A.G. Gancarski
There are, to be sure, a few secrets that are closely guarded in Duval County politics. However, the new Jacksonville City Council president and vice-president were not among them.
Councilmembers-elect were confirming even last week that the new president would be Greg Anderson and Lori Boyer would be the next vice-president. So it was written. And so it came to pass.
Just before 11:30 Wednesday morning, Council President Clay Yarborough said in his usual deadpan manner, “We have a script that we will go by today.” As is the case when the results of an election have already been decided, the script was followed with scant deviation.
Councilman Bill Gulliford nominated Anderson and described serving with the at large councilman the past four years, citing his “exemplary” conduct and command of the issues, his understanding of “all facets of the legislative process,” and “time and energy” spent that went “well beyond the part-time label of the job.”
John Crescimbeni, who reportedly is already lobbying for council vice president next year, seconded the nomination, citing Anderson’s stellar work as Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee chairman, Finance chairman, and council vice president, along with his yeoman’s work on the Pension Reform Task Force, in which Anderson provided “one of the best summaries” of work the iconoclastic Democrat has ever seen.
Crescimbeni described Anderson as a “proven leader” who “knows how to build consensus,” a man with a “quiet nature” who can drop the hammer when need be.
Or the gavel, as it were.
Anderson was elected unanimously, of course, and his remarks denoted a dedication to safe neighborhoods, stable budget practices, and enhancing quality of life issues in what he called a “new era for Jacksonville” imbued with a “new sense of optimism.”
After the meeting Florida Politics Anderson what he would do during his year as president. He promised that he would “try to do some things differently,” including changing committee structure to get “more work out of the committees themselves” and reinvigorate them.
Anderson also pledged to make Blight “more of a regular committee,” which has to be music to the ears of E. Denise Lee, who is chairing Mayor-elect Lenny Curry‘s Blight Subcommittee during the transition.
Anderson wasn’t the only officer elected 19 to zip. Boyer also got her props, being elected to vice president.
Doyle Carter nominated her. The plainspoken Westside Republican cited her indispensable role of chairing the Consolidation Task Force, which took “countless hours,” while “being a great representative of her district.” New arrival Garrett Dennis spoke along similar lines, describing Boyer as a “consistent leader on council and in the community.”
After her election, Boyer spoke and emphasized the collegial nature of doing the public’s business. Speaking of the current council, Boyer mentioned that “we’ve been friends as well as colleagues,” which is ideal, since they all spend “an inordinate amount of time in the building.”
After the meeting Boyer said she’s “honored and excited” to be vice president, and looking forward to helping the new class conquer the “steep learning curve” they face.
Boyer, almost invariably one of the most well-prepared council members on any subject, is especially well-suited to pass that habit on to the 11 new members. When asked the source of her passion for preparation, she said it “all stems from [her orientation] four years ago,” when she found that council members are not allowed to abstain from votes.
That led her to internalize the position that she needs to understand every bill, both for the public good, and so that “if somebody asks me [about a vote], at least I’ll know why I did what I did.”
Jacksonville will face its share of challenges in the next few years, as interest rates rise and the equity market bubble pops. The leadership on the new council will not be as prone to social conservative posturing as previous leaders in recent years might have been. Which is ideal, because Jacksonville is going to have more pressing issues sooner than later.
