by David Chapman
Staff Writer
In one of only two scheduled meetings as a group, Duval Legislative Delegation members will take part in their annual organizational meeting Friday at City Hall for public testimony and an in-house election.
The meeting provides an opportunity for the public to speak with their elected representatives as a whole. In the past, individuals and organizations spoke about legislative and financial issues that members work on during the following legislative session in March.
Currently, the names of more than 60 people have been placed on the agenda, which is more than last year, according to the Duval Legislative Delegation Office. Following public comment rules, each person on the agenda will receive three minutes to discuss his or her issue.
Friday was the cutoff to be officially placed on the agenda, but those wanting to speak to the group can still do so by attending in person and filling out the standard blue card.
During the meeting, delegation members will elect their chair and vice chair for the upcoming session. Last year’s chair was State Rep. Audrey Gibson, with State Sen. John Thrasher serving as vice chair.
The chair this year, according to procedure, will be a Senate member of the group, unless members waive the rule.
There will already be two changes to the 11-member body due to term limits and outside changes, but several other members in attendance will be determined today after the polls close and votes are counted.
Incumbents in contested races on today’s ballots include Thrasher (District 8), State Rep. Charles McBurney (District 16) and State Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart (District 18), while State Rep. Lake Ray (District 17) is on the ballot unopposed.
Gibson (District 15), 2009-10 Duval Delegation chair, is term-limited and will be replaced by Randy Smith or Reggie Fullwood.
The only known new face will be former Jacksonville City Council member Daniel Davis, who replaced current Lt. Gov. candidate and former State Rep. Jennifer Carroll in September.
While the public will be allowed to speak and new officers elected, the group won’t hear or act on local bills, also known as J-Bills, until January when committee times and dates have been set at the state legislative level.
Six J-Bills, including issues in ethics, the mayor’s veto power and Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund investment authority, were filed before the deadline Oct. 7.
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