Rick Mullaney: A History of the Consolidation Movement

[Dog Walker]

Rick, we have also learned that Stephen's definition of "reasoned discussion" is a bit flexible. 

[Jaxson]

Correction to previous post:  Atlantic Coast Line did not own The Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville Journal.  Florida East Coast Railway owned what was then known as Florida Publishing Company.  FEC also owned the St. Augustine Record.  Morris Publishing purchased the newspapers from FEC in the early 1980s.

[stjr]

Correction to previous post:  Atlantic Coast Line did not own The Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville Journal.  Florida East Coast Railway owned what was then known as Florida Publishing Company.  FEC also owned the St. Augustine Record.  Morris Publishing purchased the newspapers from FEC in the early 1980s.

How many MJ readers know that, at the time, the Times Union was owned by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (now CSX)?  That also had a lot to do with how they covered the community.  The paper was far more "establishment" than its now.  When RR's competed for passenger service, RR schedules were carried prominently in the T-U along with plane crashes.  RR wrecks were back page if they were covered at all.  Famously, once a wreck was so bad they couldn't ignore putting a photo in the paper, but they painted out ACL's name to remove any connection to them.  The stuff of legends.

Jaxson, sorry, you are incorrect.  You took your info from Wikipedia it appears and it's wrong.  That's sometimes the problem with a user updated site like Wikipedia.

Here, from Morris Publishing's (current owner of the T-U) own web site, they show that they bought the Times Union from Seaboard Coast Line, successor to Atlantic Coast Line and predecessor to CSX:

Newspapers in Jacksonville date to the mid-1830s. In 1864, an olive grower named J.K. Stickney teamed with W.C. Morrill to start the Florida Union. The two parted in April 1865. Stickney kept the paper and established physician Holmes Steele as editor.

Steele smashed other Jacksonville papers - the Herald, the Mercury, the Times - in the year following the war.

In 1867, Stickney sold the paper to Edward M. Cheney, a Boston lawyer and Union army captain. Cheney tried unsuccessfully to turn the Union from a three-times-a-week paper to a daily, but it didn't work out. He sold the Union in 1873 to Walton, Fowle & Co., headed by Canadian newpaperman, Charles H. Walton. The paper nose-dived. It abandoned daily publication. It appeared doomed. Soon it was sold to Baptist preacher H.B. McCallum and a partner.

Charles H. Jones, who had run away from home at 14 to be a Confederate drummer boy, tried to buy the Union. When that failed, he recruited an old friend from Chicago and started a rival paper. The Florida Daily Times began in November 1881.

By 1883, the professionally produced Times had eclipsed the preacher-edited Union. McCallum, ridden by illness, sold to the interlopers. The first edition of The Florida Times-Union came out on Sunday, Feb. 4, 1883.

The newspaper, along with the afternoon Jacksonville Journal, the St. Augustine Record and the weekly Courier Journal in Crescent City, were purchased by Morris Communications Jan. 1, 1983, from Seaboard Coast Line Railroad.

http://www.morris.com/divisions/morris_publishing_group/daily_newspapers/florida_times.shtml

By the way, I was born and raised here and am old enough to have lived through this.  Can't beat first hand experience. 

[north miami]

I arrived on scene/Jacksonville in the mid 70's and vividly recall my meetings with Florida Times Union William Swiesgood.Bill's pen hallmark was River protection causes.
What a different time and outlook.Destined to be subjected to trial.
Twenty years later FTU reporter (D.Baierlein) would track me for two days including lengthy interview and track all the way down to the Water Management District permit offices.The provocative-yet prophetic- information relating to emerging sprawl within our region's water recharge basin shared with the FTU yet never shared with the readers makes good reading.
Sad legacy.

[CS Foltz]

Mr Mullaney, much thanks for participating in this discussion! Some very unclear or half truths have been made clear and I appreciate your taking the time to clarify some issue's. I have done some research for Ms Miller regarding "Ethic's" and have one further question regarding this which is - The Independent Authorities were under the original umbrella of "Ethic's Guidelines" and when the guidelines were moved to the City Ordinances in 1972 the Independent Authorities were no longer controlled or guided by same. The Ethics Commission has made the presentation regarding this issue that "Ethics" be set in black and white and in stone and cover all COJ Agencies. Do you feel that having guidelines in place will help or hinder having an efficient transparent government and do you support having guidelines that control all employee's for the City?

[bayst220]

The Beachs and Baldwin are USD's (urban service districts) of the consolidated goverment and I don't see the need for thier existance.

[Rick Mullaney]

I really enjoyed the live blog last week on consolidated government. It was the first time I have done that and it is a great way to have a community discussion.

