Quote(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/i-6ZdPJS7/0/5bb93d6d/L/Tommy%20Hazouri-L.jpg)
Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri's office announced Wednesday that Hazouri was back in the hospital due to complications from his July 2020 lung transplant surgery and that he would return home for hospice care by day's end.
Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/councilman-hazouri-to-return-home-for-hospice-care/
Praying for him and his family!
^ Same. Amazing political career holding the three most powerful roles in local politics: Mayor, City Council President and School Board Chair. Plus State House Representative. Not many politicos are skilled at covering that diversity of bases and remain electable time after time. Agree or disagree with him, within the nasty world of public life, he maintained an air of respectability and having the best interests of the citizenry in his sights and heart.
Hospice? Man o man. There's gonna be a lot of pain yet to come. I pray for the best for him and his family.
Question - What happens after Mr. Hazouri passes away? Is his seat vacant until the next election?
From the Jacksonville City Charter
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Section 5.06
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A vacancy in the council shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by election of a council member at a special election to be called pursuant to resolution of the city council and held on a date no sooner than 1 month and no later than 6 months after the vacancy occurs, which special election shall, if possible, be held in conjunction with any other election scheduled to be held within the county.
...
The next county-wide election will be in August 22, 2022, the Primary before November's General Election for state offices, a US Senator, and Congress. The person elected will serve until after the next Council election in Spring 2023, or about 10 months (Sept. 2022 to July 1, 2023).
He's gone.
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/he-loved-to-serve--jacksonville-council-member-tommy-hazouri-dies-at-76
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/government/2021/09/11/tommy-hazouri-1944-2021-former-jacksonville-mayor-and-prolific-politician/5588002001/
A sad loss.
According to the City Charter, a Special Election to fill the vacancy must be held within 6 months.
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Charter Laws of the City of Jacksonville
Article 5- The Council
Section 5.06. - Vacancies; temporary appointments.
The office of a council member shall become vacant upon his or her death, resignation, failure to reside continuously in the district or residence area from which he or she was elected, except in the event redistricting should occur during his or her term of office pursuant to section 5.02, or removal from office in any manner authorized by law. A vacancy in the council shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by election of a council member at a special election to be called pursuant to resolution of the city council and held on a date no sooner than 1 month and no later than 6 months after the vacancy occurs, which special election shall, if possible, be held in conjunction with any other election scheduled to be held within the county.
This gives the City until May 11, 2022, to hold the county-wide special election.
With the schedule of 2022 elections, it will not be possible to hold it in conjunction with an other election and meet the six-month requirement.
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2022 Elections
Primary Election: August 23, 2022
General Election: November 8, 2022
For reference, the City Council elections are in the Spring of 2023, with the new Council taking office July 1, 2023.
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2023 Elections
First Election: March 21, 2023
General Election: May 16, 2023