When the 2023-24 Jacksonville City Council convenes July 14, members Nick Howland and past president Terrance Freeman will lead two of the 19-member board’s most influential committees.
Council President-designate Ron Salem released his slate of committee chair assignments June 28 for the incoming body, which has eight new members and a Republican supermajority.
Salem, a Republican, represents Group 2 At-Large. Freeman, a Republican, is the Group 1 At-Large representative.
Howland, a first-term Group 3 At-Large Republican, will chair the Finance Committee and will lead the city budget hearings in August to review and debate Democrat Mayor-elect Donna Deegan’s first budget and Capital Improvement Plan.
Deegan will be sworn in July 1.
The Finance Committee vice chair is Randy White, a Republican who represents District 12. He also is Council vice president-designate.
The Finance Committee is responsible for advancing or denying all city spending legislation including incentive deals with private businesses and developers. That positions the committee under Howland to have a key role in what could be a $1.4 billion deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024 to renovate the city-owned stadium.
Howland was elected in February 2022 in a special election to replace late Council member Tommy Hazouri, Mayor-elect Deegan’s cousin and a Democrat.
Howland defeated Democrat Tracye Polson in that race. Deegan announced Polson’s appointment June 29 to be the city’s director of strategic partnerships.
Freeman will chair the Council Rules Committee, which interviews and recommends approval or denial of mayoral and Council appointments to the city’s boards and commissions.
Salem named Kevin Carrico, a Republican who represents District 4, to continue as chair of the Land Use and Zoning Committee for a second year, handling private property owner requests for rezoning and land use charges, as well as demolition reviews for buildings that are contributing structures to Jacksonville’s historic districts.
The committee assignments are one-year appointments.
Salem named first-year Group 5 At-Large representative Chris Miller, a Republican, floor leader who is responsible for moving legislation and maintaining the agenda during regular Council meetings.
Here is the list of Salem’s committee assignments:
Finance:
Chair: Nick Howland, Group 3 At-Large, (R)
Vice Chair: Randy White, District 12, (R)
Raul Arias, District 11, (R)
Kevin Carrico, District 4, (R)
Will Lahnen, District 3, (R)
Ju’Coby Pittman, District 10, (D)
Reggie Gaffney Jr., District 8, (D)
Rules:
Chair: Terrence Freeman, Group 1 At-Large, (R)
Vice Chair: Randy White, District 12, (R)
Chris Miller, Group 5 At-Large, (R)
Ken Amaro, District 1, (R)
Joe Carlucci, District 5, (R)
Michael Boylan, District 6, (R)
Rahman Johnson, District 14, (D)
Land Use and Zoning:
Chair: Kevin Carrico, District 4, (R)
Vice Chair: Reggie Gaffney Jr., District 8, (D)
Raul Arias, District 11, (R)
Joe Carlucci, District 5, (R)
Ken Amaro, District 1, (R)
Rahman Johnson, District 14, (D)
Rory Diamond, District 13, (R)
Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health & Safety:
Chair: Michael Boylan, District 6, (R)
Vice Chair: Will Lahnen, District 3, (R)
Matt Carlucci, Group 4 At-Large, (R)
Tyrona Clark-Murray, District 9, (D)
Terrence Freeman, Group 1 At-Large, (R)
Jimmy Peluso, District 7, (D)
Mike Gay, District 2, (R)
Transportation, Energy & Utilities:
Chair: Ju’Coby Pittman, District 10, (D)
Vice Chair: Chris Miller, Group 5 At-Large, (R)
Tyrona Clark-Murray, District 9, (D)
Jimmy Peluso, District 7, (D)
Mike Gay, District 2, (R)
Matt Carlucci, Group 4 At-Large, (R)
Nick Howland, Group 3 At-Large, (R)
Jacksonville Waterways Commission:
Chair: Jimmy Peluso, District 7, (D)
Vice Chair: Mike Gay, District 2, (R)
Tyrona Clark-Murray, District 9, (D)
Alternate: Ken Amaro, District 1, (R)
Tourist Development Council:
Chair: Ron Salem, Group 2 At-Large, (R)
Randy White, District 12, (R)
Terrence Freeman, Group 1 At-Large ,(R)
Value Adjustment Board:
Chair: Will Lahnen ,District 3, (R)
Rahman Johnson, District 14, (D)
Joe Carlucci, District 5, (R)
Personnel Committee:
Chair: Ron Salem, Group 2 At-Large, (R)
Randy White, District 12, (R)
Nick Howland, Group 3 At-Large, (R)
Terrence Freeman, Group 1 At-Large, (R)
,Kevin Carrico, District 4, (R)