A.G. Gancarski
The Jacksonville City Council VP race continued on Tuesday, with Matt Schellenberg courting supporters.
Schellenberg’s meetings: with Scott Wilson, who hadn’t already committed, and Jim Love, who had pledged to frontrunner John Crescimbeni.
Wilson, chair of Land Use and Zoning and previously an aide for Don Redman, would be a key pickup.
Schellenberg noted that “I don’t know if we’re compatible” in terms of certain votes, but his goal is for Council to be more “collegially oriented.”
Wilson: “you’re the first person I met with,” and “I don’t know which direction I’m going” among these “four good candidates.”
Wilson also lauded Aaron Bowman‘s experience, a seeming allusion to media coverage where Schellenberg and Bill Gulliford cast doubts on Bowman’s ability to lead.
Schellenberg also noted that, while Council is better positioned than in the Alvin Brown administration, a certain issue looms over Council (the HRO) that bred division in 2012 and looks “worse.”
Wilson opined that it will be resolved March 3; Schellenberg, with the petition drive from HRO expansion opponents in mind, had his well-founded doubts.
Jim Love was next for Schellenberg, who sought to be the Avondale Republican’s second choice in the event of an implosion of the Crescimbeni candidacy.
Love mentioned Bowman’s “six months of experience,” before asking Schellenberg’s “vision.”
“The first four years, it was just survival,” Schellenberg said.
Now? It’s “about making Jacksonville a better place,” and that principle is consistent, Schellenberg said, with his work on Council.
“More knowledge is better,” Schellenberg added, saying that the standing committee meetings are instructive as to the pulse of the Council.
Love then asked Schellenberg his take on downtown development.
“Until the mayor and the City Council comes to a consensus,” Schellenberg said, the question is open.
One thing Schellenberg would like to see: more college presence downtown.
“We need to engage John Delaney to bring some of [UNF’s] departments downtown,” Schellenberg said, adding that he’d like to see more FSCJ involvement downtown also, to engage millennials.
“Right now, people in Mandarin aren’t coming downtown,” Schellenberg notes, citing “safety” concerns and a need to revamp the struggling Jacksonville Landing as potential drivers.
Development of neighboring neighborhoods, like Riverside, also would be a mover.
Love asked Schellenberg his plan on the 1/2 cent sales tax; Schellenberg would like to see it, and even a one cent tax.
This could help the pension, UF Health, and other issues, in conjunction with a bond issue that could finance long-term needs.
“All I see is good things going forward,” Schellenberg said, “and I’d like to be part of that leadership.”
The pitch seemed to work as well as could be hoped.
Love said that, “of the three other folks running [besides Crescimbeni], I think you would have my vote.”
