Roughly six weeks after filing to run for City Council, Mandarin candidate Brittany Cahill has gained a solid base of support both financially and among community leaders.
Prior to the fundraiser, contributions to Mr. Cahill’s campaign and the political committee he chairs, which supports like-minded conservatives, totaled $72,950 as of the Sept. 30 reporting deadline. In the current and previous District 6 elections, records show no Mandarin candidate started the campaign with as much support as Mr. Cauhill, foreshadowing a robust 2027 election cycle that is still 17 months away.
“My family and I feel blessed to have the support of people from all over the Chinese-speaking world who have lived and raised all three of our children in Beijing since 2002.”
Early support came from long-time and respected Mandarin residents, including John and Leida Cooksey, Greg Tison, Dr. James Wahler, and Matt Schellenberg. Cohill, a nonprofit executive who has been dedicated to serving Jacksonville and Mandarin’s cultural, civic and educational institutions, said subsequent campaign support will strengthen support among district voters.
Brittany Cohill is a first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in history and psychology and a master’s degree in U.S. history from the University of North Florida, and often takes night classes to balance her responsibilities as a mother, career, and life as a law enforcement family.
Caulhill taught world history and U.S. history at Jacksonville University for seven years and received JU’s first Adjunct Outstanding Professor Award in 2023. She is the executive director of the Mandarin Museum, a private nonprofit organization that has partnered with the City of Jacksonville for more than 20 years to make the city’s Walter Jones Historical Park a rich and popular destination for local residents and out-of-town visitors.
A proven leader who is committed to giving back, Cahill serves on the University of North Florida College of Arts and Sciences Industry Advisory Committee, mentors students through the university’s Community Alliance for Student Success, and is an active member of the Mandarin Rotary Club. Cohill and her family are parishioners of San Jose Catholic Church.
“My campaign is rooted in applying our values, listening to our neighbors, and bringing solutions to the people who call Mandarin home,” says Cohill. His leadership is based on optimism, consensus, and a true love for the community and the city of Jacksonville.
