing to outpace state and national rates. I will make safety a top priority by ensuring law enforcement have the resources, equipment, and training they need to protect our neighborhoods, increasing patrols on our streets, and updating outdated tools and software so they can more efficiently respond to emergencies.
Voters’ No. 2 issue: Affordable Housing
We need to continue to support more housing projects being proposed by the Jacksonville Housing Authority. This will ensure we have more affordable housing options throughout all of our communities. More housing will also help support our city’s growing economic needs by providing affordable workforce housing being included in these proposed projects.
Voters’ No. 3 issue: Infrastructure
This is a top priority for District 5 – we have lots of historic neighborhoods and lots of public riverfront projects that need improvement. Streets, sidewalks, drainage, flooding, and upgrading our power grids from repeated storm damage. I plan to take a needs first approach to having these items added into our CIP budget and continue to oversee the completion.
Beyond those three issues, what do you see as the top issue you’ll likely face while holding this office?
I would like to have increased maintenance for our parks system. Being a dad of two boys that love to play outside, we enjoy our parks. District 5 has over 40 parks, various sizes and functions, but less than half are adequately maintained. I want to have clean and safe parks all across this district…not just in the nice parts of town.
I am working with a local group to establish multiple quiet zones along the railroad tracks to ensure neighborhoods and business districts can have peaceful days and nights!
I would like to support the school board members in their effort for selling their property on the river and putting back a development that adds value to our riverfront.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
The only candidate that knows firsthand how to build a business from the ground up and grow our economy.
The only candidate that has brought business leaders, citizens, and City officials together to promote economic growth and development.
The only candidate that is working to bring pro-jobs, pro-business, and pro-economic development policies to the City of Jacksonville.
The only candidate who has overseen billion-dollar budgets and helped eliminate excess government spending to protect taxpayers.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Making District 5 the best place in the city to raise a family, start a business, or to visit from out of town.
Campaign website: www.votejoecarlucci.com
Social media: Facebook