by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The list of candidates for the vacant position at the top of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission has been whittled down to eight names and interim Executive Director Jeanne Miller is among them.
Commission Chairman Ceree Harden said he will present three finalists to Mayor John Peyton within the next two weeks. Harden said there was strong interest in the job, allowing the City to recruit nationally. The candidates now under consideration come from all over the country and from varied backgrounds, he said.
“There’s a whole range of experience with this group,” said Harden. “That’s really what we were looking for with this process was to attract real diversity in perspectives.”
Harden’s comments came as he rushed from the Monday Rotary Club luncheon at the Omni Hotel where he was the featured speaker. Just back from a week of travel, Harden was headed back to Jacksonville International Airport. The travel is related to private business for his Harden & Associates insurance firm, he said. But the JEDC job search has kept Harden jumping. He’s interviewed all eight candidates in the last few weeks, he said.
The current candidates will receive a second interview in the next 10 days or so. The mayor’s office has been actively involved in the recruiting process. Chief Operating Officer Dan Kleman has sat in on most of the top-level interviews and will help develop the short list presented to Peyton. The mayor will make the final decision.
With a fast-growing real estate market and coming off the heels of hosting the Super Bowl, the City was expected to attract a lot of interest for its top economic development job. Harden hasn’t been disappointed.
Although about half the candidates come from Florida, Harden said the list includes candidates from the northeastern and western U.S. At least one candidate comes from South Florida, one is from Tampa and two are local, said Harden.
Included among the local representatives is Miller, the JEDC’s deputy director who has filled in at the top job since Kirk Wendland resigned in December.
“Jeanne is part of the process as it moves forward,” confirmed Harden.
In 2001, the JEDC conducted a national search to replace Mike Weinstein. After six months, former Mayor John Delaney promoted Wendland to the position.