Randy White, the Jacksonville City Council vice president who represents a large swath of the city’s Westside, appears set to take the reins as the president of the government body this summer — that is, if all the promises of support for White turn into votes. 

Meanwhile, council member Kevin Carrico’s succeeding White as vice president seems almost certain, too, despite a challenge from Michael Boylan.

While no actual vote was taken Monday, a majority of council members gathered at City Hall to pledge their support to White, who represents District 12, and Carrico, who represents District 4. A new president and vice president will take the helm July 1.

White is a Jacksonville-born, Westside native who spent years as a firefighter before getting elected to the council. His legislative passion is public safety, he told Jacksonville Today following the meeting.

District 1 council member Ken Amaro, of Arlington, likened White to the late American finance guru E.F. Hutton, who founded his namesake financial services firm as a stock brokerage in 1904.

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“He was one of the softest, wisest voices in our financial world,” Amaro said of Hutton. “When it came time to promote E.F. Hutton they would just simply say, ‘When E.F. speaks, everyone listens.’ Randy has that kind of persona.”

No other council member is running against White for president, a position with the power to preside over council meetings, make committee assignments, place bills on agendas or delay their votes, and sign ordinances on behalf of the council, among other duties outlined in council rules.

Meanwhile, in the race to succeed White as second-in-command, Carrico and District 6 representative Boylan are vying for the post, but Carrico had gathered 11 signed pledges of support from his 18 council colleagues as of late Monday afternoon.

Despite that, Boylan, who chairs the Neighborhoods Committee and represents Mandarin, says he’s not backing down.

“Just for the record, it needs to be said — and I apologize if I push… a little bit on this one — pledges don’t mean it’s a vote,” Boylan said at one of two leadership succession meetings on Monday. “I’ve been accused of being a little soft and easy to bend. I’m not bending on this one.”

Even as Boylan handed over his pledge of support for White as the next council president, he said White should have “stood down” to let the process play out. Boylan says he aims to stay in the race because he believes in his ability to serve in that role.

The pledge process wrapped up fairly quickly so members could attend a funeral for Jacksonville political trailblazer Betty Holzendorf.

Carrico, vice president of strategic initiatives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, did not respond to Boylan’s comments at the meeting. 

Current Council President Ron Salem said it was a “very tough” vice president decision for him. But he ultimately gave his pledge to Carrico.

“I think Council member Carrico is the right guy for the right time,” Salem said.

Two more meetings on council leadership are set for Tuesday: one hosted by District 7 Councilman Jimmy Peluso at 2 p.m. in the Don Davis Room and one hosted by Boylan at 3:30 p.m. in the Henry Cook Room.

Councilwoman Tyrona Clark Murray said some of her colleagues say “they don’t like the process.” But not her.

“I love it when there’s competition,” Clark-Murray said.

Clark-Murray and Peluso are two of the 19-member City Council’s five Democrats. Fourteen are Republicans. An official leadership vote is set for May.

Lead image: Council President Ron Salem, left, and Council Vice President Randy White, right, listen as their colleagues pledge to support White as the next City Council president. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today