As a follow up, I spoke briefly today before the Charter Revision Commission on consolidation and specifically on the role of legal services. As the 3 part series last week set out, I believe that through luck and genius (don't ever underestimate luck) the founding fathers of consolidated government devised the best local government structure in the State and centralized legal services and financial authority are fundamental to this structure working. Today I reemphasized the unique and critical role that I believe the General Counsel's Office plays in making consolidated government work. Representing all entities of the consolidated government directly contributes to our ability to operate as a single enterprise and pursue significant countywide policy objectives with one voice. I hope my testimony today was helpful. Developing a community wide understanding and appreciation of our consolidated government is important to our future.

[Rick Mullaney]

I think they are taking their responsibilities seriously and they are very sincere and conscientious.

[stjr]

Rick, thanks for your participation here.

Here is the link to the Charter Review Commission's web site and minutes (actually transcripts) for those who want to wade in deeper.  I read one proceeding at the end of October on education and it's an interesting process. 

http://www.coj.net/City+Council/CharterRevisionCommission

[stjr]

Interesting article (below) on the Charter Review Commission and its makeup.

In a city of almost a million, aren't there citizens who aren't campaign consultants, city employees, developer representatives, etc. that can contribute meaningfully to our City?  Where is the "new blood"?

Kudos to Chairman Duggan and the others for saying all the right things but, in the end, none of these conflict-of-interests concerns would arise if we stopped going to the same well for everything no matter the issue.  I bet if you canvas all the authority, advisory, and other boards and commissions in this City, one would find a disproportionate share of lawyers, government agency consultants and dependents, former politicians and appointees, development dependent business people, political consultants and lobbyists, etc.

Where are the fresh and independent business managers, non-political and non-development dependent professionals, non-profit leaders and volunteers, retired, but experienced citizens, teachers, nurses, technical workers, etc.?  Is the City really getting a range of inputs or is it the victim of incestuous inbreeding causing defective births of ideas and visionary goals?

Jacksonville panel's ties raise conflict-of-interest concerns
One member's vote on combining elections serves as object lesson.

    * By Tia Mitchell
    * Story updated at 1:59 AM on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009

The 15 people who make up Jacksonville's Charter Review Commission come from varied backgrounds, but most have experience either working for or with the city's consolidated government.

Members say background knowledge is useful as they move quickly to build a consensus on ways to improve how the city operates. The commission's recommendations are due to the City Council in February.

But it also has led to accusations of conflicts of interest, most recently after the commission voted to support a council bill that would move city elections to coincide with state and federal elections as a cost-cutting measure.

A posting in an online forum praised commission member Teresa Eichner for being the sole dissenter, taking the same position against the bill that the majority of the City Council eventually backed. At the commission's Oct. 29 meeting, Chairman Wyman Duggan passed out copies of the forum posting that said "it was her tireless efforts which led to the bill's defeat."

Duggan pointed out that Eichner, senior vice president at Access Public Relations, works as a campaign manager and guided Martha Barrett's return in September to the School Board. He questioned whether she dissented because consolidating elections would reduce the number of campaign cycles from which she could obtain clients.

Eichner said she only explained her position to council members who asked why she didn't vote with the majority. She said she was offering an opinion, not lobbying against the bill.

"The decisions that I made were based on what I felt were best for the city, not necessarily what is best for me," Eichner said last week. She said she believes keeping city elections separate will ensure local issues and candidates aren't lost in the shuffle.

Duggan asked the city General Counsel's Office to look into the matter to ensure Eichner had not broken any state or local ethics laws. He said the city's lawyers confirmed there was nothing improper about Eichner's actions, but the issue still presented a teachable moment.

"I do think declaring any perceived conflict ahead of time is both good and required," Duggan said last week.

Former City Council President Ronnie Fussell appointed the Charter Review Commission members and they were confirmed by the full council in May. The members are not paid.

Eichner isn't the only one whose livelihood could pose direct or indirect ties to issues that come before the commission.

Also on the board is Jim Catlett, a registered lobbyist who has represented clients with issues before the City Council and independent agencies. Gary Oliveras is a police officer, who is active both with the union and on the Police and Fire Pension Board. He also is a candidate for the Duval County School Board.

Oliveras asked for the blessing of the General Counsel's Office before he voted on the election consolidation issue. He said he is hyper-sensitive about not appearing biased, and that the long-term health of the city is what guides him.

"What's most important to me is that Jacksonville is my home," Oliveras said. "This is where I'm raising my family."

