A.G. Gancarski
On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Aaron Bowman continued his push for the vice-presidency of the 19-person legislative body with some success.
Bowman solicited pledges from Tommy Hazouri, Greg Anderson, and Sam Newby, in an attempt to break a 3-3 deadlock with his opponent, Scott Wilson.
Newby was sold without little prodding, noting that while he and Bowman were on opposite sides of the push to expand the city’s Human Rights Ordinance, he thought Bowman was the “right person” for leadership in the council.
“You’ve been in leadership your entire life,” Newby remarked.
Newby’s pledge gave Bowman a 4-3 lead, but Hazouri and Anderson proved to be tougher sells.
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Hazouri, who was Bowman’s only supporter a year before, was reluctant to sign on this time around.
In part, it was because Hazouri — an early supporter of current VP John Crescimbeni for the top job — expressed qualms that Bowman and Anna Brosche (Crescimbeni’s opponent) were a ticket of sorts.
“It’s there and I can’t erase it,” Hazouri said.
Bowman and Brosche pledged to support each other earlier this week.
“John made it easy for me not to vote for him because he signed on with Scott,” Bowman said, calling that a “vote of no confidence.”
Hazouri and Bowman continued to discuss similar issues, with Hazouri noting “perceptions” parties such as the Jacksonville Chamber and the police and fire unions have of Crescimbeni.
Bowman noted that Crescimbeni wasn’t exactly a resounding choice for the VP slot last year.
“It was 10-9,” Bowman said.
Hazouri’s response?
“A winner is a winner.”
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As was the case with Hazouri, Anderson signed on with Crescimbeni’s presidential bid.
And as also was the case, Anderson didn’t sign on, saying he wanted to let the process develop.
However, the discussion was more of common ground and shared priorities than was the case in the Hazouri conversation.
Anderson noted that Bowman saw the president as “an enabler of success, a view I share with you.”
Anderson also pointed out the changing topography of law and order in Jacksonville, noting that Bowman would “have the opportunity to think about justice more holistically” than the old-school paradigms of bygone eras.
The importance of consistency in policy initiatives: also a discussion point. As were economic development, and a potential conflict between the Lenny Curry administration and the council on the pension deal.
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Bowman noted that, regarding the possible end to the Enterprise Florida incentives that have benefited the city of late, that “we compete with Georgia and South Carolina every day” and that “our neighbors are licking their chops right now.”
On pension, both Bowman and Anderson agreed that the lack of information from the mayor’s office on the new pension plans with the city’s unions has been “frustrating.”
“Is this financially sustainable? Is this the right plan? I’m a little fearful,” Bowman said, that “we’re going to see stuff we’re not comfortable with” in the actuarial projections.
Other council members have expressed similar qualms about the pension deal, about which the Curry administration has said very little about the actual numbers and costs to the city.
This tension could set up the first real confrontation in almost two years between the mayor’s office and council sooner than later.
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As of now, Bowman has a 4-3 lead in the pledge count in the VP race, while Crescimbeni leads Brosche 7-3 in the race for the top job.
The next scheduled council leadership meeting, as of this writing: a Monday morning meeting between Scott Wilson and Joyce Morgan.
