A Few Minutes with the Mayor – October 2022

City elections for the Office of Councilor or Mayor can be confusing to understand. This legal process can be puzzling, especially if you have moved to Jacksonville from a different city or state. As a resident, what should you expect to see during an election? What is important to consider? Whom do you choose from the candidates, and what do you base your vote on?

In Jacksonville, we elect our Mayor and Councilors on a rotating schedule. Both the Mayor and Councilors hold four-year terms, with three Councilors on one four-year cycle and the Mayor and the other three Councilors on a four-year cycle two years later. This rotation provides consistency, knowledge, and experience in our city government, without the chaos that could occur if we had a new Mayor and six new Councilors all at once. This November, three Council seats are up for election or re-election. In November of 2024, the Mayor and three Councilors will follow the same procedures. Our city elections are regulated by State Election Law and the City of Jacksonville City Charter and Ordinances.

As I write this column, six applications for the office of City Councilor were originally turned in. I do not know who the candidates will be for certain, but they must all follow certain legal procedures:

Before proceeding, each applicant must have resided in Jacksonville for the last twelve months preceding the election. Each applicant must first see our City Clerk and complete state form SEL 101 to have their address verified. When the City Clerk verifies the prospective petition is correct, the applicant may obtain state form SEL 121, Candidate Signature Sheets, to petition for signatures. These forms must be signed by at least twenty citizens who are registered to vote and who live within the city limits of Jacksonville. These petition nomination forms allow you to be put on the voting ballot in November. Registered voters may sign only one nomination petition for any person applying to run for the office of City Councilor. Applicants must then return the signed forms to the City Clerk, who will take them to the Jackson County Elections Office for verification. Once the City Clerk notifies the applicant the signatures are verified, the applicant is an official candidate for the City of Jacksonville, Office of Councilor. Campaigning then begins. A candidate may have withdrawn their candidacy by filing a form with the City Clerk by close of business on September 2, 2022, at 4:00pm.

Some candidates will file a statement for publishing in the county Voters Pamphlet. This important publication can give you information on our candidates that may help you decide how you will vote. You can also compare candidate statements to see whose views you think most closely match your idea of who would make an excellent Councilor.

What makes a remarkable Councilor? There are many factors that determine if someone is suitable to hold the office of a Councilor. This position is crucial to what happens in Jacksonville daily and in the future. Councilors are put in the position of making decisions that will be in effect for many years. The folks who choose to live in Jacksonville made that decision for many reasons, but the one I hear about most often is the charm and livability of a small village, and wonderful people. A poor decision on the part of the City Council could drastically change that. For instance, a poor decision on the part of the Council can impact our lives financially if it affects our property values. A poor decision can put our safety at risk. What do you know of how a potential Council member’s views on certain decisions could impact you?

Other key questions you need to ask of candidates for City Council are:

  • Do they have any job or life experiences that would be of benefit in decisions made for us?
  • Do they have a personal or hidden agenda that could adversely upset our way of life? For instance, do they want their street paved, or do they want to be in a position to benefit themselves, without concern for others? Do they want to be able to boast they are on City Council, fill a space in their resume, or look impressive for their career?
  • Would they advocate change for the sake of change, or because that is how their old city or state did something, instead of what is best for Jacksonville?
  • Would they thoroughly study each item put before them? Would they take a thoughtful, well-researched look at the pros and cons of how their Council vote would impact the community, now and in the future?
  • Does the candidate have a proven record of service to our community? Have they served on any Commission or Committee for the City? Do they belong to any service organizations in the city? Do they attend Council meetings, and are they knowledgeable about current Council concerns?
  • Do they fully understand a city budget and the importance of making budget decisions for the city and our citizens?

Our elected Mayor and Council positions are voluntary, unpaid positions. The duties of both take a lot of time and effort to serve effectively. Does the candidate understand the importance of really participating in a Councilor’s duties? Councilors must attend two meetings a month, one of which is usually a work session. There may be more meetings in special circumstances.

They must also be a Council Liaison to at least one Commission or Committee.

Councilors are asked to do individual and group research on projects that the whole Council might decide to develop for the betterment of Jacksonville. A good example is the research and reporting done last year on a Comprehensive Safety Plan. This resulted in the publication of our Emergency Evacuation Checklist & Map, along with our Citizen Emergency FAQs. Another is the 18 months of research one Councilor has put in researching the need for a much-requested museum in Jacksonville. Does the candidate have the time and life experience to carry out these types of responsibilities?

My ideal candidate is someone who will be truly dedicated to serving Jacksonville, now and in the future. A person who shows true interest and commitment. A candidate who is willing to accept responsibility for our welfare. Someone who plans on being here for a lifetime and has an honest interest in what will be best for the people who live here, and the future of our City. A calm, considerate, well-rounded individual who loves Jacksonville. A person full of ideas, enthusiasm, and knowledge of our City.

Please vote in the upcoming election. It is as important to vote in a small city like Jacksonville, as in a large one, because by voting you are a part of helping shape your city. Please search your heart and mind when casting your vote for your City Council candidates. It is your future you are voting on and the future of our fair City.