by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
City Council member Jerry Holland is trying to buck recent Council history. Holland submitted his letter of intent to run for Council president last week, creating the first opposition for current Council vice president Suzanne Jenkins, who has already announced her intentions to run.
Holland was elected to Council in 1999 and represents District 3, which encompasses all of the beaches and a good portion of the San Pablo area. In addition to owning Holland Homes and Holland Homes Realty, he is also a certified Duval County substitute teacher and coaches the Paxon High School varsity baseball team.
If Holland is going to succeed current Council president Matt Carlucci, he’ll have to reverse a three-year trend in which the Council vice president has gone on to become president. Although it has happened several times since Jacksonville was consolidated in 1968, it is rare that the vice president doesn’t become president and it usually involves some interesting circumstances.
“I don’t necessarily feel that if it came to where you have to be the vice president before becoming president, that we would do the election for president,” said Holland, adding that would only require a vice presidential election each year. “That has not been the history of City Council. Each year, you are [the vice president] in a reevaluation period.”
Holland’s interest in the position stems mainly from the fact he believes he can do a better job than Jenkins. He’s also not happy that Jenkins has not made good on some assurances she made Holland last year when she was seeking support in her bid for the vice presidency.
The now demolished Jacksonville Beach Pier is at the top of Holland’s list of items in his district that Jenkins did not support after saying she would. Holland lobbied publicly for the pier to be rebuilt at its longtime location — Sixth Avenue South. According to Holland, Jenkins told him that she would support leaving and rebuilding the pier at that location. However, when the vote came before Council to move the pier 11 blocks, to Fifth Avenue North, Jenkins supported the move.
Holland said the pier was just one item, but it was important to him. He said his endorsement of Jenkins guaranteed her support throughout the year, especially on issues that mattered the most.
“Some of the other things were supporting my district items,” said Holland. “She hasn’t done that. She hasn’t kept up her end. One of the first was the pier. She told people, including me, that she would support leaving it where it was. And, she did not do that.”
Because Holland and Jenkins both joined Council at the same time, they have had equal time to evaluate their peers. Jenkins has said she is confident that she could place fellow Council members on committees that were best-suited for their talents and areas of interest. Holland feels the same way, but would choose a much different path. Holland also recognizes that Jenkins has her supporters, but he also believes he can garner enough support through face-to-face meetings to make the race interesting.
“I feel like I have a good opportunity and can better serve the City Council members,” said Holland, adding he already has some support within Council. “I’m not the only one seeing this differently as far as the leadership on the committees and the roles of the Council members.”
Banking on unwritten support, Holland said, “If I didn’t feel like others felt the same way, I wouldn’t do it. In listening to the things said at committee meetings, I believe I have some support. At this point, I have done what I can do. I have written my letter and will post meetings.”
Holland already has two meetings scheduled. He will meet with Doyle Carter today and Lad Daniels on Tuesday.
In his letter to all the Council members, Holland said the upcoming year is pivotal for both Council and the city.
“In the next Council year, I believe we will be facing many financial repercussions from last year’s terrorism of Sept. 11,” wrote Holland. “This will result in extreme reviews of our financial responsibilities and goals for the next budget cycle. We will need major decision making and team work to move forward. I can provide the necessary leadership to take us through what may be very tough times in the year ahead.
“In short, I need your help and support standing with me so that together we can continue to make Jacksonville the best place to live.”
Holland met with Jenkins last week to explain his rationale for running against her. He told Jenkins that he thought there was support for him on Council and that if he thought the vote would be 18-1 in favor of Jenkins, he wouldn’t even consider running. Holland said Jenkins was understandably discouraged by
the news.
“Obviously, she’s disappointed because anyone would like to get the position without any opposition,” said Holland, adding that Jenkins understood his reasons for running against her. “She recognizes that if she had it [the vote on the pier] to do over, she would have voted to leave it where it was. That’s what she told me.”
Over the next month or two, Holland will continue to hold meetings with the other 17 Council members. While he would like to leave those meetings with the support of each Council member, more than anything Holland will use them as a gauge of potential support.
As time passes and meetings take place, Council members will decide for themselves who would be the best person to lead Council in 2002-03. Although they aren’t legally binding, many Council members will pledge their support in writing to one candidate. In the past, Council president candidates have tried — sometimes successfully, sometimes in vain — to persuade Council members to change their minds. Holland said he will not partake in such tactics.
“Once they have signed a written pledge to her, I’m not going to try to get them to change their mind,” said Holland. “That’s a commitment to her. They aren’t binding, but I respect those pledges. But, I have seen them change in the past.”
Holland said as long as the vote has the potential to be close, he’ll stay in the race. If he realizes that Jenkins has enough support — more than 10 votes — he will not, out of respect for Jenkins and Council as a group, make the vote an election day issue.
“If the support for me is not there, I won’t take it to the floor. There will be no fighting among Council about this,” said Holland, adding that as of right now he feels like has a good chance. “I really don’t think there are 10 Council members that solidly support her. That’s why I put
out the letter and will post
meetings.”