JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Council has new leadership for the year, swearing in Nick Howland as council president and Joe Carlucci as vice president during a ceremony at City Hall.
The swearing-in ceremony included the national anthem performed by a Navy band and remarks from council members about the year ahead. Carlucci told the crowd he believes Howland will keep council on track.
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“I have no doubt that council president Howland will keep the planes on time,” Carlucci said. “We only have one year left together and I think we should act like it… Let’s make 2026-2027 our best year ever.”
After taking the oath, Howland told council members and attendees he plans to focus on all parts of the city.
“Jacksonville is building again and it’s renovating too,” Howland said. “This council this year will not just focus on one neighborhood — it will focus on all of them.”
Howland: ‘Touched and honored’ to lead
In a one-on-one interview with News4JAX, Howland said he felt “touched” by the support of his colleagues.
“I’m honored that my colleagues put me in this position to lead city council,” Howland said. “I think it’s going to be a fantastic year.”
Howland pointed to public safety and infrastructure as areas where he says the city has momentum.
“We always talk about public safety. Crime is down,” he said.
Howland also listed infrastructure and service investments, including roads, sidewalks and lighting, and said the city “saved paratransit.”
Top priorities: budget, basics, and rebuilding trust
With one year to lead the council, Howland said the “core parts of local government” remain the main focus — including public safety, infrastructure and essential services — but he also outlined specific priorities.
His first: fiscal responsibility, as the city looks ahead to a potential property tax relief referendum in November.
“We don’t know what the voters are going to decide with property tax relief in November and we simply don’t,” Howland said. “So we have no choice but to take a fine-tooth comb to the budget.”
Howland said he wants to deliver a budget — with police and fire separated — that is smaller than the previous year.
“Where necessary, we’ll put items into a contingency pending the referendum in November to determine how we move forward,” he said. “But we will be fiscally responsible this year because we need to and it’s the right thing to do.”
News4JAX also asked Howland about restoring trust in city government and JEA.
“I think we’re ready to move from a stage of investigation to a stage of collaboration and working together to find solutions,” Howland said. “You’ll see when I issue a memo tomorrow morning about what special committees we’re standing up that we’re ready to do that.”
Message to Jacksonville
Howland closed his message with an optimistic outlook for the city.
“Things are looking bright for the city of Jacksonville,” he said. “We are on the road to being the best city in the Southeast for businesses to relocate, businesses to grow and families to live, work and play.”