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New city council president supports proposed tax to fix aging Duval Co. schools

"I would not be in favor of it in 2019," Wilson said. "I would certainly strongly support it in 2020."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Scott Wilson is the new city council president with overwhelming support.

"It was a 19-0 vote," Wilson said.

His path to the city's second most powerful position, next to the mayor, is not that of a career politician.

"I grew up poor, lived on food stamps, dropped out of school," Wilson said.

The moderate republican started his city career as a part-time parking attendant. The then worked in the tax collector's office and eventually landed a position as assistant to former councilman Don Redman.

He may not have taken the traditional path, but politics is now in his blood. 

The soft-spoken councilman says he has three initiatives he plans to push during his one year term.

He wants to do more with mentoring and plans to work with the fire and police department to get programs going in high crime neighborhoods.

He wants the city to do more to attract sports tourism.

"I think there's an opportunity for us to go and recruit some of these things," he said.

And Wilson wants to reduce neighborhood blight. 

"I am tired of the blight," he said. "It affects property values."

But his leadership will also have to face some unfinished controversial issues.

The former city council failed to give the Duval County school board permission to a tax increase question on the ballot.

Board Chair Lori Hershey was disappointed. 

"The real question is will the city council allow the voters to decide?" Hershey said. 

The school board is proposing a half-cent increase in the sales tax to pay for aging schools. Under state law, the city council has to give the board permission to place the question on the ballot.

"I personally believe the school board needs the money," said Wilson.

But when asked if he was in favor of the tax, Wilson pointed to the timing of the ballot question.

"I would not be in favor of it in 2019," said Wilson. "I would certainly strongly support it in 2020."

The proposal is now sitting in the city council Finance and Rules committees.

Wilson said it will be voted on, but didn't say when.

"I personally think that [the school board] should go out there and start working on selling the plan," he said.

Exasperated by the former city council's inaction, the school board will vote on its plan at its July board meeting.

It will be approved and then the board hopes under Wilson's leadership city council will take action sooner rather than later. 

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