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November 8-14, 2018
The Mathis Report: Plans are brewing in Riverside PAGE 4
jaxdailyrecord.com
JACKSONVILLE
Record & Observer JAXUSA branding proposal questioned
ELECTION 2018 JACKSONVILLE
WHAT Record & Observer DOES IT MEAN & Observer Record FOR BUSINESS? Record & Observer JACKSONVILLE
St. Johns withholds money to JAXUSA Partnership over plan to rebrand Northeast Florida as Jacksonville. BY JAY SCHLICHTER ASSOCIATE EDITOR
JACKSONVILLE
Governor-elect Ron DeSantis says he’ll cut taxes business taxes and experts say he will likely mirror the policies of Rick Scott. BY DAVID CAWTON STAFF WRITER
A
t his Tuesday night acceptance speech at a rally in Orlando, Governor-elect Ron DeSantis had a clear message for the corporate community. “Florida is open for business,” he said. The former U.S. representative was elected by a slim margin, ensuring the twodecade run of Republican rule in Florida will continue for another four years. DeSantis, 40, of Ponte Vedra Beach, defeated Democrat and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who conceded Tuesday night. DeSantis did not win Duval County, falling 16,468 votes behind Gillum. Before stepping down from the U.S. House to pursue the governor’s race in September, DeSantis represented Florida’s 6th Congressional District which begins south of St. Augustine and runs through Daytona, almost to Orlando. He won the support of JAXBIZ, the nonpartisan political organization affiliated with the JAX Chamber, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny
“Florida is open for business” GOV. ELECT RON DESANTIS IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH TUESDAY NIGHT
INSIDE
n Wyman Duggan, supporter of incentives to bring business to state, wins Florida House District 15. Page 8. n Tax collector-elect plans incremental changes. Page 8. n List of election results. Page 8.
SEE DESANTIS, PAGE 8
Basch Report: Black Knight CEO creating sense of urgency PAGE 6 Cawton Report: Coffee shop, boutique open Downtown PAGE 10 OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP
The St. Johns County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday morning to withhold payments to the JAXUSA Partnership after a September report that recommended rebranding Northeast Florida as Jacksonville. JAXUSA Partnership said Tuesday afternoon it would speak with commissioners to explain the report. The report, “Elevate Northeast Florida,” was presented Sept. 18 at a forum held by JAXUSA, which is the economic development division of JAX Chamber and funded by seven regional counties, including St. Johns. The report included a suggestion to “embrace Jacksonville as the name of the region versus ‘Northeast Florida.’” “The impact of a shared, regional brand is recognized and magnified when local organizations agree to lead with the name of the largest, most globallyrecognized city in its region,” the report states in a chapter on establishing a strong, unified regional brand. On Tuesday, the five St. Johns commissioners said rebranding the entire region would not represent the county’s interests and individuality. “There was a St. Augustine before there was a Cowford.
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SEE ST. JOHNS, PAGE 9
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Pete Helow finds barbershop success Even though he can’t cut hair. PAGE 16 VOLUME 1, NO. 23 • ONE SECTION