Republican Party of Duval County Chair Dean Black said the organization is ecstatic.
“My heart is filled with joy because Jacksonville is going to host the Republican National Convention and that is a great, great day for our city,” Black said at a news conference June 12 at the party’s offices at 3520 St Johns Bluff Road, Suite No. 3.
Black said the bureaucratic part of the convention would remain in Charlotte, North Carolina, but that the “overwhelming majority” would be in Jacksonville.
“The grand spectacle, what everyone perceives as the convention, the days of speeches culminating in the president, that will all be here,” he said.
Black said the three-day event concluding Aug. 27 would feature numerous speakers with numerous off-site events and dinners.
A lot is still in the works.
Black said that companies and vendors interested in offering their services should contact the Republican Party of Duval County offices at (904) 396-4233.
He said precautions will be taken to address COVID-19, including temperature checks and the sanitizing of facilities.
There will be “a comprehensive plan to keep us safe,” he said.
When asked about wearing masks and social distancing, Black said, “We will take precautions consistent with those recommended by our leadership at that time.”
“We have a government that has a demonstrated record of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Black said. We are used to hurricanes, sometimes back-to-back. We have exceptional Republican governments and an exceptional business community, a Downtown that is second to none, and we are going to show that off to the world.”
Black said he refused to accept hosting the event as divisive.
“It’s only divisive if you choose to make it so. There is nothing wrong with every citizen of Jacksonville joining hands with their brothers and sisters and saying look, we may disagree politically, but we are all American, and together we can celebrate the grand spectacle,” he said.
Black said the next step for the organization was recruiting volunteers.
“We will need thousands and thousands and thousands of volunteers,” he said. He said past conventions have had 7,000 volunteers.
Black said so far there are 800. Those interested can visit rncvolunteer.com
“We should all be overjoyed. This is a great day for all of the citizens of Jacksonville and I mean exactly that,” he said.