by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
City Council Vice President Daniel Davis should have no problem succeeding current Council President Michael Corrigan, especially since none of the eight other eligible Council members have even hinted at providing Davis any opposition.
However, they are lined up four-deep to fill his shoes. Council members Richard Clark, Ronnie Fussell, Art Graham and Mia Jones have all submitted letters of intent-to-run to Council Secretary Cheryl Brown. In past years, more than a couple of Council members have expressed interest in the job in a given year — and most have had their sights set on being Council president. But, those candidates usually work things out and one emerges as the next Council vice president.
Don’t hold your breath for that to happen this year. Regardless of their political aspirations, it certainly looks as though all four will pursue the job.
That said, lobbying for votes this year is a bit tricky. Ten of the current Council members can’t vote — eight are term-limited, Reggie Fullwood resigned to run for the State Legislature and Sharon Copeland didn’t seek re-election. Also, there are six run-offs set for May 15, so those running for vice president need to stay close to both candidates in all six races. All of the meetings between the current Council members running for vice president and those who won their elections last week have to be publicly noticed, but meetings with run-off candidates don’t have to be noticed.
Once the dust settles, Brown said she’ll hold the vote at the first full Council meeting in May after the May 15 elections have been certified and it should be an interesting vote. According to City ordinance (see text box), a candidate must get 10 votes in order to win. With four candidates, that could take a while, said Brown.
The Daily Record asked all four candidates for Council vice president to respond to the same questions. Only Graham didn’t respond.
Richard Clark
1. Do you still intend to pursue the Council vice presidency? If not, why not?
Yes, I am still pursuing the vice presidency of the Council. All of the candidates have already received a letter of my candidacy, in which, I have asked for their support.
2. How do you plan to approach the new Council members and when?
I approached most while they were still running for office and helped many.
3. How do you plan to approach the incumbent members?
I will schedule and notice meetings. All of the current council members have already received a letter of my candidacy, in which, I have asked for their support.
4. How quickly after the next election will you set up meetings with the new Council members?
I will continue to help those in run-offs and will set up meetings as soon as we can after the elections.
5. Why do you want to be Council vice president?
I am well suited, given my business background, to continue our fiscally conservative efforts, while preserving our quality of life here in Jacksonville. This includes maintaining our low tax rate, supporting our police and fire-fighters, and helping to make our park system the best in the country.
Ronnie Fussell
1. Do you still intend to pursue the Council vice presidency? If not, why not?
Yes.
2. How do you plan to approach the new Council members and when?
In the next few weeks I will be setting up meetings with them to discuss my candidacy.
3. How do you plan to approach the incumbent members?
Letters were sent out to all the incumbent members regarding Council VP and noticed meetings were set up as well.
4. How quickly after the next election will you set up meetings with the new Council members?
Very soon.
5. Why do you want to be Council vice president?
I believe that the people of Jacksonville elected me in part because of my past and present business and government experience. I would like to use that knowledge and skill to lead the City Council as our government goes through some major changes as we address tax reform impacts on local government and growth management issues.
Mia Jones
1. Do you still intend to pursue the Council vice presidency? If not, why not?
Yes, I still intend to run for vice president.
2. How do you plan to approach the new Council members and when?
I plan to approach the newly elected members just as I did the current members by sending them a letter by the end of this week. In which I will invite them to schedule a meeting with me and I ask for their vote in the letter.
3. How do you plan to approach the incumbent members?
I have already sent letters to the current members. In which I will invite them to schedule a meeting with me and I ask for their vote in the letter.
4. How quickly after the next election will you set up meetings with the new Council members?
The next day.
5. Why do you want to be Council vice president?
I am seeking the position of vice president, because I have worked hard over the past four years to be an active and more importantly a productive member of this body. My leadership to date speaks for itself. I believe it is time for me to move further up in the ranks and to continue to ensure that this city is well represented.
How the vote happens
The election of the president-designate shall be held, then followed by the election of the vice president-designate. The officers shall be elected by signed written ballot, and a majority of the votes given shall be necessary for an election. Each signed written ballot shall be delivered to the Council secretary, who shall read each ballot orally after all ballots have been received, and shall total and announce the results thereof. When no nominee for an office receives a majority on the first ballot, the two nominees receiving the highest number of votes shall be voted upon on a second signed written ballot, all other nominees being dropped from consideration. In the event of a tie vote for the position of second nominee, the members involved in such tie vote shall immediately be voted on separately by all Council members voting to break the tie, with the person receiving the most votes therefrom being the second nominee.