[0:05] >> Gentlemen and honored
[0:10] guests. Welcome to the 2026
[0:12] special installation ceremony
[0:13] of the Jacksonville City
[0:15] Council at large group. One
[0:28] member elect Monet Holder.
[0:29] Whether you're a constituent
[0:30] and neighbor, a friend or a
[0:31] family member. We welcome and
[0:34] thank you for your attendance.
[0:34] I'd like to recognize all the
[0:35] elected officials in
[0:37] attendance here today. All
[0:41] just name you starting with
[0:42] former Mayor Alvin Brown Isom
[0:43] around here somewhere.
[0:47] >> There is Mayor Brown. Mayor
[0:48] Donna Deegan. Thank you,
[0:54] mayor, for being here. I saw a
[0:55] property appraiser. Joyce
[0:58] Morgan here. Thank you, Joyce.
[0:59] I know Senator Gibson, former
[1:01] Senator Gibson is here. Yet.
[1:07] There she is, going to see it.
[1:08] >> State representative elect
[1:13] gets in. Yes, indeed. Former
[1:14] council PRESIDENT Sam Newby
[1:15] here. There he is. All right,
[1:19] Sam. And so many fellow
[1:21] councilmembers, I won't name
[1:21] them all, but everybody can
[1:27] wave if you wouldn't mind.
[1:28] That's a testament to Monet
[1:28] that so many council members
[1:29] are here today. So that's
[1:32] terrific. Thank you, everybody
[1:32] for your tenants in their
[1:36] support of special. Thank you
[1:39] to the 2026 2027 City Council
[1:40] members for your continued
[1:42] dedication and service to our
[1:43] city. We're here today to
[1:45] honor the voices of our
[1:47] citizens and electing Monet
[1:48] Holder is council member
[1:49] elected to serve on
[1:52] Jacksonville City Council.
[1:53] This body, this legislative by
[1:55] a body by design is the
[1:56] closest branch of government
[1:59] to the people. Its chosen by
[2:03] the people. We live among the
[2:04] people. We are of the people.
[2:06] We decide where streets are
[2:07] plotted, where homes are
[2:09] built, where water is
[2:11] accessed. Where we spend the
[2:15] money that taxpayers give us
[2:16] to the contract with local
[2:20] government. That's what the
[2:21] American experiment did. It
[2:23] takes those roles law making
[2:24] policy, making taxes and
[2:25] budgeting from the executive
[2:27] and gives them to the
[2:28] legislative body. And that's
[2:30] why this body is so important
[2:32] that separation of powers at
[2:34] work. That's a balanced
[2:35] government. And that's why
[2:38] it's also fitting that we have
[2:40] a formal installation for
[2:41] every new member of the
[2:42] legislative body with hopes
[2:44] that a city of our size that
[2:46] the media picks it up and that
[2:48] the people can stop you at the
[2:54] grocery store on the street.
[2:55] And let you know their
[2:55] concerns. Every citizen of
[2:56] Jacksonville is represented by
[2:59] 6 of us on City Council. And
[3:02] so let's go right now to the
[3:04] indication and let's pray that
[3:04] we on City Council always do
[3:05] the bidding of the people of
[3:06] Jacksonville to deliver for
[3:09] the people of Jacksonville. So
[3:10] with that, would everyone
[3:11] please stand for the
[3:13] invocation by George Davis,
[3:14] senior pastor of Impact Church
[3:14] followed by the Pledge of
[3:15] Allegiance led by council
[3:17] member Jimmy And then the
[3:22] national anthem. Please. Let
[3:27] us pray. A gracious and
[3:27] eternal GOD. We thank you for
[3:29] the gift of this beautiful
[3:31] day. We thank you for the
[3:31] privilege that we share of
[3:33] calling Jacksonville our home.
[3:33] We thank you for every person
[3:37] who is accepted the
[3:37] responsibility of public
[3:38] service. And today in a very
[3:39] special way, we thank you for
[3:41] COUNCILWOMAN Elect Monet
[3:43] Holder. She takes a sacred
[3:44] oath and begins this new
[3:46] chapter of service to our
[3:47] amazing city. Granted wisdom
[3:50] beyond her own understanding
[3:51] courage to make difficult
[3:51] decisions, compassion for the
[3:54] people she serves and
[3:55] integrity that remain
[3:57] steadfast in every
[3:58] circumstance. Surround her
[4:00] wise counsel, strength and her
[4:02] family and given the grace to
[4:03] carry both the privilege and
[4:05] the weight of this
[4:07] responsibility. Well, always
[4:08] remember the leadership is not
[4:08] simply about holding a
[4:10] position. What about serving
[4:12] people, especially those whose
[4:14] voices are too often unheard.
