Name: Jimmy Peluso
Family: I am lucky to have my parents, sister, brother in law and nieces and nephews all live in the area.
Occupation: Navy Reservist
Political/Government experience: I have worked on multiple campaigns and have always considered myself to be politically active. As far as government experience, I worked for the state agency the St. Johns River Water Management District. During my time there, I worked in governmental affairs and worked on many local and state intergovernmental issues. I also spent time in Tallahassee advocating for our river and natural resources.
Years lived in Jacksonville: I grew up in Jacksonville, went away to college and to serve in the Navy and then come back home in 2015.
Campaign website: jimmyforjax.com
Why did you decide to run for office: Growing up in Jacksonville, we kept hearing the same promises from the same politicians who have been in City Hall for decades. We've been promised safe streets, infrastructure projects, and for attention to be shown to our older neighborhoods – yet, we keep falling short as a city. After my time in the Navy, I decided to come back home and continue my public service. It is time for bold leadership and we need our elected officials to speak out and ask the tough questions so that our residents can trust and believe in government again. I know I can provide that leadership and dedication to our City.
What is the biggest problem facing Jacksonville as a city overall, and how specifically would seek to address that: We need to address our issues surrounding crime and what causes it. I know our JSO officers work hard to keep our city safe but at the end of the day, crime starts much before police intervention. To actually prevent crime, we as a city have to invest in programs and organizations that help address the systemic and generational issues seen throughout the city. Whether it's affordable housing, transportation, food deserts or our job market – we need to make sure there is an equal playing field for everyone, no matter what neighborhood or zip code you come from.
What makes your constituents unique, and how would that influence your time in office: District 14 is a truly diverse and growing district. I consider it to be a microcosm of Jacksonville, with different neighborhoods and age ranges, but all with a pride and love for their city. From our arts and culture hotbed of 5 Points to our veterans and active duty service members and their families near NAS, our diverse district requires leadership who understands this variety. I know I can be a voice for not just the younger population, or the veterans, but for everyone in our district.
What would be your main budget priority for the upcoming fiscal year: I have many ideas and I know District 14 has a lot of needs but I think one of our main priorities as City Councilmembers has to be fulfilling the promises made to our citizens over the past few decades. As much as I'd like to see new and exciting things happen in our City, we have to take care of what we already have here first. This includes infrastructure dollars for things like road projects, septic tank removal and a more fair zoning code so our neighborhoods don't feel forgotten anymore. We cannot continue to keep growing out as a city without first taking care of our current residents' needs.
How do you define what you hope Jacksonville will be ten years from now: In ten years, I hope that Jacksonville is the place to be in Florida. We have all the potential and right ingredients to make this happen: our river and natural resources, the beaches, the weather, low cost of living and great university system. We have got to make the right moves in order to get the ball rolling and make Jacksonville a competitive city in Florida.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: WOKV asked all candidates in a race to answer the same questions, and the answers here are their unedited responses. WOKV has not independently verified information in these answers, nor is WOKV endorsing any candidates.
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