JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico exchanged text messages with two City Council members about legislation during a council committee meeting, even though long-standing guidance from city lawyers has been for council members to never use text messages for official business.

In addition to the advice by the city's Office of General Counsel, the state's Government in the Sunshine Manual says a government board should not "take part or engage in private discussions of board business" by using text messages.

Carrico said the text messages sent during the Aug. 4 meeting of the council's Neighborhoods Committee were about the legislative process rather than the substance of the legislation.

"As council members, we take Florida's Sunshine Law seriously

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