Jerralds’ Mystery Meeting Baffles Hawthorne

Pensacola City Councilman John Jerralds has called a meeting for this afternoon to discuss the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce. The GCAACC’s chairman, George Hawthorne, has no idea why.

“I don’t have a clue what John Jerralds is trying to do,” Hawthorne said.

The councilman is framing the meeting as a chance for the Chamber to “re-invent, and renew itself.”

Hawthorne said that Jerralds was not a member of the GCAACC, and “has no understanding what we do.”

Jerralds has not yet returned calls for further elaboration on this afternoon’s meeting. In a statement released yesterday, the councilman only said that he was “exited about the prospects of being apart of  exploring new possibilities for the chamber” and that he “looks forward to working with those who are serious about making this happen and believes that with realistic goals, objectives and a strong base of supporters anything is possible.”

In the meeting announcement, Jerralds preferred to leave the gathering shrouded somewhat in mystery: “If you want to know what it is all about, then show up and find out!”

The meeting will be held today from 3 to 5 p.m. on the first floor of Pensacola City Hall.

“Oh, yeah, I’m definitely going to be there,” Hawthorne said.