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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville sheriff candidates Democrat Lakesha Burton and Republican T.K. Waters met with the community Monday night at a forum ahead of Election Day as a final push to hear people’s concerns and address the community.
Faith leaders and dozens of Jacksonville residents gathered at the Christ the King Catholic Church to hear how both candidates would handle issues such as civil citations and building the public’s trust as the next sheriff.
Lloydette Noisette was one of the speakers at the forum. She said she wants to see crime rates decrease in the city — it’s an issue that is driving her to cast her ballot on Election Day.
“As a mother, I feel this in my gut. I feel for families that have lost someone they loved. I believe it doesn’t have to happen,” Noisette said. “When people don’t trust the police, they don’t report crime… and violence increases.”
Burton explained how she would combat those issues if she were to win the sheriff race Tuesday.
“If we are going to build our trust with our community and we want to go and knock on their doors to offer resources. We can’t knock on the doors with a gang unit and our SWAT team,” Burton said.
Waters said he would focus on those issues by helping foster a group violence intervention program by replacing enforcement with deterrence.
“I think it’s also very important that we address the issues and the violence, and that is one way to do it. we’ll continue to work that partnership,” Waters said.
Both candidates shared their final messages to encourage voters to go to the polls Tuesday.
