Why should I become a politican in Jax?

[mtraininjax]

The real money is made in controlling who gets contracts for services and construction, as well as having an inside scoop on where to buy land on the cheap, then funnelling developement dollars towards the area while the value skyrockets.

You don't need to be in politics for that, just be a good sound business person. The Skinner family owned much of the late around Gate Parkway/Town Center that was developed. I do not know many Skinners who serve at the request of the mayor on the council, they just purchased land through generations. They have been purchasing land west of Jax, in preparation for future generations of Skinners.

Good business people are all around you, and with land, development costs, and city fees, you have to be smarter rather than luckier to pull off some of these projects. This is a good example where Cameron Kuhn failed, he thought he could apply Orlando politics to Jax, and it backfired for him. That and a mountain of debt and uncontrollable ego.

[Dog Walker]

There is an easy formula for being rich in Florida; choose grandparents who were in the dairy farming business.  Skinners, Grahams, McArthurs, etc.  In the old days of difficult refrigeration, dairy farms had to be close to cities and took a good deal of land.

So, Florida, lots of land, close to cities....land for development!  Second and third generations get into politics i.e. Bob Graham.

JTB was built on land owned mostly by Hodges & McCormicks to open up southern Duval and Northern St. John's Counties to development.  Worked, didn't it?

[buckethead]

Were these families lucky? Did they have brilliant forsight? Were they well connected?

I would guess a combination of the three with varying degrees in each case.

Perhaps my cynicism is unfounded, but I remain so in regard to those with politcal aspirations.

[Springfielder]

Wouldn't the motivation come from within the person for whom you speak? One would need to have an interest in politics and the drive to want to be in a position that can make a difference. You could convince someone that's what they want, but if it's not what they, themselves want, then what's the purpose....

[JaxByDefault]

Where are you guys getting your information from?  How are you forming these opinions?  I mean, they are completely different from history. 

Years in and around politics, as well as writing for and advising politicians.

Campaigns today are largely media driven -- for better and for worse. It's a different animal than the founding fathers who didn't really campaign, and who worked in a political landscape with little media and a restricted franchise. Historical anecdotes of reluctant candidates remain popularly captivating for all the reasons I already stated.

Being an elected official is a tough job, with long hours and a heap of draining public and media criticism. It tests personal relationships; it affects careers; it strains family members. I would be skeptical of anyone who was not a little cautious and pensive about jumping into the fray. However, I also want leaders assertive enough to want -- and be a good fit for --the job for which they are running.

Also, I said reluctant *candidates* were problematic. Just because someone may be a problematic candidate, doesn't mean they couldn't (or shouldn't, or wouldn't be great at) the job if elected. It just makes a campaign much more difficult. Plenty of people are bad candidates and great people/business people; plenty of good candidates end up being terrible elected officials.

Good luck -- it's a slugfest out there!