And then there was one.
The nine-month national search to find a replacement for Mike Weinstein, who left last week as the executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, has produced one finalist who will sit down soon with Mayor John Delaney.
Early last week three viable candidates came to town for interviews with the task force formed to find Weinstein’s replacement. Only Margaret Mullen, the president and COO of Urban Realty Partners, LLC of Phoenix, Ariz., will return for a second interview, for now.
“At this point in time she is the only one we are bringing back to interview with the mayor,” said Delaney’s chief of staff Audrey Moran, who is also a member of the task force. “We are, however, leaving the door open on the other two.”
Mullen was joined last week by Stephen Dragos of Basking Ridge, N.J. and Don Maxwell of Virginia Beach, Va. Last week Moran said all three candidates were impressive, but after careful analysis and lots of discussion, Mullen stood out among the three.
This week Mullen will be at an economic conference and Moran said she will probably come back to Jacksonville for a personal interview with Delaney. A couple of weeks ago, Delaney made it clear that a third search would not take place, so if Mullen doesn’t impress Delaney the job could permanently go to Kirk Wendlend, the director of finance for the JEDC who was promoted on Friday to interim executive director.
Moran is fairly certain Mullen will make a solid impression on Delaney.
“She’s a very real person, what you see is what you get,” said Moran. “And, she has a terrific economic development background. I think the mayor is going to be very impressed with her.”
While the other two candidates did well in preliminary interview with the task force last week, Moran said she thought Mullen’s combination of experience and diversity gave her an edge. In addition to doing plenty of work in Phoenix, Mullen has also worked in Reno, Tampa and Birmingham, England.
However, it’s what Mullen has done in Phoenix — and the fact that her projects in Phoenix almost mirror what Jacksonville has planned over the next 10 years — that may have sold the task force on her. Mullen’s credits include Bank One Ballpark, American West Arena and several downtown housing projects, just to name a few. Mullen also just completed the Master Plan for the City of Los Angeles.
“I think it definitely makes her a very viable candidate because her experience is so varied,” said Moran. “And, she likes to build relationships and she likes a challenge.”
The job comes with several perks including the opportunity to live in a warm-weather climate, in an up-and-coming city and excellent pay. If there is drawback it’s the potential length of the job. The JEDC executive director is an appointed position that serves at the pleasure of the mayor. When Delaney’s term ends on July 1, 2003, there is a possibility that Mullen, should she get the job, could be asked to step down. It’s a fact she is aware of.
“We were very clear on that,” said Moran. “Obviously, there is an opportunity to be considered by the next administration.”
In addition to her professional qualifications and capabilities, Moran said Mullen impressed her personally and came across as someone who is eager to accept Jacksonville as her own and, in turn, be accepted.
“You could tell this is much more than a job to her,” said Moran. “She wants to come into the community and make an impact.”