Duggan himself is a land-use lawyer who has represented clients attempting to obtain council approval on development or zoning projects. He said the commission needs experienced members because it has a limited amount of time to deliberate on a broad range of topics and come up with its lists of non-binding recommendations, but he will protect the integrity of the process.

"I'm sensitive to the appearance issues and I'm trying to be very diligent in protecting the commission's credibility in that regard," Duggan said.

Eichner said she was taken by surprise when Duggan raised his concerns because managing campaigns is but a fraction of her work, and she doesn't see how consolidating elections would hurt or benefit business. But she said she isn't ashamed of the knowledge she brings to the table.

"We all come from different backgrounds," Eichner said. "There [are] all walks of life and varying backgrounds in business."

Former Mayor Ed Austin said declaring potential conflicts and financial interests in matters that come before the commission is key to avoiding future issues, but he also said there was nothing wrong with Eichner voicing dissension.

Austin said once people discuss how their interests relate to the topic at hand, "you weigh it and go on." He said the committee's wealth of knowledge is an asset.

"I feel perfectly comfortable with this group and that we will reach a consensus about what we think is the best thing for this government and consolidation," Austin said.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-08/story/jacksonville_panels_ties_raise_conflict_of_interest_concerns

[fsu813]

One of the leaders of the 60's consolidation effort died Monday from cancer. He was influential in making Jacksonville what is is today...................................... :


Frederick H. Schultz, prominent Jacksonville civic leader and investment banker who worked tirelessly to reform public education, died Monday night at his home after a six-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He was 80.

Mr. Schultz helped draft the charter for the city’s consolidated government and worked to improve the way public education was funded.

He was member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970, serving as speaker the last two years.

President Jimmy Carter appointed him vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board from 1979 to 1982.

More recently, he created The Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership as a place where teachers and other educators in Northeast Florida and other parts of the state could get professional development.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 1773 Blanding Blvd. Private interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery.

A man of great accomplishments, Mr. Schultz said in an April interview with The Florida Times-Union that the happiest period of his life began six years ago when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and given just six months to live.

“I thought about the things I had done well and the things I wasn’t happy about, and I decided I hadn’t spent enough time with my wife and children,” he said.

Former Jacksonville General Counsel Jim Rinaman was attorney for the Duval County Legislative Delegation in the late 1960s and recalled Mr. Schultz as one of the key leaders in creating the city’s consolidated government and cleaning up the old local government.

“He also was a prime mover in trying to straighten out the mess of public education, both locally and statewide,” Rinaman said.

Mayor John Peyton said, “I am not sure we will ever see a stronger advocate for education in the state of Florida than Fred Schultz.”

Mr. Schultz believed that education was the most important factor as Jacksonville grew.

“We’re going to have to have a better trained workforce with people who can take on more sophisticated, creative jobs,” he told the Times-Union in an interview in May 2004. “And I don’t think you can have a good environment for education without strong business community support. I think that’s crucial.”

Duval schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals called the Schultz Center “the premier training facility in the South.”

“He believed passionately that teachers and principals deserved the same high quality professional development as those in the business sector,” he said.

Duval County School Board member W.C. Gentry, a founding Schultz Center member, said: “Fred was probably the greatest leader and champion for public education that this community has ever had, and I don’t know how that vacuum can ever be filled.”

Mr. Schultz attained national prominence but did his greatest work at home mentoring young people, Jacksonville lawyer Steve Pajcic said.

“Fred actually launched my political career from the picnic table in the backyard of my parents’ Woodstock Park home in 1974,” said Pajcic, who served in the Legislature from 1974 to 1985 and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1986. “No one did more to help me than Fred, and I know of no one who did more to help Jacksonville.”

Tom Slade, former chairman of the Florida Republican Party who was a member of the Duval delegation with Mr. Schultz in the 1960s, said he came to the Legislature a very naive young man and matured rapidly into one of its outstanding members.

Mr. Schultz, a Jacksonville native, worked in banking after getting his law degree but soon opened his own office concentrating in securities markets and providing risk capital for new and expanding ventures in 1957.

After his election to the state House in 1963, Mr. Schultz and John E. Mathews Jr. of Jacksonville, who served as Senate president, emerged as the architects of far-reaching reforms in Florida government.

Changes enacted in 1969 in a movement led by the pair included annual sessions of the Legislature with annual budgets that gave legislators more control over state spending. They also changed the status quo to create permanent committees that worked throughout the year to study issues and recommend legislation.

In 1965 he co-sponsored a bill authorizing funds to establish a state junior college in Jacksonville, now Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Mr. Schultz left the Florida House in 1970 to run for the U.S. Senate. The seat was won by Lawton Chiles.

