A.G. Gancarski
The General Counsel nominee for Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is withdrawing from consideration by the City Council.
“Thank you to Mayor Deegan for her nomination to be General Counsel for her and the Consolidated Government of Jacksonville, the City I love. In the best interest of both, I withdraw my request for consent to the nomination,” asserted Randy DeFoor Wednesday.
“My support for this Mayor, and my belief that we must as a city unite in support of her is undiminished; We must rise above politics to create a better environment for all of us.”
Mayor Deegan confirmed the withdrawal after publication.
“I’m grateful that Randy was willing to continue serving the city we both love. I stand by her impeccable character and qualifications. Randy has the support of all the city’s independent authorities and a large, bipartisan coalition of community and business leaders. Jacksonville needs a General Counsel who has her vast experience, commitment to service, and belief that unity is our only path forward. We will continue moving ahead with those qualities in mind.”
A new acting General Counsel will be picked soon.
The withdrawal comes after weeks of DeFoor, a Republican who left the City Council at the end of June, trying to convince her former colleagues to confirm her. A group of them had committed to vote against her, leaving a high hurdle before potential confirmation. Per Jacksonville municipal code, she would have to be confirmed by “no less than 13 members” of the supermajority Republican City Council.
“After watching the events of the past few weeks in this and other related matters, I would remind us of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: ‘If we do not learn to live together as brothers (and sisters), we shall perish together as fools,'” DeFoor added. “This is my only prayer for all of us. I look forward to serving this community in other capacities and will have no further comment at this time.”
DeFoor is the second former Republican Council member the Democratic Mayor tried to get confirmed by the Council. Al Ferraro withdrew his name from consideration to lead the Neighborhoods Department earlier this month.
The Mayor assembled a Qualifications Committee that was considering a number of candidates, including former Democratic Council member Brenda Priestly Jackson, and Lawsikia Hodges and Jason Teal from the OGC. It’s unclear whether these candidates, or others, will be put forth for reconsideration.
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This is a developing story and will be updated.
5 comments
Pach E. Derm
September 13, 2023 at 8:43 pm
Just when you thought that we had rid ourselves of Curry’s filth, Brian and Tim play Geppetto with this City Council and prove once again that the only thing that they are accomplished at is tearing people down.
Shame on my Republican brethren for letting their spite get in the way of moving this city past the stagnation of the previous eight years.
Margaret
September 14, 2023 at 11:00 am
It is a tragedy that someone of such impeccable integrity as Randy DeFoor should be badgered by fellow Republicans who lack the same integrity. Jacksonville is being derived of a self-less woman who could make a real difference to the City.
Mayor Donna Deegan will have constant sabotage of her efforts to clean up the corruption of City government because of the Republican political hacks on the City Council.
Matt Carlucci
September 14, 2023 at 6:05 pm
The way the city council “leadership “ fumbled the Randy Defoor appointment was not a profiles in courage moment. Her integrity, honesty, undeniable qualifications made her a historic excellent choice.
Council leadership needs to look up the definition of statesmanship.
JMO, Matt Carlucci councilman at lg group 4
Chanel Xavier
September 14, 2023 at 11:19 pm
Randy DeForr is a racist she hates men of color with power and position. She has no respect for them nor does she care for the BLACK COMMUNITIES. Being a moderate republican and Black I am glad the Jacksonville City Council took a stand and didn’t select a racist.Brenda Priestley Jackson would be a good choice she has the respect of all the communities. She would represent Jacksonville proudly all these folks yeah the leaders that was standing behind Deegan and DeFoor . You need to look at there backgrounds Nate Green his wife was on the JEA Board she left when the Feds start investigation. Randy White the JFRD President the racist person that should resigned years ago he doesn’t like black peoples. He is always trying to keep the Black Firefighters from getting promoted and giving the tests answers to the white Firefighters so they can get promoted . JFRD is the racist employee in Jacksonville. Matt Carlucci who has always got in office by the Black Community voting for him . He was always a fair person now he is just another sold out politian who doesn’t care about the people’s that voted him in office he is a disgrace to all his district. He will never hold another postion again he won’t get the Black communities vote or the moderate republicans.Deegan herself isn’t qualified for office her press conferences shows how ignorant she is and more.She also don’t care about the Black communities she only used them to get into office .But she will do everything for the LGBTQ + COMMUNITY. But the people’s of Jacksonville are getting what they deserve by voting in a person who has no dignity or class or knows how to run a City the people’s surrounding her are a disgrace. Trying to get even with people’s and playing with people lives is stupid
MH/Duuuval
September 15, 2023 at 2:36 pm
The deadenders on the Council have shown their cards: They will try to trip up the new mayor at every opportunity and put as much money as possible into their favorite organizations, including their own. (The latter is why they opposed DeFoor as she might have reined them in.)
The deadenders bloc consists of at-large members Howland and Freeman who are joined by newboy Miller. Add the member from Queens Harbor Bowman, absentee member Rory Diamond, and Kevin Carrico: dominance.
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