Here is a list of names. See if you notice anything unusual about them.
Matt Carlucci, Garrett Dennis, Reggie Gaffney, Joyce Morgan, Ju’Coby Pittman and Brenda Priestly Jackson.
Those were the members of the City Council voting to tear down monuments relating to Jacksonville history, as liberal activists have demanded.
In the vote on tearing down monuments, all of those who voted to preserve Jacksonville history were Republicans.
What is unusual about the names of those in favor is that all the names are those of Democrats, except one: Carlucci.
Carlucci is a long-time politician, elected citywide. Like the other four council members elected citywide, he is a Republican.
Just to be sure, we checked with the supervisor of the elections office. They confirmed that Carlucci is registered as a Republican.
You wouldn’t know this by checking the city’s Web site under “City Council” because council members are not identified by the party.
Carlucci also contributed $500 to the campaign of an incumbent member of the School Board – a liberal Democrat — who is being challenged by a Republican.
Carlucci had been poised to run for mayor but changed his mind and plans to run for re-election to his current seat next year.
He told Eye on Jacksonville that party labels aren’t always the determining factor when he is faced with an issue. He insists that Jacksonville residents who have black skin are offended by the monuments and be believes it is time to get rid of them.
As someone who is pro-life, Carlucci recently opposed a bill that would have paid travel expenses for city employees to get an abortion, he noted. In addition, he was among the first to call for an investigation into JEA and the firing of its director.
Carlucci’s father, Joe, was considered a maverick when he was on the council in the 1970s, and he has earned that reputation as well. Despite the abuse being heaped
upon him over the monument issue, including death threats, Carlucci said he plans to continue doing what he thinks is right.