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Ethics Legislation Targets Contractor Contributions To Jacksonville Officials

Ryan Benk
/
WJCT News
Anna Lopez Brosche speaks at a luncheon in this undated file photo.

City Council member Anna Brosche wants more transparency in city government and plans to begin addressing the issue with legislation aimed at requiring disclosure of certain activities and donations to elected officials. 

Brosche, who represents Group 5 At-Large, introduced a bill Wednesday that would require anyone contracting with the city to disclose campaign contributions they’ve made in the past five years. 

If enacted, any person or company seeking to contract with the city on projects costing more than $1 million would have to disclose any political contributions made to a Duval County initiative, candidate, elected official, political action committee or electioneering communications organization advancing a Duval County initiative, candidate or elected official. 

“I think this is just an opportunity for transparency,” Brosche said. “The citizens have the right to understand who the city is doing business with and any influence that may exist through contributions or communications.” 

The disclosures would be included in bids responsive to a request for proposals.

Brosche’s bill also would require elected officials to disclose certain details concerning flights with lobbyists on privately owned aircraft. 

Those disclosures, due within five days of travel, include the name of the aircraft owner, name of the person paying for the flight, dates of travel, destinations and the names of any lobbyists who traveled with the elected official.

Finally, Brosche wants some email or text message exchanges between council members and registered lobbyists to be posted to an online portal for public view. 

“We are a government that should be operating very publicly and in the sunshine,” said Brosche, referring to Florida’s open government laws which concern public records. 

Mayor Lenny Curry’s emails, along with those of Chief of Staff Brian Hughes and Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa are posted to an online portal. The only emails from council members readily available are those sent to all 19 members. 

Text messages and other electronic information can be requested through a Freedom of Information Act request. 

Some, including council President Aaron Bowman, previously said council members’ emails and text messages could contain sensitive information, including proprietary company strategy or issues of security and therefore shouldn’t be immediately posted for public view. 

According to Chapter 119, Sec. 1 of the Florida Statutes, “all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person.”

However, state lawmakers have approved exemptions that shield public records in some cases. For example, details of economic development agreements between the city and companies often are shielded to protect proprietary or corporate strategy. 

Brosche said her bill is the result of recommendations that came from the Task Force on Open Government she established during her term as council president. 

She said the bill is not a reaction to any specific example of negligent behavior, “although, I’m sure that I wouldn’t have to reach back very far to find examples.”

“In no way, shape or form am I suggesting that there’s been any inappropriate activity or that any bids might have leaned one way or the other,” she said. 

The council Rules Committee will review the bill before a full council vote in September.