JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The chairman of the Republican Party of Duval County, Dean Black, said Jacksonville will have a Republican National Convention.
“Lots of planning, lots of preparing, lots of excitement in the air. We are going to have a convention,” said Black.
Action News Jax reached out to Black for comment after Sheriff Mike Williams expressed his concerns Monday.”I cannot say with confidence this event or the community will not be at risk,” said Williams.
But Black said he’s not at all worried.
“The sheriff’s concerns the other day; he is simply being a good sheriff. He means to keep us safe and that’s what we’ve said all along,” said Black.
Black said time, or lack thereof, remains the biggest challenge.
“We have 2 1/2 years of planning to condense in 2 1/2 months,” he said. “We’re not supposed to be ready today we’re supposed to be ready by the time of the convention.”
Despite the changes announced last week that bars anyone but regular delegates from attending the first three nights of events, Black still stands by the $100 million economic impact estimate.
“I think that is potentially plausible still. We could even see something better than that still,” said Black.