Jacksonville City Council member Nick Howland was elected city council president for the 2026-27 council year. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Published on May 26, 2026 at 8:45 pm
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Jacksonville City Council members have picked first-term Republicans Nick Howland and Joe Carlucci to lead the city’s legislative body for the next year as president and vice president, respectively.
Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to name Howland president-designate to be installed to succeed current Council President Kevin Carrico on June 25.
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Howland enters the council presidency after a year marked by political angst, both among council members and with Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration.
He’s likely to inherit an ongoing investigation into the city’s public utility, JEA, that includes toxic-workplace and racism allegations raised by Carrico, and probes by the State Attorney’s Office looking into Carrico’s withdrawn appointment to the utilities board. Howland will also inherit a council operating in an era of strain between the city government and Tallahassee.
Howland’s term will also likely include debates over plans to move the Duval County jail, continued requests for developer incentives to build up Downtown and a projected revenue deficit.
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Democratic Council member Rahman Johnson was the first to nominate Howland for the role.
After the vote, Howland acknowledged the politics of the last year and upcoming budget strain. He pledged not to play “retribution politics.”
“In a time of revenue uncertainty and fiscal pressure, we must stay focused on the core – public safety, infrastructure, (and) essential city services – while also advancing strategies that make this the best city in the Southeast to relocate a business and for families to live, work and play,” Howland said Tuesday.
Carlucci’s path to the vice presidency wasn’t as certain during the special meeting. He narrowly topped at-large member Chris Miller, the district director for U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-FL5, in a 10-9 runoff vote.
The council also nominated two of its members to be next year’s vice president, which historically is a favorite for the council presidency the following year. Republican Ken Amaro and Johsnon received enough nominations to put them on the first ballot.
President-designate’s priorities
Incoming Council President Howland, a U.S. Navy veteran and the current executive director of the veteran-suicide prevention nonprofit The Fire Watch, was elected in 2023. He’s lived in Jacksonville since January 2007 when he relocated with his family for body armor manufacturer Armor Holdings, Inc.
Howland says as president he’ll prioritize job creation through strengthening Jacksonville’s economy and less from government investment. He also promised to get the city’s Citizen Planning Advisory Committees (CPACs) more involved in policy making.
“Looking for options to keep growing without using taxpayer dollars,” Howland said. “…We’ll also prioritize accountability and transparency so all voices are heard, and so government works better for the people it serves.”
The president of the Jacksonville City Council plays a major role in setting policy priorities for the year. They also choose who chairs and serves on the council’s standing committees. Those include the Finance Committee, which vets the mayor’s proposed budget and authorizes subpoenas, and the Rules Committee, which reviews appointees to the city’s boards and commissions.
Deegann took to social media Tuesday to congratulate Howland and Joe Carlucci.
“Jacksonville has so much momentum right now, and I look forward to working with you to continue it,” Deegan wrote.
Race for vice president
Joe Carlucci, whose district includes San Marco and the Downtown Southbank, was also elected in 2023. The council vice president has historically been a front-runner for the presidency the following year and fills in for the president in their absence.
In the final vote, Carrico and council members Ron Salem; Reggie Gaffney Jr.; Raul Arias; Ju’Coby Pittman; Randy White; Johnson; Jimmy Peluso; and Matt Carlucci voted for Joe Carlucci. He also cast a vote for himself.
Miller received votes from Howland and members Michael Boylan; Rory Diamond; Terrance Freeman; Mike Gay; Will Lahnen; Amaro; and from himself.
“Now it’s time to build a consensus, it’s time to get back to work, and it’s time to – like Council Vice President Howland said – we have to bring this team back together and go forward in 2027,” Carlucci said.
Joe Carlucci’s family has a long history in Jacksonville politics, including his father, at-large member Matt Carlucci, a past council president who’s been on council for a total of 19 years.
Matt Carlucci became emotional Tuesday evening when he spoke of his son’s election.
“Son, I’m proud of you. And just remember, everybody up here is a council member equal with one another,” Matt Carlucci said. “And every council member has their own particular needs. And I’ve seen you treat everybody in an equal form and fashion, and just continue to do that.”
Call for return to norms
Peluso initially abstained from the voting for Howland in protest but offered his support after city attorneys said council rules state he had to vote if he was present.
Carrico removed the Democrat from his only committee assignment last year after Peluso boycotted a meeting over what he saw as a break with council leadership norms. He also referenced a strained relationship between Carrico and Matt Carlucci, who was only given one committee assignment.
Peluso said those decisions went against the council’s established norms.
“No vice presidential candidate or presidential candidate did a thing to stop it and stand up,” Peluso said. “Leadership means something to me. Protocol means something to me. All of you mean something to me as well. Your constituencies elected you to be in this office as they elected me, and they expect me to be on committees, as they expect council member Carlucci (to be.)”
“…I hope we go back to those norms and traditions.”