[4:16] We pray also for every member
[4:16] of the Jacksonville City
[4:19] Council for mayor our
[4:20] constitution, officers, first
[4:22] responders, public servants
[4:23] and all those have been
[4:24] entrusted with leadership in
[4:26] this great city with our
[4:28] differences. Give us respect.
[4:30] Are there challenges? Give us
[4:31] wisdom? Well, there's
[4:33] division. Help us find common
[4:34] ground where there's
[4:35] opportunity. Give us the
[4:37] courage to seize it together.
[4:38] We pray for the entire city of
[4:39] Jacksonville, every
[4:41] neighborhood, every family,
[4:43] our children and our seniors
[4:45] for businesses in our schools
[4:47] and for all who call this city
[4:48] home, a Jacksonville be a city
[4:49] where justices pursued
[4:51] opportunities, expand it.
[4:54] Compassion is demonstrated and
[4:55] every person has the
[4:57] opportunity to flourish. And
[4:58] now as COUNCILMAN Elect colder
[5:00] takes his oath, Michie be
[5:01] reminded that public office is
[5:03] a public trust. Give her the
[5:04] strength to lead with
[5:06] conviction. The humility to
[5:08] listen and the wisdom to
[5:09] always seek what is best for
[5:11] the people. She's been called
[5:13] to serve your favor, rests
[5:15] upon her. Put all of our city
[5:15] leaders and upon this great
[5:16] city of Jacksonville in your
[5:23] holy name. We pray a man.
[5:24] Thank you, Pastor. Now please
[5:24] join me for the Pledge of
[5:41] Allegiance. I but believe
[5:53] Ok,
[5:55] we did the Pledge of You can
[6:00] all sit. Thank you very much.
[6:01] Pastor Davis, thank you,
[6:05] Jimmy. Thank you. At this time
[6:07] will get on with it with the
[6:07] honorable Judge. Rhonda
[6:14] Peoples Waters. Duval County.
[6:17] Of the Duval County Court.
[6:19] Please come up to the
[6:20] microphones to deliver deliver
[6:22] the oath of office from its
[6:23] Monet Holder Councilmember
[6:23] Elect for the Jacksonville
[6:24] City Council at large group,
[6:26] one within the consolidated.
[6:27] >> Government of the city of
[6:29] Jacksonville Council member
[6:30] elect Holder. Will you please
[6:31] come forward with your
[6:46] children? Blake and Bailey.
[6:52] >> Try your hand. You got your
[7:01] right hand to write an
[7:02] >> All right. Please repeat
[7:06] after me. Monet Holder.
[7:10] >> I'm on a holder. Do
[7:13] solemnly swear? Do solemnly
[7:14] swear that I am duly
[7:17] qualified, that I am duly
[7:19] qualified to hold office to
[7:21] hold office under the
[7:23] Constitution under the
[7:26] Constitution of the state of
[7:26] the state.
[7:29] >> Or of the charter or of the
[7:33] charter or ordinance cold or
[7:35] ordinance Code of the City of
[7:37] Jacksonville of the city of
[7:39] Jacksonville that I will
[7:42] support that. I will support
[7:45] protect, protect, defend,
[7:47] defend and honor the
[7:49] Constitution's. And I know the
[7:52] Constitution's governments,
[7:55] governments and laws of the
[7:57] United States and laws of the
[7:59] United States and of the state
[8:02] of Florida and of the state of
[8:03] Florida that I will support
[8:08] that. I will support protect,
[8:08] protect, defend, defend and
[8:11] honor the charter and honor
[8:12] the charter. The Ethics Loft
[8:16] the ethics laws and other
[8:18] ordinances in other
[8:20] ordinances.
[8:21] >> Rules rules.
[8:24] >> And regulations of the city
[8:25] of Jacksonville and
[8:25] regulations of the city of
[8:27] Jacksonville.
[8:29] >> And that I will well and
[8:33] that I will well and
[8:34] faithfully perform and
[8:35] faithfully perform the duties
[8:37] duties.
[8:38] >> Of councilmember of
[8:40] Councilmember City of
[8:43] Jacksonville City of
[8:45] Jacksonville, which which I am
[8:47] now I am now about to enter
[8:50] about to enter help me GOD. So
[9:06] help me GOD. Amy
[9:27] >> it's a
[9:30] Ladies and
[9:30] gentlemen, please welcome to
[9:34] the podium. The Honorable
[9:49] Councilmember Monet Holder.
[9:55] Good morning. Me. Thank you
[9:58] for being here today.
[9:59] >> I feel extremely blessed to
[10:02] be surrounded by friends,
[10:04] family neighbors, elected
[10:07] officials, elected leaders and
[10:08] faith leaders. First foremost,
[10:11] I give all glory to GOD
[10:12] ordering my steps and giving
[10:13] me the privilege of serving as
[10:14] your at large city
[10:17] COUNCILWOMAN. I want to give
[10:18] special recognition to my
[10:21] family. My mom, my
[10:22] grandmother, my on my cousin
[10:23] who traveled from New York
[10:25] City to be here with me. And
[10:27] my children like him daily
[10:34] contributed with that high.
