Jacksonville City Council member Rory Diamond has returned after being excused for several months for a deployment overseas as a judge advocate general.
Diamond made his return at the Feb. 6 meeting of the Council Land Use and Zoning Committee.
“Rory Diamond, District 13, and it feels great to say that,” he said as Council members and city officials introduced themselves at the start of the meeting.
“Thanks for your service, and it’s good to have you back,” said Kevin Carrico, the committee’s chair.
Diamond, who serves in the Florida Army National Guard, was reelected to the Council in the spring of 2023 over a write-in candidate. After being deployed overseas, he obtained an excused absence from the Council beginning in mid-June.
He had previously been excused to participate in military training and assignments.
His return came shortly after member Terrance Freeman resumed his Council service after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
Freeman returned to his seat at the Jan. 10 Council meeting after a three-month absence.