JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s five finalists for the position of chief is under fire from some of his colleagues who say some social media posts from an account with his name should disqualify him from consideration.
A retired JFRD district chief said posts from the Facebook account of Darin and Traci Hooten are insulting, divisive, and one past post even takes aim at the mayor, who ultimately makes the final decision on the next chief.
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A state representative is also now weighing in on the social media posts from Facebook written under the username Tracy N Darin Hooten. Darin Hooten is a JFRD battalion chief.
They’re Facebook posts that firefighters tell News4JAX are disparaging and divisive, posted from the Facebook account of usernames Tracy N Darin Hooten. Traci Hooten is a district chief for JFRD, and her husband, Darin, is one of five candidates running for the top firefighter job in the River City.
A 2023 Facebook post from the account features a picture of Mayor Donna Deegan’s ex-husband Dan Hicken, saying, “Take it from me. Deegan will take everything you have.”
A 2016 post questions why a woman named Kathryn Smith would be hired as the first female NFL coach.
The user wrote, “What is the world coming to?”
A post from another user reads, “If you’re a liberal! Get the (expletive) off my page.” The Tracy and Darren Hooten account responded to the post saying, “Preach!”
A 2020 post poses the question, “When are Republicans supposed to riot?” “Who’s bringing the rocks and bricks? Where are we looting? (I like Home Depot).”
”He should not be a candidate at all. If he is a candidate, we are going to have problems. I’m going to tell you that right now, that’s going to be a no-go," retired JFRD District Chief Terrance Jones said.
Jones, who worked for the fire department for more than 35 years and worked alongside Hooten, said the social media posts should be disqualifying.
“You can be extremely conservative but not with the pictures attached to it, talking about Civil War, talking about a revolution, talking about riots, weapons, referencing January 6th, saying disparaging things about the mayor herself...That’s something that should not be in any type of leadership,” Jones said.
State Rep. Angie Nixon, who was also made aware of the social media posts by concerned firefighters, is also talking about the issue.
“I am a staunch supporter of free speech...however, this brings me to pause in supporting his ability to lead a department full of diverse employees that will have to be in contact with residents that he seemingly doesn’t care about,” Nixon said.
In his application, according to JAX Today, Hooten stated that he wants to continue his ”passion for positive, effective leadership” as chief after a 29-year career.
News4JAX did reach Darin Hooten by phone to ask for his response and if there’s anything he’d like to clarify regarding his social media posts.
We also asked him what he wants the people of Jacksonville to know about how he would lead JFRD if chosen.
Hooten said he would get back to us with his answers, but did not respond before this story was published.
News4JAX also asked JFRD for its social media policy, which states that “although there is no restriction on the personal use of social media outside of the office, good judgement is encouraged. Any time an employee chooses to write, post or submit something within the realm of social media it should be remembered that such items become public.”
News4JAX asked the mayor’s office if it is aware of the post, and it declined to comment.
The mayor’s office is expected to announce its pick for chief by July 1, and the pick is subject to confirmation by the city council.
The search for a new chief started when current Chief Keith Powers announced his retirement in May after 29 years with the department, six of those leading it. His retirement is effective Sunday.
Lots of current and former firefighters applied for the top spot.
Other finalists for the job include:
- Fire Prevention Deputy Division Chief Damian Bell
- Rescue Division Chief Jake Blanton
- Emergency Preparedness Deputy Division Chief Percy Golden
- Deputy Director Willie King