John Curtin is the director of the City’s Neighborhoods Department. He has been with the department since its formation three and half years ago.
WHAT DOES THE DEPARTMENT HANDLE?
Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Special Events, Neighborhood Services, the Mayor’s Action Office and Clean It Up, Green It Up. “We’re a grassroots effort to the community. Most things that affect you at home, we deal with. We deal with the CPACs [Citizens Planning Advisory Committee], neighborhood associations and publish the Neighborhoods Magazine. We’re heavy into customer service. Citizens look to government to solve their infrastructure and community concerns. We point people in the right direction to make this a better place to live.”
EDUCATION
Business administration was Curtin’s major at Winona State University. He also attended Embry Riddle in Daytona and the University of Minnesota.
QUICK BACKGROUND
Formerly a wing commander at Cecil Field, Curtin retired with the rank of captain. Of his 31 years in the U.S. Navy, his last assignment was in Japan. Curtin stepped into his directorship from his post as the City’s chief of property safety.
WHY WORK FOR THE CITY?
“It was the path of least resistance. Coming out of the Navy after commanding a base, you deal with a lot of the same issues — housing, quality of life. It’s like being a mini-mayor. It prepared me for this job in a lot of ways. I love Jacksonville. I felt like I could contribute and hopefully make a difference.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“We’ve had the opportunity from a code perspective to change the look of the community. Just as downtown changes, as you look along the interstate and go into the neighborhoods, they look and feel different. Through a partnership with HabiJax we are able to bring new construction in where there hasn’t been any for 50 years. We put people that are first-time homebuyers into homes. It’s rewarding to see their pride of ownership. I especially enjoy the opportunity to make a difference in Springfield, to save what was once the crown jewel of our community.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“That what we do doesn’t make people happy. With codes, if we make one person happy and one person not happy, we’re doing good. On a normal day, nobody’s happy. People want their concerns taken care of today and we can’t always take care of it today. It’s a struggle to keep a stiff upper lip but that’s just the nature of the game.”
HOMETOWN
Chicago. In 1970, Curtin was introduced to the First Coast through Navy flight training. After he was discharged, he decided to make Jacksonville his home.
CURRENT RESIDENCE
Mandarin. He and his wife Dinah have two sons, Scott and John Jr.
HOBBIES
Golfing, deep sea fishing, snow skiing and flying. Reading military-related stories, watching the classic film “Ben Hur” or dining at The Tree Steak House are other favorites. He is also president of the Mandarin Rotary Club and active in his youngest son’s school activities.
WHO’S YOUR HERO?
“I probably have a lot of heroes going back to my time in the Navy. Since I’ve been in government though, the one person I met that I admire most is Lex Hester. I had a great deal of respect for him. He was a man of great vision and had lots to do with building HabiJax. He could keep a lot of balls in the air and always kept an even keel. Hester was a true gentleman in addition to being a truly great administrator.”
WHY DID YOU RECEIVE THE GOOD GOVERNMENT AWARD?
“I was nominated by Mr. Harnell; he’s on the HabiJax board. I’m responsible for the Springfield Intensive Care Program. The connection with the award is that I coordinate with HappyJax — that’s what I call it — the housing issues there.”
— by Monica Chamness