Rules committee confirms four Jacksonville Journey Forward appointees; two nominations withdrawn

The Rules Committee on Jan. 21 approved four appointments to the Jacksonville Journey Forward board and recorded two withdrawals of other nominations.

General Walt Piatt (Wounded Warrior Project), Hilbert McDougall, Steve Zona (retired Jacksonville Police sergeant) and Dr. Tess Twasson (UNF clinical director) each appeared before the committee, described their backgrounds and were approved by unanimous votes (recorded as 7 yeas, 0 nays for each confirmation). The nominations will be presented for final confirmation at the full City Council meeting the following week; nominees were told that attendance at that meeting is optional.

Two nominees asked to withdraw: the committee accepted withdrawals for items 20240959 and 20240960; staff said the withdrawals were at the nominees’ request and in one case related to a potential ethics or conflict issue that the nominee preferred to resolve before taking office.

Committee members asked nominees about relevant experience and community partnerships. General Walt Piatt described his Wounded Warrior Project role and stated he wanted to contribute experience addressing veterans’ reentry challenges. Steve Zona cited nearly 30 years in local law enforcement and union leadership and said his law-enforcement experience would help shape prevention, intervention and reentry efforts. Hilbert McDougall described nonprofit youth programming and tutoring initiatives; Dr. Tess Twasson explained her clinical and academic experience in mental-health counseling.

All confirmed appointments will be formally announced at full council. The committee voted by roll call or verbal ballot as noted in the meeting record.