JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A life-long Republican and current member of Jacksonville City Council on Monday made a very public switch to the Democratic Party.

Glorious Johnson, who holds one of five at-large seats on the council, called a news conference at the Supervisor of Elections office at Gateway Mall to switch her party affiliation. She cited the lack of inclusiveness in the Republican Party as one of her reasons for her decision.

"I am here to announce that I am changing parties, not principles," Johnson said.

Johnson won the seat in 2003 and was unopposed in her 2007 reelection bid.

The switch gives the council its second Democrat. Johnson joins John Crescembini, who won another at-large seat in a special election in November.

Johnson said her new party affiliation will help her better reach those in the community who are Democrats.

"Over a century ago during the post-Civil War reconstruction, the Republican Party was the champion on the underserved," Johnson said. "And since then, partisan politics has devolved our political landscape to the point where principles are either partially resident in one party or the other, with no one party being home to all the principles needed to truly serve the public interest."

Johnson says that even though her party affiliation has changed, the roots of her service to her hometown are unchanged.