A.G. Gancarski
On the eve of a vote for the next Jacksonville City Council President, a reliable source notes that three councilors — including one candidate for President — had breakfast together Saturday at a Metro Diner location.
Councilwoman Anna Brosche and Councilmen Matt Schellenberg and Doyle Carter (two committed Brosche backers) were among the participants in a group breakfast, and there are allegations that in addition to what was on the menu, the race for Council President may have come up.
Specifically, a source on hand says the council members “celebrated Katrina email” — a reference to Councilwoman Katrina Brown, who emailed a pledge of support for Brosche over John Crescimbeni late last week.
Councilwoman Brosche — the frontrunner in the pledge count — describes the event as a “large group breakfast.”
“I did not discuss the president’s race, or any other Council business, with either of my colleagues,” Brosche said Monday morning.
When asked about the specific charge of “celebrating” Brown’s email, Brosche noted that councilors “get invited to, and attend, many events, both formal and informal” and that she was “not privy to all the conversation given the size of the group” at this “standing breakfast.”
Schellenberg described the event as a “standing breakfast every Saturday that you are not invited to … a joyful breakfast with friends … a place where we can just have fun and enjoy each other’s company.”
Schellenberg contends the President’s race was not discussed, however, beyond answering a “purely factual question.”
“Someone might have asked if Katrina Brown pledged … someone said Katrina and Garrett Dennis pledged,” Schellenberg said, adding that it was not a “sunshine violation” to answer a “pure factual question.”
We reached out to Carter and Crescimbeni for their takes, but have yet to hear back.
As the hours wind down before the vote (3:00 p.m. on Tuesday), indications are that “pack voting,” as described by another Brosche supporter, could prove dispositive.
Councilman Reggie Brown asserted Monday that Brosche may have 10 votes locked up … with Reggie Gaffney, Katrina Brown, Garrett Dennis, and Councilman Brown himself providing the decisive margin.
“Our plan was to run as a pack…I gave up having direct participation with this process due to its biases. I wish both candidates well; however, our decision to vote as a pack must be adhered or the value of the pack is useless,” Brown told us Monday morning.
“The strength is in the pack. All I have is my word,” Brown added.
The bid of Brosche’s opponent, current VP John Crescimbeni, was buoyed originally by a “pack.” But as one would expect on a cliquish City Council, other packs are having their say as well.
Sometimes in the sunshine.
And sometimes in the shade.
For Councilman Bill Gulliford, a Crescimbeni supporter who had said previously he would not serve on a standing committee in a Brosche administration, the narrative of a sub rosa meeting where council business may have been discussed is disquieting.
“If that indeed is the case,” Gulliford said, “it’s a good indication of why you don’t have inexperienced people in leadership.”
As well, Gulliford said that the appearance of potential impropriety showed a lack of “good discretion” on Brosche’s part, especially in a climate where votes are swayed by mechanisms ranging from “pack voting to you name it.”