[10:40] Their fashion advice. And who
[10:40] independently decided to use
[10:42] some of their birthday money
[10:43] to contribute to my campaign
[10:46] to get mom across the finish
[10:47] Blake was actually a recurring
[10:50] donor. So. When I look around
[10:52] this room, I see many powerful
[10:54] people. But what stands out
[10:56] are the different cultures,
[10:57] backgrounds and political
[10:58] affiliations who have come to
[10:59] welcome you to the council.
[11:02] This room represents with
[11:03] Jacksonville can look like
[11:04] when we all come together to
[11:12] move the city forward. As I
[11:12] position myself to literally
[11:15] hit the ground running by
[11:16] serving on the neighborhood's
[11:17] community services, public
[11:18] Health and safety Committee.
[11:19] That means some less than 2
[11:23] hours today. And the
[11:24] transportation Energy and
[11:25] Utility Community Committee
[11:27] that meets tomorrow and to
[11:28] vote on the budget in a couple
[11:32] of weeks. I am fiercely
[11:34] focused and the message many
[11:35] of you heard me deliver on tv
[11:37] every day and every And, you
[11:39] know, you know, but I will put
[11:47] people over politics. That I
[11:48] will advocate for a
[11:48] Jacksonville that is
[11:53] affordable. That respects our
[11:55] first responders that invest
[11:55] in our youth and seniors
[11:56] because I believe we all
[11:57] deserve quality of life.
[12:04] Minute. So my new colleagues
[12:05] on the council, some of which
[12:07] are good friends. I look
[12:08] forward to building a strong
[12:08] working relationship with all
[12:12] of you. Since election night
[12:13] at been asked, what are some
[12:14] of the projects that are going
[12:15] to be my legacy? While I'm on
[12:19] the council. And I pointed to
[12:20] affordable Housing Park
[12:23] improvements, expanding sports
[12:24] and cultural opportunities for
[12:27] our children. As a few of my
[12:28] priorities. But hopefully I
[12:29] will advance not only in this
[12:29] time, but my next one. If you
[12:37] know, you know, yesterday I
[12:38] was reminded of an old proverb
[12:42] that says grows when Oldham
[12:43] and plant trees shade. They
[12:45] will never get to sit in. So
[12:50] although I'm not an old man. I
[12:51] look forward to planting the
[12:52] seeds necessary to the
[12:53] Jacksonville better than it
[12:55] was. When I got here and to
[12:56] leave a legacy that keeps us
[12:58] moving forward for years to
[12:59] come. So I'm honored to serve
[13:00] as your city COUNCILWOMAN And
[13:15] thank you once again.
[13:24] >> Congratulations again to
[13:26] the Honorable Councilmember
[13:27] Monet Holder and being elected
[13:28] to serve as the group one
[13:30] at-large city council member.
[13:31] Lets give COUNCILWOMAN Monet
[13:31] Holder another round of
[13:40] applause. Ladies and
[13:41] gentlemen, thank you for being
[13:43] here today and supporting the
[13:43] 26 27 Jacksonville City
[13:46] Council. We will now have a
[13:48] benediction by elderly Harris
[13:49] pastor, the Mount Olive
[13:51] Primitive Baptist Church after
[13:52] which this concludes the
[13:54] special installation ceremony.
[14:06] All, is. Thank you, to Maybe
[14:15] stand.
[14:16] >> Eternal GOD, our father, we
[14:18] are grateful and to the for
[14:19] the opportunity and the
[14:20] privilege that you have
[14:20] extended an to us to be able
[14:23] to assemble here at this
[14:26] place. My father and we thank
[14:27] you for blessing each and
[14:29] every one to arrive here as we
[14:31] come there got to celebrate
[14:35] the life. Of an individual
[14:37] that he's so dedicated
[14:39] themselves to serve in
[14:39] mankind. We pray that you
[14:41] would cover go with her. All
[14:43] right. Have family did this
[14:46] city. This mayor each and
[14:48] every one. But now they're GOD
[14:49] as we get ready to go back to
[14:52] various places of state, we
[14:53] pray that you would cover us
[14:54] with the blood that you would
[14:56] protect us from all her common
[14:59] danger ran into us, traveling
[15:00] nurses and keep us and bring
[15:01] us back together again that
[15:04] you'll point time for your
[15:06] service not to him. This able
[15:07] to keep us from falling in
[15:08] personal stuff. All this
[15:10] before thrown and blow it 2
[15:11] and all eyes GOD me as grace,
[15:13] peace and love restroom and
[15:16] abide with those henceforth
[15:16] now and whatever and the
[15:31] people of GOD said.