Mayor Deegan shares details of Europe trip after councilor calls for ‘audit’

JACKSONVILLE, FL. – Republican Councilman Terrance Freeman is calling for a full audit of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s recent European trip.

Freeman, a member of the Finance Committee and former president of the Jacksonville City Council, said the reason for the call was a recent report that the mayor also took a private vacation to Italy while traveling internationally earlier this month.

Freeman claimed it was a “taxpayer-funded trip,” but a spokesman for the Democratic mayor said Monday that the only taxpayer expense related to Deegan’s trip was her $2,978.18 hotel stay in London, and her trip to Italy was previously planned. The spokesman also said that, like last year, she also paid for flights to London and meals.

“Transparency is a priority for Mayor Deegan and her business trips to the city are a matter of public record. As such, this information will always be made available to the public, regardless of who requests it,” the mayor’s office said in a statement along with the detailed plan. “The mayor was in London from October 12 to 15. She attended the UK Government’s International Investment Summit, met with a number of banking and fintech companies, met with the US Ambassador to the UK and embassy staff, and gave interviews on economic development. All of these efforts were aimed at bringing jobs and businesses back to Jacksonville. Mayor Deegan also had a vacation scheduled to Italy starting October 16, which she personally paid for. JAXUSA was aware of this and organized key meetings and events on the days when she was always scheduled to be in London.”

Even after receiving a response from the mayor’s office, Freeman said he would still like to see an audit.

“I read some of the things you mentioned as a rebuttal to the request you made. I think this only further supports my actions. If a declaration has already been made… and they stand by it, then it will become clear to taxpayers that the council is willing, if necessary, when they ask or ask questions, to hold the administration to account, to hold us accountable, and the best way to achieve that is through an audit , which will confirm the answers given and we can move forward, otherwise the audit will reveal other things and we can address them as they come up,” Freeman told News4JAX.

According to Florida PoliticsThe mayor’s office said a total of about $21,000 was spent on the trip.

Freeman noticed this too controversial statements made by the mayor during the trip and the fact that she was not present at the Jaguars game on October 20.

News4JAX also received a statement from the president of JAX USA, who handled the logistics of the trip to London. He admitted that he was aware of her schedule when they planned the agenda and organized meetings for which she was needed on the days she was to be in London.

News4JAX asked Freeman what it all involves when it comes to starting an audit. He said it would start with a legislative proposal.

Notably, former mayors Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry participated in trade trips to Europe during their tenure over the last decade.