Abel Harding Departs Mayors Office

[Dog Walker]

I am sure that almost all of us posting here can look back on an instance when we said, "Oops, I shouldn't have been behind the wheel last night" but didn't get stopped for it.

[johnnyman]

I am sure that almost all of us posting here can look back on an instance when we said, "Oops, I shouldn't have been behind the wheel last night" but didn't get stopped for it.

Ok,,,,, and some ppl on this board have stole, sold drugs, etc.  So what's your point?

[Jaxson]

I am sure that almost all of us posting here can look back on an instance when we said, "Oops, I shouldn't have been behind the wheel last night" but didn't get stopped for it.

Ok,,,,, and some ppl on this board have stole, sold drugs, etc.  So what's your point?

I think that Dog Walker is saying that many people are out there on a wing and a prayer.  This problem is aggravated by the fact that we are so tied to our cars to get around.  Yes, there are designated drivers and other safety measures, but there are many people who will get behind the wheel because they believe that they are in control or they think that they have no other options.   

[Ajax]

I would guess there would be an outrage (here at MJ) that any notable conservative had the audacity to endanger the public by operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

I would have a little more sympathy for so-called conservatives when they get into trouble if it wasn't for the fact that they belong to a party/movement that tries to shove their morality down everyone else's throat.  This is what happens when you have leaders who profess to know how everyone else should live their lives, and then they are unable to live up to their own high standards. 

Not to start an anti-religious rant, but I've always thought that the Republicans would do themselves a favor by ditching that religious influence and focusing more on personal responsibility.  I had hoped that's what the Tea Party movement would turn out to be (more libertarian and less religious-y), but it sounds like it's been hijacked by Republicans of another feather.  That's certainly what I've seen happening locally. 

What would the general reaction (here at MJ) have been if this was Suzy Wiles?

I think the usual shrill-voiced subjects would have advocated burning her at the stake. 

I'm thankful that nobody was hurt or killed (including Abel), and hopefully the publicity will cause more people to think twice before they drink and drive.  Abel has a lot to offer this community and I hope that he's given the opportunity to reclaim his reputation. 

[mtraininjax]

I’m sure the powers at be in the city will realize the assets in abilities and integrity we have in Mr. Harding and, especially because it was his first encounter with the 301 Gestapo, or any problem of this nature, will not allow this event, which may have in fact been the result of Hwy 301 Gestapo unfairness, to obscure in any way an otherwise exemplary career.

Harding messed up. He is not the first City of Jax employee to have a DUI, I know a few Sargeants who were bumped down for screwing up with a DUI, and let us not forget Theresa O'Donnell and her Suburban event where she was so intoxicated she vomited on herself, before succombing to Police. She kept her job under Peyton. Yeah, Harding screwed up, so what it was 66 in a 55, he was intoxicated and is paying the price.

Yeah, he'll lose his license for a while, which may force him to rely on JTA to get around, provided the mayor allows him back, especially with the heated debate going on now in City Hall over budget cuts. So this is the kind of thing Brown did not need, but I am sure he will handle it fairly and firmly.

Lesson learned, I am sure by Harding.

[mfc]

Abel Harding is a good man and a bright rising star in Jacksonville. We do not know all the facts so speculation is a little premature and unfair. All I know is regardless of the outcome, this young man deserves to be in the forefront of jacksonville's future and I wish him the very best! Matt Carlucci sr.

[tufsu1]

Lesson learned, I am sure by Harding.

welcome back mtrain...we've missed you

[Ocklawaha]

Yeah, he'll lose his license for a while, which may force him to rely on JTA to get around...

Lesson learned, I am sure by Harding.

Oh God Mtrain, a punishment worse then death.

OCKLAWAHA

[duvaldude08]

omg.  would you people give me a break and spare everyone the public chest beating.

dui is a bad decision, but its common enough in this country.

let the legal system take its due course, and can we please give abel the benefit of the doubt?

He's a good guy, and a credit to the mayor's office.

I certainly hope that he keeps his job, learns from his mistake and puts the whole stupid thing behind him.

Totally Agreed Stephen.

