Thank you, Judge Ruth.

Mayor Peyton, former mayors, President Joost and members of the City Council , Constitutional Officers, elected officials, transition committee members, visiting dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen. Most importantly, citizens of Jacksonville. Thank you for joining me on this historic occasion. I am humbled and honored to take the oath of office as Mayor. I strongly believe that public service is an honorable calling. I stand before you today as a testament to the determination and faith of two strong women who raised me - my grandmother and mother. They taught me that if I worked hard and played by the rules, I could accomplish anything. First, my best friend in the world, a woman who has been by my side every step of the way -- my wife -- Santhea [APPLAUSE]

- and my two boys - Joshua and Jordan. My pastor, Henry T. Rhim, who is like a father to me. He had a vision for me when I didnt have one for myself. Fran Kinne, the former president of Jacksonville University, who helped me complete my education. I want to thank the many citizens who shared our goal of uniting this city and taking Jacksonville to the next level. In the campaign, I laid out a shared goal of one vision, one city. Democrats,

Republicans, independents - all working together to unite Jacksonville. People on the Northside, the Westside, the Southside, the Eastside, the Beaches and Baldwin join together to support my vision. This election was not about me. It was about your kids and grandkids. It was about their hopes, dreams and aspirations. Just like that vision and determination that our forefathers expressed when they saw the potential and rebuilt Jacksonville after the great fire of 1901. It was vision and determination that led each of our modern mayors to continue to improve our city. The late-Mayor Ed Austin, a great man who took the oath of office as mayor just 20 years ago today. He led the River City Renaissance that gave us a new City Hall and Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts as well as a new stadium that paved the way for the Jaguars. Mayor Jake Godbold was also a visionary leader, one who brought renewed interest in downtown with the Southbank Riverwalk and the Jacksonville Landing. Thank you, Mayor Godbold. Mayor Tommy Hazouri led the effort to remove odors from our air and tolls from our roadways and bridges. Thank you, Mayor Hazouri. Mayor John Delaney offered us the Preservation Project and the Better Jacksonville Plan with all the projects it included. Thank you, Mayor Delaney. Mayor John Peyton took on the critical issue of early childhood literacy. He confronted Jacksonvilles growing reputation as a murder capital by forming the Jacksonville Journey. He and his staff have gone out of their way to make this transition of power as smooth as possible. .

Mayor Peyton, on behalf of every Jacksonville citizen, thank you for your service. [APPLAUSE] Jacksonville is a city that dares to dream big. Not so long ago we realized our dream of bringing an NFL franchise to our city, despite years of frustration. . Today, we are one of only 32 cities with an NFL franchise. And why not an NBA team one day? Can you imagine that? I can. Jacksonvilles future will be restricted only by the limits we place on our dreams and our determination to achieve them. It will be vision, commitment, conviction and determination that help us take Jacksonville to the next level. We know that we live in a great city. But I believe we can be greater. My foremost goal as Mayor is to help Jacksonville reach its full potential so that people in Florida, across the nation, and around the world recognize Jacksonville as a place of greatness.

We want to be a destination, not a pass-through. So how do we get there? First, by working together. Our city is blessed with incredible diversity. We have residents of every political party, every race, every religion, every creed. Our diversity is an incredible strength. Second, we must provide citizens with the assurance that we are good stewards of their

taxpayer dollars. Jacksonville faces a budget shortfall and far too many of our fellow citizens are hurting. Unemployed and under-employed residents face foreclosures and difficulty paying their bills. But government must live within its means. I pledge to work with President Joost and the rest of the City Council on this important task. On July 15, I will present a balanced budget to the Council that does not raise taxes or fees. There will be cuts. There will be shared sacrifice. But we cannot simply cut our way out of our budget problem. That leads me to the third requirement for moving Jacksonville to the next level. One of my top economic priorities as Mayor will be to support and expand our port. The port is a $19 billion economic engine that has provided 65,000 jobs in our city. I will work with our congressional delegation, Duval delegation, Chamber of Commerce, Civic Council and other key stakeholders to secure the necessary funding to expand the port and create new jobs and locate a nuclear carrier at Mayport. We must encourage our existing small businesses to grow by helping them gain access to capital and credit. We must take advantage of new market tax credits and employee tax credits to help businesses to relocate or expand in our city. Fourth, we must revitalize Downtown. Imagine a vibrant downtown, with restaurants and retail shops and a movie theater and thousands of new residents and, yes, a new grocery store. (Yes, I hope it's a WinnDixie.) Imagine a new convention center downtown that attracts visitors to our city and more customers to our hotels, restaurants and shops. Imagine attracting corporate headquarters and other new businesses downtown.

Fifth, we must honor and preserve our natural treasures. From the beautiful St. Johns River to our pristine beaches to our great parks. We have the nations largest urban park system. I am committed to making it the best. Sixth, we must have a city where people feel safe in their homes. Jacksonville is a city of many vibrant neighborhoods, from the beaches to Baldwin, from the Northside to the Southside, from historic Riverside-Avondale and Springfield. Imagine living in a city where all residents feel safe in their own neighborhoods no matter what side of town they live on. Can you imagine that? I can. Imagine a city in which we reduce crime by investing in prevention programs at our parks and schools and community centers. Mayor Peyton got us off to a good start with the Jacksonville Journey, which helped reduce the crime rate. We all know the best solution to crime is a job. Last but not least, we must make education a top priority. We have an education problem in Jacksonville. We have good schools, including some that rank among the nations best. But we also have challenged schools. And we have too many young people dropping out of school. As mayor, Im committed to doing my part. Thats why I will appoint a chief education officer to work with our school board, the superintendent, teachers, parents. We will hire retired teachers to tutor students in our challenged schools in the areas of reading, writing, math and science. I will start my Learn to Earn Program that gives high school students an opportunity to

live on a college campus where they can take classes and get a summer job -- just to expose them to the very real possibility of going to college. Imagine a city with great schools for every child. Imagine a city with public-private partnerships that provide summer jobs for teens. Imagine a city where every high school graduate is prepared to enter the workforce or college. When I was in school, my teacher wanted me to be in the school play, but I didnt want to because I couldnt read at the level of my classmates. Their parents had gone to the best colleges and universities. Their kids went to the best summer programs and I was intimidated. But my grandmother said I was going to be in that play. She taught me to read with the King James version of the Bible. You know that as a kid you cant even pronounce those words. She taught me every day, seven days a week. I was in the play, and our class won the competition. When you empower young people intellectually, they can compete academically and achieve economically. Education gives them options. Education gave me options. And so I ask, what are you willing to do for our city, our neighborhoods, our parks, our community centers, our libraries, our schools. Are you willing to give your time and donate your talent to make Jacksonville better? If you believe in this city, if you believe in a united Jacksonville, if you believe in a city that offers opportunity for all, then I ask you to join me and help accomplish this bold idea of taking Jacksonville to the next level. I want to share a quote from Elder Bernice King, daughter of the late Martin Luther King Jr.

"There is tremendous power when people come together around an issue that is clear, a cause that is just and a purpose that is righteous." I have great determination, passion, conviction and commitment, but I need your help and prayers to achieve this goal. By working together, we can close the oportunity gaps. By working together, we can close the economic gaps. By working together, we can close the education gaps. By working together, we can close the crime gaps. Together we can provide jobs for the jobless, housing for the homesless. There are no problems we can not solve when we work together. Let's take Jacksonville to the next level together. Thank you, God Bless you, and God bless this great city of ours.