City Council Elects New President, Vice President

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Council held its annual elections for the positions of council president and vice president.

Vice President Aaron Bowman was elected unanimously as the council’s new president, taking over for Anna Brosche. Scott Wilson was narrowly selected as the new vice president.

Bowman represents the city’s third district, and is Senior VP of Business Development at JAXUSA. He served for 28 years in the Navy, including a stint as commanding officer of NAS Mayport. He’s also served as a commissioner for both the Florida Inland Navigation District and the St. Johns Ferry Commission, and served on councils for the Salvation Army and UNF.

Politically, he’s a pro-business Republican – meaning he will likely get along well with Mayor Lenny Curry. He was a sponsor of the legislation to add LGBT residents as a protected group under the city’s human rights ordinance.

Wilson represents the city’s fourth district, and has been working for the city since he was 18. Beginning in the Public Parking Division, Wilson then rose through the ranks at the Clerk of Courts office to eventually attain the highest-ranking civil service position. In 2007 he became an executive council assistant for District 4, and served in this role until he successfully ran for District 4 councilman in 2015.

Since joining city council, he’s served on several committees and acted as a council liaison for North Florida transportation committee discussions. Like Bowman, Wilson is a Republican. He won out by one vote over Danny Becton, a slightly more conservative Republican.

The incoming president and vice president will take over when the new council year begins on July 1.