JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Saying her nominee for general counsel is “facing a smear campaign,” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan held a news conference Wednesday to rally support for Randy DeFoor’s appointment.
Flanked by more than a dozen current and former city leaders, several of whom have served as general counsels themselves, Deegan said “the same forces who tried to sell JEA” are now actively working against DeFoor’s nomination by putting pressure on City Council members.
Deegan said DeFoor is being punished because she stood up against the attempted sale of JEA, which Deegan called “a corrupt scheme that would have been the largest theft in Jacksonville’s history.”
RELATED: Will former City Council member Randy DeFoor become Jacksonville’s next general counsel?
“Randy is imminently qualified. That is why all these people are here,” Deegan said of those who stood with her, backing DeFoor’s nomination as general counsel. “She’s a Republican. She holds many of those ideologies. She also holds in her the ability and the willingness to be an honest broker always. We’ve watched her. We’ve seen her do that.”
WATCH: Press play below for a full replay news conference:
Deegan said she chose DeFoor because she believes DeFoor will be that same honest broker between the City Council and the Mayor’s Office. But some City Council members, citing a state rule established a few years ago, have balked at approving DeFoor’s nomination.
The state rule says once you leave the City Council you must wait two years before you can lobby the City Council.
But Deegan said every legal and ethics expert her office consulted said DeFoor’s recent departure from the City Council was not an issue because the general counsel position does not involve lobbying or policymaking. Deegan said despite those reassurances, she has posed the question to the state Ethics Commission about whether DeFoor can be appointed to the job so that there can be absolute clarity on the issue.
READ: Ethics Inquiry cover letter | Ethics Inquiry on general counsel appointment
“They’re hanging on to that so they don’t have to say the rest of the reasons,” Deegan said. “None of this is really about her qualifications or her ability to do the job as a former City Council member. It is about personal grudges. It is about vendettas because Randy stood up to the establishment and largely because she stood up when they tried to sell JEA.”
Tim Baker and Brian Hughes -- the political team being accused of interfering in the nomination approval process -- both said they haven’t spoken to any City Council members about DeFoor’s appointment.
Hughes, who was the city’s Chief Administrative Officer, told News4JAX news partner the Jacksonville Daily Record that he’s had “zero contact” with any council members about the general counsel selection since before he left City Hall in June. Baker was behind the political ads that some say divided the city.
“Serving Jacksonville was an honor and a privilege, and I am proud of the work I did for the people of Florida’s greatest city. I wish Mayor Deegan and City Council well on their efforts to continue the progress ushered in by the Curry Administration,” Hughes told the Daily Record.
DeFoor said among the whisper rumors and lies being spread about her by “the small cartel of dividers” are that she has been disbarred and Baker Acted.
“Neither is true,” DeFoor said, shaking her head. “I have also heard it said that I am ‘too volatile’ to which I would say, ‘Show me.’”
Deegan said one of her campaign promises was to do her best to end punishment politics in Jacksonville.
“It’s enough y’all. It is enough. We have got to stop playing this game,” a clearly frustrated Deegan said during Wednesday’s news conference. “Randy loves this city with all her heart. We share that in common. We’re also fifth-generation Jacksonville natives who believe that unity is the way forward.”
Deegan said she’s going to do everything in her power to change the culture in the city from one of fear to one of unity.
“That’s what people have asked me to do,” she said. “And I believe that’s what they want our Council to do as well.”
News4JAX has reached out to City Council member Terrance Freeman and City Council President Ron Salem for their response to the mayor’s news conference.
Freeman sent this statement:
Last night’s resolution for an ethics opinion received nearly unanimous approval from the City Council -- from both Republicans and Democrats alike. Mayor Deegan’s attacks on the duly elected Legislative Branch are disappointing and fly in the face of the positive message of unity that the Mayor campaigned on.
The only person “playing politics” with this appointment is Mayor Donna Deegan.
In addition, Mrs. DeFoor’s participation in this political stunt raises further questions for me if she can truly be impartial if she is ultimately confirmed. As the Council’s Rules Chair, I will continue to demand transparency, accountability and high integrity from this and all future nominees.
City Councilman Terrance Freeman
Salem said he would comment at a workshop Monday where City Council will address the issue ahead of making its request to the Ethics Commission.
“I hope the council members will come back with specific questions on the type of things that former council members can rule on. Are there restrictions on her ability to work with the council, provide opinions to the council? Those are the types of questions I suspect will come up,” Salem said.
DeFoor said it is Deegan’s determination for unity that made her willing to accept the nomination as general counsel. DeFoor thanked Deegan for her confidence and trust and for “reaching across the aisle for what’s best for our city.”
“It is a complete honor to reach back,” DeFoor said. “It will take all of us standing behind her to reach that goal (of unity).”