After at-times heated debate Tuesday evening, the Jacksonville City Council withdrew a controversial measure that would have eliminated a local requirement that the Duval County Health Department director be a physician.
The bill is expected to be reintroduced later and referred to multiple council committees — the initial measure was only discussed by one — for extensive discussion and public input.
"Let all the parties involved talk about it," City Council President Tommy Hazouri said. "I don't know why it's emotional … but it seems to be."
The bill was intended to help fill the local director position that has been vacant since 2018. The hiring difficulty stems from a city ordinance that requires the department director to be a physician, not just have public health training, the only such mandate in the state, according to Stephanie Burch, the city deputy chief administrative officer.