A recent infusion of cash has upped the ante in the race for the Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 1 seat. Democrat Moné Holder now leads the pack, having raised more than $300,000 in her bid to alter the political dynamics of a predominately Republican council. The Aug. 18 Special Election also features Libertarian and frequent City Council commenter Addison Patrick, who beat a Republican court challenge to remove her from the ballot and has since filed her own court challenge alleging the Republican candidate, Deborah Wesley, does not live in her district. (Wesley, who previously committed to participating in the roundtable, canceled last week, citing an “unavoidable personal conflict.”) We discuss the unique challenges of the North and Westside Group 1 district and take your calls and questions. You can reach the candidates on air at 904-549-2937 or email firstcoastconnect@wjct.org. First Coast Connect is covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find all of our election coverage here, and you can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website Vote411.org. Additional candidate coverage is featured in Jacksonville Today’s political section.
Guests:
- Addison "Liberty” Patrick, Libertarian candidate for Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 1
- Moné Holder, Democratic candidate for Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 1
Decked out
Stephen Jorgensen is a “plank owner,” meaning he was part of the original crew when the USS Jacksonville was christened and launched Nov. 18, 1978. Now, he’s helming an effort to bring the only ship named for the city “home” — at least what’s left of it. As president of Bring The Sail 2 Jax, Joregensen has worked to display the submarine’s “sail” (the vertical tower located on its topside) next to the USS Orleck and the Jacksonville Naval Museum Downtown. We ask him about the sailors reunion that started the ball rolling and what it will take to make his vision reality.
Guest: Stephen Jorgensen, president, Bring The Sail 2 Jax
Breath work
In 2014, an injured Navy pilot turned her personal recovery into a nonprofit focused on making physical healing and mental well-being accessible to everyone. More than a decade later, Yoga 4 Change operates in 120-plus locations around the state, reaching a range of military veterans, at-risk youth, incarcerated individuals and people recovering from substance abuse. We speak to the group’s head yogi about the power of mindfulness and Yoga 4 Change’s data-driven approach to providing trauma-informed care to communities often overlooked.
Guest: Kim Simon, executive director, Yoga 4 Change
Stage to Screen
From the groundbreaking and exuberant Stop Making Sense to the beautifully nostalgic Scorsese passion project The Last Waltz, the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is hosting a free concert film series throughout the month of August. The inaugural Stage to Screen series invites music fans to experience performances in a space built for live music and includes four concert films featuring the Talking Heads, The Band, The Rolling Stones and film composer Hans Zimmer. Audiences can experience improved acoustics in the concert hall, which saw major improvements after a nearly $13 million, 14-month renovation. All screenings are free, but attendees must claim a ticket by registering here. Some events are already selling out.
Guests:
- Dianya Markovits, director of public relations and partnerships, SJC Cultural Events Inc.
- Tim Kirkpatrick, director of programming and strategy, SJC Cultural Events Inc.
Topics and guests subject to change.