by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Shortly after Mayor John Delaney took office in 1995 he did something no other mayor had ever even considered. Instead of hiring friends as members of his staff and department heads and awarding prestigious board positions to political allies, Delaney created the Transition Committee, a group designed to help Delaney form his post-campaign team.
One of those he sought advice from was Don Hinson, who is today the president of OakLeaf Plantation, LLC and president and CEO of Hutson Land Company.
Hinson is also Delaney’s newest appointment to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority Board of Directors. Hinson said his experience with Delaney in 1995 served to pique his interest in public service in some capacity.
“When he first came into office, he had citizen members of the Transition Committee interview candidates for department heads, boards, division chiefs and some of his staff,” explained Hinson. “It was interesting. I believe that everything you do you learn from. Hats off to him. He sought a lot of input from a lot of different people. That was shrewd on his part to utilize the talent in the community.”
Originally from Tallahassee, Hinson came to Jacksonville 18 years ago. His two companies, which are both majority-owned by David Hutson, focus on residential developments primarily in the Cecil Field/northern Clay County area. The new OakLeaf Plantation development calls for 11,000 residential units on 6,400 acres complete with schools, libraries, athletic fields, parks and a Bobby Weed-designed golf course.
A professional engineer, Hinson said joining the JTA will give him a chance to work for a community that he has called home for almost two decades.
“I lived here 18 years and hopefully I’ll be able to contribute back to the community,” said Hinson. “There’s a lot to learn about the [JTA] operation and I really don’t have any particular area to concentrate on at this point.
Hinson has also served on the Subdivisions Standards Committee and the Mayor’s Growth Management Task Force, but that was years ago and Hinson is ready to once again ready to provide insight for the betterment of Jacksonville.
“I think it’s more that I’ve come to a point in life that I am ready to volunteer,” said Hinson. “I have never actively sought any board position.”