NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. — The City of Neptune Beach has a new mayor.
Cori Bylund won the election Tuesday by about 1,000 votes.
“I thought it was a really good opportunity to give back to our community," said Bylund.
Bylund's first idea for when she’s sworn in is to add mayoral office hours and a town hall element to one of the monthly meetings.
“People come and they sometimes leave disappointed and feel like they weren’t heard," said Bylund. "That’s not the case. They have been heard, but I think everyone will feel better if there’s some sort of dialogue between the council and the people of the city.”
Bylund will also oversee the implementation of speeding ticket cameras at elementary schools in the city early on in her time in office – a decision made by the city council before she took office.
“I think we all want safety for our children, especially in those school areas," said Bylund.
The city's mandate to improve its wastewater system is one of the long-term issues she'll have to tackle.
“I’d say it’d be an injection system and that’s what they’re looking at right now as a solution to the mandate that’s going to be due in 2032," said Bylund.
Bylund will work with some familiar faces as Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman won reelection while Atlantic Beach Mayor Curtis Ford ran unopposed after his opponent dropped out.
Bylund's swearing-in is set for Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.