Kevin Carico sworn in as Jacksonville City Council president; launches youth empowerment committee and names committee chairs

Kevin Carico was sworn in as president of the Jacksonville City Council and used his installation speech to announce a special committee on youth empowerment, name chairs for the council's standing committees and outline priorities including downtown development and public safety.

Carico said the youth committee will be "empowered" with a budget and a list of action items and named former council president Terrence Freeman to lead it. He described the committee's focus as park programming, reaching children not currently served by city programs, closing the digital divide, workforce development and stronger partnership with Duval County Schools.

"Nothing will have a bigger impact in our city's future than investing in our youth," Carico said during his remarks.

Why it matters: the committee and the chair appointments set the council's near-term agenda and staffing priorities for 2025–26. Giving the youth committee a budget and explicit action items signals the president's intent to move beyond study or advisory status toward funded initiatives. The appointments also shift operational leadership on finance, land use, neighborhoods and other standing committees.

Details of the announcement

Carico said the youth committee will be "empowered. You'll have a budget, you'll have a list of action items, and you will make a difference," and that it will be chaired by Council member Terrence Freeman. He described several programmatic priorities the committee will examine: park programming, digital literacy, workforce development and coordination with Duval County Schools.

He also named committee chairs for the council's standing committees: Council member Raul Arias as finance chair; Council member Chris Miller as rules chair; Council member Joe Carlucci (not present) as chair of the Land Use and Zoning Committee; Council member Mike Gay to lead neighborhoods and public safety matters; Council member Will Layne as chair of the Transportation & Utilities committee; and Council member Ken Morrow to chair the waterways commission. Carico said first-term council members would be appointed as chairpersons of standing committees and paired with a veteran council member as vice chair to "build a bench." He also said he would reappoint former council president Saone to continue work on the DOSH committee.

On downtown and the St. Johns River, Carico said the council should "seize the momentum and complete the mosaic," pushing for continued public-private partnerships to accelerate downtown growth and activate riverfront assets. He said he will pass the baton for a special committee on the future of downtown to Council member Joe Carlucci.

Public safety and personnel

Carico spoke about supporting public safety agencies and pledged resources to sheriff and fire operations. In his remarks he said, "Back the blue is not just a slogan, it's a policy stance," and referenced Sheriff T.K. Waters by name. He also said Deputy Chief Willie Jones "will be leading our fire department until we find the next man," as the council and administration work on department leadership transitions.

Process and next steps

Carico stated the youth committee would be given a budget and specific action items; he did not specify dollar amounts or timelines during the installation speech. The chair appointments are framing moves by the council president; Carico did not present motions or call for council votes during the event. The appointments and the creation of the youth committee will be reflected in upcoming council paperwork and committee rosters, which will establish formal scopes, budgets and reporting requirements at a later date.

Other remarks and ceremony

The installation included ceremonial elements — invocation, presentation of colors, musical performances and the formal oath of office administered by Judge Gary Flower. Nick Howland was sworn in as vice president; outgoing Council President Randy White offered remarks before the gavel was passed to Carico.

What remained unspecified

Carico did not provide exact budget figures, implementation deadlines, or the formal charter and reporting schedule for the youth committee. He did not request or record a council vote on the appointments during the swearing-in. Details such as committee budgets, staff assignments and formal committee charters are expected to appear in subsequent council documents and meeting agendas.

Ending

Carico closed his remarks by framing the priorities as long-term investments in Jacksonville's future: youth programming, downtown activation and public safety. He said the council will begin work on those items immediately through the committees he named and that further details will follow in official council business.