Meet Your City Council: Joyce Morgan (District 1)

Jacksonville’s city council is made up of nineteen members – fourteen representing official city districts, and five representing different “at-large” groups. The City Council is effectively the legislative body for the city of Jacksonville, and that’s why it’s important for Jax residents to get to know each of their council members. So we’re profiling every one of our current council members (yes, all 19 – it’ll take a while) in order by district starting with District 1’s representative, Joyce Morgan.

District 1’s Joyce Morgan is one of the newest additions to the Council.

Morgan was elected in 2015, running as a Democrat and defeating Republican opponent Mike Anania. She ran for office on a platform of pension reform, fighting and reducing crime, and revitalizing the Arlington neighborhood. She often refers to herself as a “consensus builder”. Her current role is the first political office she’s held.

Morgan grew up in a military family, moving around frequently. She graduated from Jacksonville State University with a degree in business education, and was a member of the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. She’s married with three children – her husband, Richard Danford, is president of Jacksonville Urban League.

She was a familiar face in Jacksonville long before she ran for office, serving for over eleven years as a reporter and anchor for local news station WJXT during the station’s Eyewitness News days.

She moved on after the network dropped their CBS affiliation, and has since worked primarily in the world of public relations.

Morgan’s district is made up by much of the western Arlington area – including Jacksonville University and the beleaguered Regency Square Mall. She’s lived in Arlington since 1999, and formerly served as the president of the Ft. Caroline Elementary PTA.

Morgan currently serves on two standing committees: the Rules Committee and the Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee.

In addition, she serves on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and as a liaison for the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission and the Public Service Grant Commission.

In her brief tenure in the Council, she’s already gained an immense amount of respect among her colleagues. She was given the Charles D. Webb Award for outstanding commitment to public service, and served as Council Chaplain in her first year. Time will tell what Morgan’s lasting impact on the legislative body will be.

To reach Councilwoman Morgan, you can call her office at (904) 630-1389 or send her an email at JoyceMorgan@coj.net.