The race to become the next City Council president appears to be locked up, but the three-way pursuit to become the next vice president could be close.
Council members Bill Gulliford, Ray Holt and Clay Yarborough are vying to become the next vice president, succeeding current vice president Bill Bishop, who is expected to become president after Council elections at 4:30 p.m. today at City Hall.
The elected leaders will assume their roles July 1 for the 2012-13 Council year, which does not coincide with the City’s fiscal year of October-September.
The Council vice presidency is considered a stepping stone to the presidency, although that is not guaranteed. Members vote on the presidency and vice presidency each year.
The Council presidency is a sought-after position for several reasons, primarily for the position’s role in City leadership.
In addition to leading the 19-member Council, the president also is in line to become acting mayor with emergency powers when the mayor is absent from Duval County, according to the City code.
The Daily Record spoke with each of the three candidates for vice president.
Gulliford is serving his first Council term, representing the Beaches, and is a former Atlantic Beach mayor and city commission member.
“Being the mayor of a small community gives you great perspective,” Gulliford said.
“We have a great challenge in the next couple of years,” he said.
He said he would tackle the challenges of pensions and infrastructure needs in the next couple of years and said his experience lends itself to building consensus among his colleagues.
Holt, in his second term on Council representing North Jacksonville, said he wants to see Jacksonville continue to attract business. He also said he wants to help Jacksonville improve its self-image.
“We have a lot of good things going on and we should be proud,” Holt said.
Holt said he has learned much from his Council experience over the years, which includes serving on every major committee, and he wants to foster a positive working relationship with the administration to accomplish more.
“We’ve got some very good candidates. I think it is going to be close and I expect after all of it, there will be no losers,” Holt said.
Yarborough is serving his second Council term as a representative of Arlington and said his Council experiences would serve him well in the leadership role.
“Really, I just believed it’s time to put my name in to step up and serve,” he said.
Yarborough has served as Council floor leader twice and as a committee chair, both of which he said are conducive to running a smooth meeting.
He also said his leadership ability would provide a positive working relationship with the administration to push for Council priorities.
“Really the main thing we have that’s a big issue for the City as a whole is the need to make sure we are operating as fiscally sound as possible,” Yarborough said.
In talking to Council members about their support, the race appears to be close with the three candidates having five to seven backers each as of mid-Monday.
By Council rules, whoever has the fewest votes will be eliminated and there would be a runoff between the remaining two candidates.
“I have heard it is going to be pretty close,” Bishop said.
356-2466