For some reason, local politicians on the City Council don’t want you to know what political party they belong to.
Nowhere on the city’s Web site are the council members identified by political party.
Republicans enjoy a majority, and could change this in an instant, but they don’t.
When a former council president, the late Tommy Hazouri, was asked about it by Eye on Jacksonville some months ago he indicated he was unaware it was the case. He was a Democrat.
One local political insider asked about the situation said it might be because the politicians believe that once elected they are supposed to represent all the people.
Another aspect is that there is a move afoot to make all city positions non-partisan. This has been done in other places in Florida, such as Orange County.
I see no advantages for conservatives in having non-partisan elections.
Republicans are in control in the state government in Florida although the state is purple by registration. Republican registration is growing in Jacksonville, although still behind Democrats.
The fact that Democrats still lead locally actually may explain the matter. Republican may hope low-information voters in a city still dominated by Democrats will ignore party lines.
But with the federal government in the complete control of the Democrat Party, and Democrats now committed to socialism, why would conservative local politicians want to keep their party affiliation a secret?
Republicans are the party of openness and transparency, are they not?
The information is public record. People who want to know can find out. So why hide it on the city’s official Web site?
Even Mayor Lenny Curry, notably stingy about releasing information, confesses on the city government Web site that he is a Republican.
The differences between the two major parties nationally are getting more distinct every day. It makes no sense for local politicians to blur them.
