The Donna Marathon, which starts and finishes at Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach, secured a $54,400 tourism grant on a contentious 4-3 vote.

The Duval County Tourist Development Council (TDC) approved the funding at its Oct. 22 meeting, according to the Florida Times-Union. Three Jacksonville City Council members voted against the grant, arguing the city should not fund an event named after Mayor Donna Deegan while a mayoral election is approaching.

The four votes in favor came from hotel and tourism industry representatives on the council. They said the grant is about filling hotel rooms, not politics.

"We don't need political grandstanding," said TDC member Shawn LeNoble, who represents the hotel industry on the council.

Timing and optics

City Council President Nick Howland, who chairs the TDC, said his opposition was based on the marathon falling shortly before early voting starts for the March mayoral election. Howland said he has supported funding for the race in the past and would do so again, but not during campaign season.

"I just think it's wrong optically and for all sorts of purposes to provide city funding for the event," Howland said.

Howland said his objection was not partisan. He said he would feel the same way regardless of party, adding he would not vote for city money to fund an event called "The Wyman," a reference to Wyman Duggan, the Republican challenging Deegan, a Democrat, for mayor.

Council member Kevin Carrico said the city should not fund an event named after the mayor, despite the ethics office's finding. Council member Joe Carlucci also voted against the grant. Carlucci said he opposed all applications from organizations that said they could still hold their events without TDC funding.

Ethics clearance

Deegan, a three-time breast cancer survivor, started the Donna Foundation in 2003 to raise money for breast cancer research and support. She stepped away from the foundation in 2019 when she ran for Congress.

The city's Ethics, Compliance and Oversight Office determined there is no conflict of interest under state law. Deegan is not a board member, officer, employee or member of the foundation and receives no compensation from it, according to the Times-Union.

Hotel rooms and economic impact

Grant supporters said the marathon is second only to The Players Championship for generating hotel stays in the early months of the year. Visit Jacksonville projects the marathon weekend, scheduled for Feb. 5-7, 2027, will produce 5,511 hotel room nights and $5.58 million in total business sales.

The Donna Foundation's grant application said the 20th running of the marathon offers a chance to expand the event's draw for participants outside Duval County. The nonprofit expects nearly 12,000 participants for the February race, a 38% increase over the 2026 event.

Donna Foundation Executive Director Amanda Napolitano told the TDC the grant would help attract new visitors to Jacksonville. She said about 70% of participants for the February marathon could come from outside Duval County.

The foundation received a $50,000 tourism grant for the 2024 race, $70,000 for 2025 and $70,000 for 2026. Napolitano said the funding helped grow the marathon's field and increase the share of out-of-county participants after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on projected hotel room nights, the foundation could have received up to $80,000. The TDC did not fund applicants at maximum amounts because of the high number of requests for limited funds.

The marathon race is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027, at 7:30 a.m., starting at Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach.