Mayor Lenny Curry hasn’t had much opposition to his early decisions of running the city.
But at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, a vocal group of more than 40 stepped up to oppose him on an issue.
They said he was wrong to force Lisa King and Joey McKinnon off the Planning Commission, the quasi-judicial group that reviews city land use and zoning issues.
Curry has asked about a dozen people to step down from several city boards and commissions although they have time remaining. King and McKinnon have rebuffed Curry’s request, saying five new members of a nine-member board that is as technical as the Planning Commission would slow down city business.
The two, like other volunteers on board and commissions, serve at the pleasure of the mayor, according to city code.
“Just because you can,” said Nancy Powell, “doesn’t mean you should.”
She was one of 43 people who spoke or filled out cards in support of King and McKinnon staying.
Some, including Powell, said it was overstepping.
Others, like Wayne Wood, called it a “slap in the face” to citizens to replace experienced members with inexperienced ones on planning issues.
“Just tell the mayor ‘no,’” said Eddie Diamond Jr. “The mayor is going to do great work, but don’t tell him ‘yes’ to everything.”
Diamond wanted council members to “have a real debate about this.”
Whether that happens won’t be known until at least next week. In a precursor, of sorts, council passed two other Curry-appointed replacements to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority on Tuesday. It was done without much discussion and even less dissension.
Council member John Crescimbeni voted against Jay Demetree and Russell Thomas because he didn’t like their lack of answers to aviation-related questions. Council member Tommy Hazouri said Thomas was qualified but opposed his appointment because he couldn’t support anyone being replaced without good reason.
“There’s no rhyme or reason for this to happen,” Hazouri said.
Three members of the public stood behind Curry’s decisions on King and McKinnon.
Karyn Morton, vice chairwoman of the Republican Party of Duval County, said Curry was seeking people “to pull in the same direction” to make Jacksonville better.
Andrew Moss said Curry wants people he thinks share his vision — and putting those people in positions is allowed.
And Denise Hunt said she believed in Curry’s leadership after he spent time recently in much-maligned Eureka Gardens to see the situation himself. She initially came to the meeting to support keeping Ed Booth on the aviation authority, but ultimately backed the mayor.
“I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt,” Hunt said of Curry.
Still, the overwhelming majority felt differently about the issue.
Some claimed politics were in play. Others just wanted stability and experience retained.
“This isn’t about me,” said McKinnon, a geologist.
“With five new members at once, the work of the commission will slow down,” said King, a grant consultant and vice president of Langton Associates.
Afterward, both said they were overwhelmed by the number of speakers — many they had never met.
The Rules Committee next week will review the issue, which could be ready for a final vote by the full council.
King said she’ll continue meeting with council members to further explain the situation and answer any questions. McKinnon said he’ll continue to do his work on the commission.
Those decisions could be joined by another high-profile pair.
Council members Tuesday also talked about speeding up the review process for Tom Petway and Delores Kesler to serve on the JEA board of directors.
Curry has tapped the business and civic leaders to replace Peter Bower and Lisa Strange Weatherby, who resigned at the mayor’s request. That chain of events began with a Florida Times-Union report on scripted talking points among the public utility’s board.
With the spots not confirmed and Curry seeking resignation letters from the remaining five board members Monday, the hurry-up for Petway and Kesler would help ensure a board quorum.
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