by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
From the start of the City’s search for a new Jacksonville Economic Development Commission executive director, commission chairman Ceree Harden said he was looking for someone with economic development experience in both the public and private sectors. In Ron Barton, a former St. Petersburg administrator and real estate executive, Harden said the City has found its man.
Barton agreed Wednesday to take over the top job at the JEDC, following a five-month national search. Barton will start work Aug. 15 and will earn $136,000 a year, said Harden. The City recruited nationally to fill the position, but Harden said the JEDC will benefit from Barton’s extensive Florida ties.
“It certainly is an advantage to get someone with the depth of experience he has in both the public and private sector,” said Harden. “He has worked with Enterprise Florida and has years of experience in forming political relationships at the state level.”
Harden spoke following the JEDC’s general meeting Thursday. During the meeting, Jeanne Miller confirmed that she will stay on as deputy director after serving as the commission’s interim head since February when Kirk Wendland resigned. Miller was one of four finalists for the executive director job.
Miller disputed reports that she hadn’t committed to stay at the JEDC after she learned that Barton would get the job. Miller told Mayor John Peyton Wednesday that she would stay on as deputy director, she said.
“Contrary to reports from the local people’s paper, I met with the mayor yesterday to tell him that I intend to stay on and fully support Mr. Barton,” she said.
Harden praised Miller’s work leading the commission through some of its most trying times. Miller stepped in following Wendland’s surprise resignation and led the commission through the final stages of a complete overhaul that included staff cuts, new incentive policies and a structural reorganization in addition to its day-to-day economic development duties.
In keeping Miller and adding Barton, the JEDC had emerged from its leadership search with a strong leadership team, said Harden.
“He and Jeanne will make an exceptionally strong team,” he said.
Barton comes to Jacksonville after four years running St. Petersburg’s economic development office, an agency similar to the JEDC. He has also worked as a real estate and hospitality executive with KPMG. He has Jacksonville ties, getting his master’s degree in business from University of North Florida and working as an urban planner for the City from 1979 to 1982.
In other business, the JEDC:
• Unanimously approved a resolution recommending $7.6 million in tax rebates for Fidelity National Financial and Fidelity National Information Services to facilitate an expansion that would bring an additional 800 jobs to Jacksonville. The state will pay 80 percent of the award under its Qualified Target Industry incentive program, which provides tax incentives for the creation of desirable jobs. Without the incentives, Fidelity would likely expand in Little Rock, Ark. instead, said Richard Cox, Fidelity’s vice president of corporate tax.
• Approved unanimously a seven-year extension for Downtown Vision Inc., and the special assessment that funds it. Commissioner Charles Appleby questioned why DVI was being given a 7-year extension after previously being approved for a five-year term. Downtown Development Authority Chairman Bob Rhodes said a five-year term would have rushed implementation of some of DVI’s initiatives, which include marketing downtown and promoting safety and cleanliness. Rhodes said a 10-year extension had been discussed but scuttled. Why? “Because I said Charlie Appleby will never agree to that,” said Rhodes.