Pittman, Freeman sworn in to replace suspended Jacksonville City Council members

Jacksonville, FL — The two people filling the seats of suspended Democratic Jacksonville City Council members have now been sworn in.

It was a quick ceremony Thursday, with City Council President Aaron Bowman delivering brief remarks about it being an exciting day for Jacksonville, and Ju'Coby Pittman (D) and Terrance Freeman (R) then each taking the oath of office. Both were appointed by the Governor, who previously suspended Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown, who have been federally indicted on fraud and related charges.

Pittman is the President of Clara White Mission, Inc. She is stepping in to Katrina Brown’s seat, representing District 8.

“My first thing is to meet the constituents. I want to go out, have a town meeting. I want to go to the churches, I want to go to the businesses, and just listen to what their issues are,” she says.

Freeman, the regional director for Ygrene Energy Fund, will serve the remaining term of Reggie Brown, representing District 10. Freeman lived in Mandarin, but confirms he is renting some rooms in a home in District 10, where his family of six will live so that he can represent that district.

“My first order of business- we’ll be at an HOA meeting on Monday, be at a church on Sunday, getting out and meeting people. I love meeting people and getting a chance to hear what’s important to them,” Freeman says.

Bowman welcomed them to the Council, noting that budget season is right around the corner and committee work resumes next week.

Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown have both pleaded not guilty. Their trial is tentatively slated for early September. They face charges for allegedly using shell businesses to draw down on an SBA-backed loan that was supposed to be used for Katrina Brown's failing family BBQ sauce business. They each face additional charges, including Katrina Brown allegedly defrauding banks for loans, and Reggie Brown allegedly failing to file a tax return.