First Black Mayor of St. Augustine | Jacksonville News

Cynthia Garris is breaking barriers in St. Augustine, becoming the city’s first Black mayor after a historic, uncontested election — just one year after she became the first Black woman on the city commission. With a decades-long public service career that took her from parking attendant to city commissioner, she brings deep institutional knowledge and a mission to make government more responsive. Inspired by a friend’s urging — “If you don’t run, we’ll never see a person of color in this office” — she’s now focused on tackling traffic, property taxes, and reforming public comment processes to ensure residents feel heard. Rooted in her belief that supporting local business fuels community growth, Garris carries the weight of history — including a heartfelt moment when a 103-year-old civil rights-era resident told her she never imagined this day would come. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/87c95414a02c314d