by David Chapman
Staff Writer
In their first meeting together, newly elected and re-elected City Council members unanimously voted in Council member Stephen Joost as 2011-12 president and member Bill Bishop as vice president at a meeting Tuesday.
Joost, the current Council vice president and CFO of Firehouse Subs, was nominated by Council member Warren Jones, who called Joost a dedicated family man and a well-educated businessman with the necessary leadership skills to lead the body during critical times.
Council member Reggie Brown seconded the nomination and told the Council he believed Joost was the right person to work with the next mayor and will “do the right thing and look out for the best interest for the City of Jacksonville.”
No other names were submitted. Following the unanimous vote, an emotional Joost thanked his peers and family, but not before issuing the most appreciation to current Council President Jack Webb.
Webb narrowly defeated challenger Joost for the role last year in a contentious 10-9 vote.
“Last year at this time we were divided and you treated me much better than I deserved,” said Joost. “You showed what the meaning of ‘president’ means to me, to be able to bridge those differences and you brought this Council together. I owe my gratitude to you and appreciate everything you have done,” he said.
(Webb was defeated for re-election to the Council by challenger Matt Schellenberg.)
Joost then addressed his Council peers about the next City budget, which faces more than a $60 million gap.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said. “I think it is going to be incumbent on this Council to kind of walk the talk.”
In the first part of “walking the talk,” Joost said he has instructed Council Secretary Cheryl Brown to look into pooling existing executive council assistants among the 19 Council members.
Currently, each Council member can hire an assistant. With the exception of Council member John Crescimbeni, each does, but with the influx of new council members comes an opportunity, said Joost.
“We are at a unique time where we don’t have to let anybody go and we can share the existing pool,” he said.
“I don’t have all the answers, I don’t know how it’s going to be done but I do know this: the City did it for years and we managed to survive and before we start cutting everybody else’s budget, we’re going to have to walk our talk,” he said.
If the system doesn’t work, he said, it can revert.
In addition to Joost’s victory, Bishop was unanimously elected Council vice president. He was nominated by Council member Richard Clark and seconded by Council member Clay Yarborough, both of whom spoke highly of his integrity and experience.
Bishop said he was thankful for the opportunity and responsibility and looked forward with eagerness to working with Joost and serving.
“I got your back,” Bishop told Joost.
“We do have a big job ahead of us, we will get it done, we have a great Council,” he told his peers. “Let’s get to work.”
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