Republican incumbent Michael Boylan defeated one challenger in the March election to win another term in the District 6 council seat.
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 |
Michael T. Boylan
Party affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Full Time City Council Member
Age: 71
Your family: Married, two (married) children & 3 grandchildren
Education: BA - John Carroll University, MA - Kent State University
Political experience: CC District 6 incumbent
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?
Viewers’ No. 1 issue: Crime
The role of the City Council as it relates to crime is the approval of the annual JSO budget and the active support of nonprofit initiatives that address the root causes of each. I have been a staunch advocate for the work on the nonprofit sector and will continue to do so.
Viewers’ No. 2 issue: Affordable Housing
Recently led the Council’s special committee called the Critical Quality of Life Issues Committee of which affordable housing was one of the issues. (Access to healthcare and homelessness being the other two.) The committee was charged with delivering a report outlining the answers to these three questions and offer recommendations (that may be taken up directly thereafter or by the incoming administration and City Council) before the end of the calendar year. Which we did. The 44-page report is available on the COJ website and already the process to adopt some of those recommendations has started.
In reviewing the report you will find there were a number of recommendations regarding affordable housing, ranging from providing tax credit to developers who offer below-market-rate apartment units to creating more inclusionary zoning. Another is establishing formal cooperative agreements with the Jacksonville Housing Authority, Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority, Ability Housing, Community Housing Development Organizations including HabiJax, Downtown Investment Authority and all other relevant housing stakeholders (including the Jacksonville Transportation Authority) to programmatically and financially support, plan, coordinate, and monitor progress toward implementing a long-term affordable housing program.
Viewers’ No. 3 issue: Infrastructure
The adoption of the gas tax increase was in direct response to our infrastructure deficit. I supported it largely because of the itemized improvements slated for District 6. I was able to get approved with the passage of the gas tax increase an amendment requiring both JTA and the City’s Public Works Department to create an online dashboard available to the public, which details a variety of items…the status of projects, the funds appropriated to it, the contractors who are awarded the contracts, etc.
Beyond those three issues, what do you see as the top issue you’ll likely face while holding this office?
I will be focusing some of my time and energies in finding solutions for all three of the critical quality of life issues we undertook in the special committee...access to healthcare for the uninsured, affordable/workforce housing and a vehicle to provide permanent housing for our most vulnerable homeless folks.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Being a district councilperson is a full time responsibility. I committed four years ago to wake up every day with the priority of serving the citizens of Mandarin and Jacksonville and I have lived up to that commitment. I have no other gainful employment which allows me to be responsive to my constituents in a timely manner. . My children and grandchildren call Mandarin home as well. As to why this organization should endorse my candidacy, as the incumbent I believe I can much more impactful as compared to my opponent in affecting change for the benefit all of Jacksonville’s citizens and I believe my answers to questions 6 & 7 also speak to why you should endorse my re-election.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Three things...
My work in leading the Future of JEA Committee where we infused safeguards to ensure greater transparency, board and management accountability, a roadmap for expanding and/or developing new services and most of all the assuredness that JEA will remain an asset of the city for many, many years to come.
Advancing many of the recommendations that came out of the Critical Quality of Life Issues Committee.
My timely attention to the many and varied concerns raised by my neighbors in District 6.
Campaign website: voteboylan.com
Social media: Facebook