>> Gentlemen and honored
guests. Welcome to the 2026
special installation ceremony
of the Jacksonville City
Council at large group. One
member elect Monet Holder.
Whether you're a constituent
and neighbor, a friend or a
family member. We welcome and
thank you for your attendance.
I'd like to recognize all the
elected officials in
attendance here today. All
just name you starting with
former Mayor Alvin Brown Isom
around here somewhere.
>> There is Mayor Brown. Mayor
Donna Deegan. Thank you,
mayor, for being here. I saw a
property appraiser. Joyce
Morgan here. Thank you, Joyce.
I know Senator Gibson, former
Senator Gibson is here. Yet.
There she is, going to see it.
>> State representative elect
gets in. Yes, indeed. Former
council PRESIDENT Sam Newby
here. There he is. All right,
Sam. And so many fellow
councilmembers, I won't name
them all, but everybody can
wave if you wouldn't mind.
That's a testament to Monet
that so many council members
are here today. So that's
terrific. Thank you, everybody
for your tenants in their
support of special. Thank you
to the 2026 2027 City Council
members for your continued
dedication and service to our
city. We're here today to
honor the voices of our
citizens and electing Monet
Holder is council member
elected to serve on
Jacksonville City Council.
This body, this legislative by
a body by design is the
closest branch of government
to the people. Its chosen by
the people. We live among the
people. We are of the people.
We decide where streets are
plotted, where homes are
built, where water is
accessed. Where we spend the
money that taxpayers give us
to the contract with local
government. That's what the
American experiment did. It
takes those roles law making
policy, making taxes and
budgeting from the executive
and gives them to the
legislative body. And that's
why this body is so important
that separation of powers at
work. That's a balanced
government. And that's why
it's also fitting that we have
a formal installation for
every new member of the
legislative body with hopes
that a city of our size that
the media picks it up and that
the people can stop you at the
grocery store on the street.
And let you know their
concerns. Every citizen of
Jacksonville is represented by
6 of us on City Council. And
so let's go right now to the
indication and let's pray that
we on City Council always do
the bidding of the people of
Jacksonville to deliver for
the people of Jacksonville. So
with that, would everyone
please stand for the
invocation by George Davis,
senior pastor of Impact Church
followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance led by council
member Jimmy And then the
national anthem. Please. Let
us pray. A gracious and
eternal GOD. We thank you for
the gift of this beautiful
day. We thank you for the
privilege that we share of
calling Jacksonville our home.
We thank you for every person
who is accepted the
responsibility of public
service. And today in a very
special way, we thank you for
COUNCILWOMAN Elect Monet
Holder. She takes a sacred
oath and begins this new
chapter of service to our
amazing city. Granted wisdom
beyond her own understanding
courage to make difficult
decisions, compassion for the
people she serves and
integrity that remain
steadfast in every
circumstance. Surround her
wise counsel, strength and her
family and given the grace to
carry both the privilege and
the weight of this
responsibility. Well, always
remember the leadership is not
simply about holding a
position. What about serving
people, especially those whose
voices are too often unheard.
We pray also for every member
of the Jacksonville City
Council for mayor our
constitution, officers, first
responders, public servants
and all those have been
entrusted with leadership in
this great city with our
differences. Give us respect.
Are there challenges? Give us
wisdom? Well, there's
division. Help us find common
ground where there's
opportunity. Give us the
courage to seize it together.
We pray for the entire city of
Jacksonville, every
neighborhood, every family,
our children and our seniors
for businesses in our schools
and for all who call this city
home, a Jacksonville be a city
where justices pursued
opportunities, expand it.
Compassion is demonstrated and
every person has the
opportunity to flourish. And
now as COUNCILMAN Elect colder
takes his oath, Michie be
reminded that public office is
a public trust. Give her the
strength to lead with
conviction. The humility to
listen and the wisdom to
always seek what is best for
the people. She's been called
to serve your favor, rests
upon her. Put all of our city
leaders and upon this great
city of Jacksonville in your
holy name. We pray a man.
Thank you, Pastor. Now please
join me for the Pledge of
Allegiance. I but believe
Ok,
we did the Pledge of You can
all sit. Thank you very much.
Pastor Davis, thank you,
Jimmy. Thank you. At this time
will get on with it with the
honorable Judge. Rhonda
Peoples Waters. Duval County.
Of the Duval County Court.
Please come up to the
microphones to deliver deliver
the oath of office from its
Monet Holder Councilmember
Elect for the Jacksonville
City Council at large group,
one within the consolidated.
>> Government of the city of
Jacksonville Council member
elect Holder. Will you please
come forward with your
children? Blake and Bailey.
>> Try your hand. You got your
right hand to write an
>> All right. Please repeat
after me. Monet Holder.
