News Summary
Jacksonville City Council members face scrutiny for potential breaches of Florida’s Sunshine Law following text exchanges during a public meeting. Civil rights attorney Leslie Jean-Bart filed complaints over the matter, prompting calls for a criminal investigation. Although the State Attorney declined to pursue the case, the City Council has implemented ordinances mandating annual training on Sunshine Law compliance. This ongoing situation underscores the importance of government transparency and the council’s commitment to upholding public accountability.
Jacksonville City Council members are currently under investigation for potential violations of Florida’s Sunshine Law, which mandates that deliberations by elected officials must occur in public. The controversy has intensified since text messages were exchanged during a public meeting on August 4, 2025, involving Council President Kevin Carrico and fellow Council members Ron Salem and Mike Gay. Critics assert that these private conversations constituted discussions that should have been part of the public record.
The scrutiny initiated on this matter led civil rights attorney Leslie Jean-Bart to file complaints in mid-August, requesting State Attorney Melissa Nelson to launch a criminal investigation into the actions of the council members. Jean-Bart contends that the text messages clearly violated the Sunshine Law, emphasizing the need for open government and transparency.
On September 9, 2025, State Attorney Nelson ultimately decided against pursuing an investigation, concluding that the messages conveyed normal legislative processes and did not infringe upon Sunshine law regulations. In response to the allegations, Carrico labeled the claims as partisan attacks, while Jean-Bart criticized the State Attorney’s decision, arguing that it undermines government transparency.
In light of this ongoing concern, the City Council took proactive measures by approving Ordinance 2025-658, which enforces mandatory annual training on Sunshine Law and ethics for all council members and their executive assistants. Additionally, the council passed Ordinance 2025-612-E aimed at updating the city’s gift policy to ensure that both the Mayor and City Council members have equal access to tickets, preventing exclusive control over benefits by the executive branch.
The Ethics Commission is set to meet to discuss further actions tonight, with a focus on enhancing training associated with Sunshine Law compliance. They aim to establish procedures that would deter private communications among council members that could lead to future legal or ethical ramifications. Jean-Bart has expressed concern about the implications of council members having discussions about legislative matters outside of public forums, alleging a recurring pattern of noncompliance within the council.
Councilman Ron Salem provided a defense against the criticisms, indicating that he was not directed toward a specific outcome concerning the ticket legislation and that his efforts were strictly to investigate the Mayor’s newly proposed ticket policy. In a separate commitment to transparency, Council President Carrico announced intentions to eliminate taxpayer-funded Jaguar tickets for city officials, highlighting a distinction between the policy views of the council and the executive branch.
The State Attorney’s Office, which has previously investigated violations of the Sunshine Law, remains committed to enforcing the law impartially and upholding the standards of public accountability. The current scrutiny serves as a reminder of the significance of transparency in government proceedings and the necessity for elected officials to operate within the bounds of the law.
This ongoing investigation and the resulting legislative actions reflect a community determined to uphold the principles of open governance and prevent potential misinterpretation of the Sunshine Law. As the Ethics Commission prepares to discuss future training and compliance measures, the Jacksonville City Council remains in the spotlight as it navigates the balance between legislative processes and public accountability.
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Additional Resources
- First Coast News: Jacksonville City Council’s Sunshine Law Controversy
- Jacksonville.com: City Council Members Texted Each Other About Bill
- Florida Politics: JEA Cleared of Sunshine Law Violations
- News4Jax: Attorney Calls for Sunshine Law Investigation
- Wikipedia: Sunshine Law
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
