A Few Minutes With the Mayor – December 2020/January 2021

Well, here it is… my last column as Mayor. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to write. I mean, what do I say at the end of a ten-year run? “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” What drivel! When is sorrow sweet? If you’re sorrowful you’re not sitting in a bowl of sugar. And just think… the fellow that wrote that became what some call history’s greatest playwright. I mean… just because his name was Shakespeare!

I’ve been grateful at the reception most of my columns have received. After all, writing a column which no one reads is about as bad as throwing a party where no one attends. Admittedly it is almost impossible to write a column which doesn’t offend someone. These days it’s difficult to open your mouth without someone jumping in to close it. Two of my recent columns, We the People and God Bless America, fell into this umbrella of outrage. How sad! It must be awful to wake up every day and see the world around you bathed in the light of gloom and doom as these poor souls do. If they would but look in a mirror, the image staring at them would identify their real problem.

In any event, the time to “part” strikes twelve on everyone’s clock and mine is sounding the chime as I write this. It’s been a great run, though at times it seemed more like a steeplechase with an occasional hurdle. With the help of a truly remarkable staff and city administrator, we dodged the hurdles and stayed the course. There were some accomplishments.

First and foremost was the move of City Hall into the old courthouse. This was enabled by the sale of a corner of Forest Park. That sale also paid off debt from the construction of the Police Department. Later the dam in Forest Park was removed.

I recommended, and the City Council approved, a land lease for fifty years at one dollar per year which gave the Jacksonville Community Center the ability to raise the funds necessary for construction.

The position of Jacksonville City Historian, a volunteer post, was created to further signify the historical importance of our City. Larry Smith is our current Historian.

The City was better able to understand and serve the needs of its citizens through the creation of a Mayor’s Advisory Association. Meeting monthly, this body included citizens from retail merchandising, the arts, the media and the Boosters. Their input was invaluable.

On the lighter side we began our July 4th picnics on the lawn of New City Hall which saw as many as four hundred of our citizens turn out to share the holiday together. The Boosters have now taken over the task of operating this event.

I wish the new Mayor, Donna Bowen, all the success and joy possible as she takes over. A born leader, she ran HARC for years. Donna will provide the right leadership for our City.

Before ending I must thank all sorts of people who either helped me in my job or enriched my life. They are:

  • Members of my Advisory Board: Rob Buerk, Linda Kestner, Donna Briggs, Dave Mills, Jo Parker, Robert Roos
  • City Council Members: Steve Casaleggio, Ken Gregg, Mike McClain, Jim Lewis, Cris Garcia, Donna Bowen
  • City staff and Leaders: Stacey Bray, Angela Watson, Linda Bennington, Stacey Pitman, Debbie Perkins, Diane Oliver, Hector Carrillo, Rick Shields, Tom Glover, Max Woody, Ian Foster, Jeff Alvis, Wayne Painter, and David Towe
  • City Historian: Larry Smith for walking me through the history of our city
  • Citizens Paula Block and Terry Erdmann for their constant support!
  • Whit Parker for printing my columns

And last but not least… you the citizens of a town that grows more wonderful every day in these turbulent times.

I’m sure to have missed someone. Please forgive me if I have.

Blessings to you all, and since the Savior’s birthday is near, have a very, very, Merry Christmas. As for me? I’ll fly off to the next adventure that awaits me!