>> I'm on a holder. Do
solemnly swear? Do solemnly
swear that I am duly
qualified, that I am duly
qualified to hold office to
hold office under the
Constitution under the
Constitution of the state of
the state.
>> Or of the charter or of the
charter or ordinance cold or
ordinance Code of the City of
Jacksonville of the city of
Jacksonville that I will
support that. I will support
protect, protect, defend,
defend and honor the
Constitution's. And I know the
Constitution's governments,
governments and laws of the
United States and laws of the
United States and of the state
of Florida and of the state of
Florida that I will support
that. I will support protect,
protect, defend, defend and
honor the charter and honor
the charter. The Ethics Loft
the ethics laws and other
ordinances in other
ordinances.
>> Rules rules.
>> And regulations of the city
of Jacksonville and
regulations of the city of
Jacksonville.
>> And that I will well and
that I will well and
faithfully perform and
faithfully perform the duties
duties.
>> Of councilmember of
Councilmember City of
Jacksonville City of
Jacksonville, which which I am
now I am now about to enter
about to enter help me GOD. So
help me GOD. Amy
>> it's a
Ladies and
gentlemen, please welcome to
the podium. The Honorable
Councilmember Monet Holder.
Good morning. Me. Thank you
for being here today.
>> I feel extremely blessed to
be surrounded by friends,
family neighbors, elected
officials, elected leaders and
faith leaders. First foremost,
I give all glory to GOD
ordering my steps and giving
me the privilege of serving as
your at large city
COUNCILWOMAN. I want to give
special recognition to my
family. My mom, my
grandmother, my on my cousin
who traveled from New York
City to be here with me. And
my children like him daily
contributed with that high.
Their fashion advice. And who
independently decided to use
some of their birthday money
to contribute to my campaign
to get mom across the finish
Blake was actually a recurring
donor. So. When I look around
this room, I see many powerful
people. But what stands out
are the different cultures,
backgrounds and political
affiliations who have come to
welcome you to the council.
This room represents with
Jacksonville can look like
when we all come together to
move the city forward. As I
position myself to literally
hit the ground running by
serving on the neighborhood's
community services, public
Health and safety Committee.
That means some less than 2
hours today. And the
transportation Energy and
Utility Community Committee
that meets tomorrow and to
vote on the budget in a couple
of weeks. I am fiercely
focused and the message many
of you heard me deliver on tv
every day and every And, you
know, you know, but I will put
people over politics. That I
will advocate for a
Jacksonville that is
affordable. That respects our
first responders that invest
in our youth and seniors
because I believe we all
deserve quality of life.
Minute. So my new colleagues
on the council, some of which
are good friends. I look
forward to building a strong
working relationship with all
of you. Since election night
at been asked, what are some
of the projects that are going
to be my legacy? While I'm on
the council. And I pointed to
affordable Housing Park
improvements, expanding sports
and cultural opportunities for
our children. As a few of my
priorities. But hopefully I
will advance not only in this
time, but my next one. If you
know, you know, yesterday I
was reminded of an old proverb
that says grows when Oldham
and plant trees shade. They
will never get to sit in. So
although I'm not an old man. I
look forward to planting the
seeds necessary to the
Jacksonville better than it
was. When I got here and to
leave a legacy that keeps us
moving forward for years to
come. So I'm honored to serve
as your city COUNCILWOMAN And
thank you once again.
>> Congratulations again to
the Honorable Councilmember
Monet Holder and being elected
to serve as the group one
at-large city council member.
Lets give COUNCILWOMAN Monet
Holder another round of
applause. Ladies and
gentlemen, thank you for being
here today and supporting the
26 27 Jacksonville City
Council. We will now have a
benediction by elderly Harris
pastor, the Mount Olive
Primitive Baptist Church after
which this concludes the
special installation ceremony.
All, is. Thank you, to Maybe
stand.
>> Eternal GOD, our father, we
are grateful and to the for
the opportunity and the
privilege that you have
extended an to us to be able
to assemble here at this
place. My father and we thank
you for blessing each and
every one to arrive here as we
come there got to celebrate
the life. Of an individual
that he's so dedicated
themselves to serve in
mankind. We pray that you
would cover go with her. All
right. Have family did this
city. This mayor each and
every one. But now they're GOD
as we get ready to go back to
various places of state, we
pray that you would cover us
with the blood that you would
protect us from all her common
danger ran into us, traveling
nurses and keep us and bring
us back together again that
you'll point time for your
service not to him. This able
to keep us from falling in
personal stuff. All this
before thrown and blow it 2
and all eyes GOD me as grace,
peace and love restroom and
abide with those henceforth
now and whatever and the
people of GOD said.