JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the Jacksonville City Council prepares for new leadership, there is an intense battle for council president between veteran member John Crescimbeni and fairly new member Anna Lopez Brosche.
African-American members of the Jacksonville City Council have also called for a bigger role in deciding who will be the new president.
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They held a special meeting Thursday to talk about that, and it was attended by a majority of council members.
Council members discussed issues, such as vacant housing and job programs, and how they impact the entire city. They also asked how each of the candidates would address the concerns.
While the meeting was called by African-American members, Councilman Reggie Brown insisted they will not act as a voting block.
"There was some concerns and folks were wondering, 'Oh, they are putting a block together, are they angry about something?' That is not what this is about. This is about trying to establish the process as to how to lead and challenge the individuals that say they want to be leaders how do we challenge them and knowing what our needs are?" Brown said.
The City Council plans to meet again on these issues. The vote for a new president is slated for May.