by Bailey White
Staff Writer
Mayoral candidates at a forum hosted by the North Florida Air Conditioning Contractors Association Tuesday assured local contractors that they would do what they could to keep the local industry involved in City projects.
“We’ll do what we can to keep business local in the future,” said City Council member Matt Carlucci, adding that local preference legislation is working its way through Council. “I want to keep businesses in the loop.”
John Peyton, who said Gate Petroleum donated $50,000 to Better Jacksonville Plan projects, told NFACCA members that he was surprised so many projects were let to out-of-town bidders.
“I know a lot of you were shocked to find out how much money went out of town,” said Peyton. “As someone who came from small business I would make keeping business in Jacksonville a priority.”
Mike Weinstein agreed.
“We’ll push the legal limit of how to preference local business,” he said. “There needs to be a compelling reason to give business to outsiders and it isn’t always about the lowest bid.”
Weinstein said it would be worth spending a little more money if it meant keeping local business involved in City projects.
Former mayor Tommy Hazouri said he would use his own experience to help him solve the problem of out-of-town bidders getting work in Jacksonville.
“I grew up in small businesses and I understand that they can’t afford to be left behind,” he said.
Besides supporting vocational education programs, Hazouri wants to support small businesses.
“We need to keep Jacksonville working,” said Hazouri. “We need to not just provide incentives for big business coming to Jacksonville, but also for small businesses as well.”
“We’ll do what we can within the law to keep jobs local,” he said.
Ginger Soud, who will have served eight years on Council when her term ends, said she also has a plan in mind to keep business local.
“I want to establish bidding criteria that gives local contractors equal footing,” said Soud. “And I want no wrap-up agreements and no City bonding.”
Though many of the Better Jacksonville projects have been spoken for, NFACCA organizers would like to be aware of upcoming projects so that local contractors will have a chance in the bidding process.
“We all understand the bid process,” said NFACCA president Scott Wilson. “But if there is a way for the City to keep dollars local, we’d all benefit.”