by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Media coverage devoted to the City Council District 3 race is slightly higher than it is in other districts. Though only two candidates are running, reports of bad blood and heated words seem to be an underlying factor in the race. Whether or not there is any truth behind the rumors, both say they are the man for the job.
Jerry Holland
Jerry Holland not only approaches this election with four years experience on the City Council, he’s also currently serving a term as president. When asked why he chose to run again, he says it should be obvious.
“I’m running for a second term because I really want to see our successes in funding materialize into construction,” said Holland, who is also president of Jerry Holland Homes and Holland Realty. “I’m very excited about those projects.”
Holland, a Republican, is especially interested in seeing the completion of the expansion and widening of roads in his district, including San Pablo Road, Hodges Boulevard, J. Turner Butler Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard.
“I’m also very excited about the new fire station,” said Holland. “The Mayo Clinic has donated a generous portion of land that we’ll build on soon. It is the second to be built in the district.”
While on the Council, Holland has served on all seven standing committees. He chaired the Recreation and Community Development Committee and was vice chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee and the Transportation, Environment and Energy Committee.
In addition to his Council service, Holland has also worked with the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, the Board of Governors, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and the Joint Planning Committee with the Duval County School Board.
In response to claims of tension between himself and opponent Scott Shine, Holland said there is nothing there out of the ordinary.
“It’s just like any other race,” said Holland. “There is nothing personal. I just happen to have more experience in this office and he has chosen to campaign with a different angle. This is my third campaign and I look forward to this race just like I would any other.”
Scott Shine
Republican candidate Scott Shine may be new to politics, but that hasn’t stopped him from thinking big if he manages to win an office at City Hall.
“We need a return to responsible government that truly acts in the interest of the people who live here.” said Shine. “I have one special interest: the people. If I’m elected, one of the first issues that I want to tackle is growth management.”
Shine, who has worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, Nemours Children’s Clinic and Bank of America, said uncontrolled growth in Jacksonville is his biggest concern.
“When people say that we are headed in the direction of becoming like Atlanta, that scares me,” said Shine. “The traffic there is staggering. Growth management is not just a convenience, but also a safety issue.”
According to Shine, if Jacksonville is to maintain smart and controlled growth, there will need to be a clearly defined plan.
“If you look at the Better Jacksonville Plan,” said Shine, “you’ll realize that it’s not a plan. It’s a list of projects with a budget attached.”
While previous reports suggest that a tempestuous relationship exists between Shine and incumbent Holland, Shine said it has been greatly exaggerated.
“Jerry and I differ philosophically. That’s why I’m running,” he said, making reference to a fighting words ordinance Holland proposed last year. “It’s our right to make our opinions known to our government officials.”
Shine also suggested a more conservative approach to government spending.
“We also differ in how we believe public money should be used. Jerry likes to spend money. I believe in good financial management. If $10 million fell from the sky, we shouldn’t turn around and try to find a way to spend it right away. We have to get away from that.”
Win or lose, Shine said that his time spent campaigning has been valuable.
“It’s been a great learning experience. It’s a lot of work and it can be hard being away from my family, so I’m definitely looking forward to election day.”
If he loses this time, will he run again?
“Very probably,” he said.