A.G. Gancarski
A movement is afoot, as we reported on Tuesday, among certain pastors to push toward a referendum on the Human Rights Ordinance, as opposed to a Council vote.
The referendum in Houston managed to undo the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. Uncoincidentally, Houston pastors were recently in town talking to Jacksonville counterparts.
Is this a serious possibility, though? FloridaPolitics.com got comment from two Democrats who were identified with HRO expansion support during the campaign.
Councilman Tommy Hazouri, the leading proponent on Council for HRO legislation, isn’t sold on the referendum push.
“We were elected to make these tough decisions,” Hazouri said after the Council meeting on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, some Council members were more agnostic.
Katrina Brown, who told the Florida Times-Union in March that “Yes I believe no person or group should be excluded or discriminated and all citizens shall be protective class [SIC]” when asked whether she supported the ordinance, has been linked to potential support for a referendum.
In conversation after the Council meeting Tuesday, Brown seemed to back off of what most read as support back in March.
Saying, when asked if she supported the HRO, that “I didn’t campaign anything” on it, she said, regarding a potential bill, that she’d “like to see the language” and “I want to be informed.”