Later, Carter nominated him to the Federal Reserve Board. The New York Times called him Carter’s “right-hand man” at the Fed, where he helped set the nation’s monetary policy.

In 1974, as president-elect of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Schultz gathered 100 Jacksonville residents for a three-day conference at Amelia Island Plantation to pinpoint and recommend solutions for the 10 most important problems that Jacksonville would face as it grew. From that conference was born the Jacksonville Community Council Inc.

Mr. Schultz also spearheaded the founding of Leadership Jacksonville and was instrumental in the development of the Alliance for World Class Education.

In 1992 the Florida Legislature waived the law against naming a state building for a living person so the University of North Florida could rename its Education and Human Services Building after Mr. Schultz.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy; a daughter, Catherine Schultz McFarland of Jacksonville; three sons, Frederick H. Schultz Jr. of New York City, Clifford G. Schultz and John R. Schultz, both of Jacksonville; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Schultz Center Foundation, 4019 Boulevard Center Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207, or the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

Times-Union writer Mary Kelli Palka contributed to this report.

jessie-lynne.kerr@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4374


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frederick H. Schultz
Born: Jacksonville, Jan. 16, 1929.
Education: The Bolles School, Princeton University, B.A., 1952; UF College of Law, 1956.
Military: U.S. Army artillery officer in Korea 1952-54, awarded the Bronze Star.
Business career: Barnett Bank of Jacksonville executive training program, 1956-57; opened Schultz Investments, 1957; chairman of the board, Florida Wire and Cable Co., 1958-79; chairman of the board, Barnett Investment Services, a subsidiary of Barnett Banks of Florida, 1973-79; director, Barnett Banks, Transco Energy Corp., Southeast-Atlantic Corp., American Heritage Life Insurance Co. and Wickes Inc.
Public service: Member, Jacksonville Expressway Authority, 1961-63; member, Florida House of Representatives, 1963-70, and speaker, 1969-70; chairman, Citizens Committee on Education, 1971-73; chairman, Florida Education Council, 1976-77; member, National Council on Educational Research, the policy-making board for the National Institute of Education, 1977-79; vice chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 1979-82; chairman, Florida Institute of Education, 1983-87; member, advisory committee, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, 1983-2000; chairman, Workforce Development Board, State of Florida, 1994-97.
Civic and charitable: Chairman, Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership; director, Alliance for World Class Education; past chairman, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; past chairman, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens; trustee emeritus, The Bolles School; founder, Jacksonville Community Council Inc.; founder, Leadership Jacksonville.
Civic honors: Distinguished Citizen of the Year, 1996, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; Outstanding Young Man, 1964, Jacksonville Jaycees; Good Government Award, 1969, Jacksonville Jaycees.
Special awards: Louis Brownlee Prize, 1969; distinguished service award, Florida Bankers Association, 1982; Distinguished Leadership Award, Community Leadership Association, 2005; the Leroy Collins Lifetime Achievement Award, Leadership Florida, 2006; and Leadership Jacksonville’s first lifetime achievement award, 2009.
Other: Kennedy Fellow at the Harvard University Institute of Politics, January-June 1971.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-25/story/jacksonville_civic_leader_schultz_dies

[DevilsAdvocate]

I'm late to jump in on the thread but I think one problem with out consolidated government is that as a result of consolidation, certain areas of our town receive little to no attention from local government and completely lack any sense of community.  Areas like the Northside lack any sort of uniting force that I think would be present if there were a local government representing only those areas. 

I would encourage the city to experiment with setting up a few quasi-governments in certain areas of town to provide both an increased focus on the issues and strengths of those communities and also to further strengthen the feeling of community in those areas.  Basically, a system similar to what we already have with the three municipalities at the Beach.

Anyone else have thoughts on such a system?

[stjr]

I was listening to the mayor of Dallas the other day on the radio.  He brought up an intriguing thought that he claims makes Dallas a great city: NONPARTISAN elections including MAYOR.   What if we went with nonpartisan, open primaries, for all local offices?

We might get better candidates, a more unified populace, and cheaper elections to boot!

[buckethead]

Dallas? Great City?

Pffft. They still haven't figured out who shot J.R.

[Dog Walker]

I was listening to the mayor of Dallas the other day on the radio.  He brought up an intriguing thought that he claims makes Dallas a great city: NONPARTISAN elections including MAYOR.   What if we went with nonpartisan, open primaries, for all local offices?

We might get better candidates, a more unified populace, and cheaper elections to boot!

Too bad that this idea wasn't brought up before the Charter Commission!  Why should we have to pay for the primaries of the political parties?  Let them hold and pay for their own and then run in an open, public election.