by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
Got your Super Bowl party schedule?
So has Mayor John Peyton, and his schedule covers about two pages, three drivers and doesn’t end until a volunteer appreciation party two weeks after the game.
“It’s a remarkable opportunity for Jacksonville and any mayor would be thrilled,” he said. “It’s a lot to deal with but it’s part of the deal.”
Peyton, says his chief schedule-maker, has a great attribute: punctuality.
“You can count on his being where he’s supposed to be, and you can count on him making the next appointment, too,” said Susie Wiles, one of his top advisers. “It’s the mayor’s responsibility to represent the city and people will be looking for him.”
They’ll find him, and you can, too — just wait and he’ll probably walk past.
The mayor’s schedule is a work in progress but already is crammed from — literally — dawn to late night almost every day from Saturday, Jan. 29, through the game on Sunday, Feb. 6.
The events are as varied as the venues and will take him all over the city. There are so many appointments that he’ll have three different drivers switching off: his usual security aide, Mark Bachara, will be spelled by staff member Trey Byrd and police office Joe Turner, who has served past mayors.
Wiles is in charge of the master list and “it has been active since the first of the year,” she said. “There has been a steady stream of newspaper people, for instance, wanting an interview.”
The New York Times was here this week and more will come in the next week. They’ll be slipped in between cracks, almost insuring that Peyton will have little time of his own.
The appointments cover everything imaginable including hosting the local media this morning on a trolley ride around town, participating in the citywide clean-up campaign, holding a press conference to warn merchants about price gouging, reading a book to 4-year-olds at the NFL Experience, working the national and international media at the Osborn Center and attending an Interfaith Service at the Florida Theatre.
And that’s all before Super Bowl week officially starts.
That week will be a blur of parties, meetings, shmoozing potential businesses with the Chamber, working on a HabiJax home, checking out the downtown SuperFest, having a private party to watch fireworks, attending a Raines High recognition banquet and on and on and on.
The first lady also is ready for the grind. Wife Kathryn, a practicing physician, will be able to attend most of the events as she’s worked her schedules around the “must” times such as the Commissioner’s Party and the NFL Owners Party.
“Somewhere in there, the mayor will have to do the things that a mayor needs to do to govern the city,” said Wiles.
Finally, game day.
At least he gets the morning off, as his first appearance will be to schmooze around the Corporate Village. That goes on until gametime at 6:30.
Where will be mayor sit during the game?
“Uhh, don’t know,” said Wiles. “Haven’t found out, but he’ll have a good seat.”