Overview
- The DART Board officially selected Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. as president and CEO and set his start date for Oct. 26.
- The board moved toward Ford after a prior 9-6 authorization to negotiate with a top candidate and news reports later recorded a 9-4 vote to hire him, producing inconsistent tallies in coverage.
- Several board members urged delaying the final decision, saying they had too little time to vet a candidate who was added late in the finalist round and who drew questions at the meeting.
- Supporters point to Ford’s record at Jacksonville Transportation Authority, including more than $400 million in federal discretionary grants, a regional transit center, and an autonomous-vehicle initiative, while critics note reported travel and spending scrutiny from his prior tenures.
- Ford will remain engaged with JTA through January 2027 to aid a transition and will face immediate tasks at DART: rebuilding trust with member cities after Highland Park’s exit, negotiating interlocal funding deals, pushing for state legislative changes to board representation, and addressing public concerns about pay and fiscal transparency.