Jacksonville ethics board shrugs off Webb no-show

Jacksonville City Councilman Jack Webb didn’t appear before the Ethics Commission on Monday as invited, and commission members had no choice but to shrug off the no-show.

They said they need to focus on shoring up their own procedures before requiring public officials to appear before them.

The commission voted Oct. 26 to invite Webb to discuss his former business relationship with a major waste-disposal company, Republic Services, which raised questions about conflicts of interest and possible ethics violations. The goal was to hear his side of the story before deciding whether further action is needed.

Commission Chairman Gene Filbert on Monday blamed the panel’s lack of precedent for launching inquiries, not Webb.

Though city code gives the 17-year-old commission the right to investigate cases and issue reprimands, it has never done so.

Webb initially told the media he was eager to speak to the commission. Monday, he cited the lack of an invitation or formal procedures as his reason for not attending.

“I’m not on the agenda,” Webb said. “I haven’t been invited. There is no reason for me to be there.”