[buckethead]

I would guess there would be an outrage (here at MJ) that any notable conservative had the audacity to endanger the public by operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Perhaps some comments about hypocrisy... some challenges to any poster to the right of Che Guevera to denounce said notable conservative. I admit, this is wild speculation on my part, but not entirely unfounded based on experience right here at MJ.

(One of my favorite sites, BTW)

What would the general reaction (here at MJ) have been if this was Suzy Wiles?

Try to be honest.

this is dumb and unhelpful, buckethead, and not worthy of your intellectual abilities.  Leave this "Blood of jesus" stuff to other posters!

Abel is a pretty conservative republican and former banker, who happens to be working for a democratic mayor based on his ability, not his party affiliation.  I have sat across the aisle from his opinion in several occasions.

Well... That smarts.

I suppose you're right, though.

It wasn't my intention to pile on Mr Harding, but to point out what " the general reaction might have been" had it been another, less likable personality. A pretty futile endeavor.

I engaged in a stance that probably didn't need to be taken.

Sorry, folks.

As full disclosure; I have been the beneficiary of a ride home as opposed to a ride to the hooskow some time ago.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

A police report on the arrest hasn't been completed because the arresting officer has been in training classes, said Hodges. He said the officer, reservist David Hughes, recounted the arrest to him over the weekend.

Hodges said he thought a field sobriety test was performed and that Harding failed. Neither urine nor blood tests were performed because they aren't normal practices under those circumstances, he said.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-09-14/story/law-amp-disorder-jacksonville-mayors-spokesman-refused-breath-test#ixzz1XwEFVQBn

Someone please tell me how this officer is supposed to write his report 5 days later and still recount everything that happened on Saturday night.

Seriously???  Uhmmmmm, your Honor I would like my clients case to be thrown out because of incompetence.  Thank You.  Nothing Further.

[Jaxson]

A police report on the arrest hasn't been completed because the arresting officer has been in training classes, said Hodges. He said the officer, reservist David Hughes, recounted the arrest to him over the weekend.

Hodges said he thought a field sobriety test was performed and that Harding failed. Neither urine nor blood tests were performed because they aren't normal practices under those circumstances, he said.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-09-14/story/law-amp-disorder-jacksonville-mayors-spokesman-refused-breath-test#ixzz1XwEFVQBn

Someone please tell me how this officer is supposed to write his report 5 days later and still recount everything that happened on Saturday night.

Seriously???  Uhmmmmm, your Honor I would like my clients case to be thrown out because of incompetence.  Thank You.  Nothing Further.

+1,000! 

[hillary supporter]

I feel for Abel.  While what he did was a bad choice, I'm hesitant to believe he was wholly at fault.  I have been a victim of some pretty unfair stuff on 301. 

sorry, but if he failed a sobriety test, he is fully at fault!

Says it all, dont drink or drive.  Consider designated driver, hotel rooms, mass transit, ect  all things posters here have s aid. Hats off to MJ for furnishing such an option for pubcrawl, a big reason why Jax is talking about it!

[Springfielder]

I am sure that almost all of us posting here can look back on an instance when we said, "Oops, I shouldn't have been behind the wheel last night" but didn't get stopped for it.

Ok,,,,, and some ppl on this board have stole, sold drugs, etc.  So what's your point?

How the hell did you get from DW saying that most of us probably have a oops in our past about being behind the wheel, when perhaps we shouldn't have, to saying some people have stolen, sold drugs, etc.? That's one hell of a jump

[Springfielder]

A police report on the arrest hasn't been completed because the arresting officer has been in training classes, said Hodges. He said the officer, reservist David Hughes, recounted the arrest to him over the weekend.

Hodges said he thought a field sobriety test was performed and that Harding failed. Neither urine nor blood tests were performed because they aren't normal practices under those circumstances, he said.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-09-14/story/law-amp-disorder-jacksonville-mayors-spokesman-refused-breath-test#ixzz1XwEFVQBn

Someone please tell me how this officer is supposed to write his report 5 days later and still recount everything that happened on Saturday night.

Seriously???  Uhmmmmm, your Honor I would like my clients case to be thrown out because of incompetence.  Thank You.  Nothing Further.

Why is it that the officer didn't write his report that night, since when are they allowed to wait at all for it? That alone could constitute dismissal of charges