by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
With the passing of former City Council member and U.S. congresswoman Tillie Fowler, Jacksonville lost one of its most enduring icons. But for all of her charisma, business savvy and political poise, local leaders say Fowler’s absence comes at a time when it she is still greatly needed.
Jacksonville’s military operations, which are among its strongest economic drivers, are currently under fire. The Base Relocation And Closure process and the possible loss of the USS John F. Kennedy have left political minds spinning and leadership from the municipal level up scrambling to formulate a plan.
Fowler was considered a key player in the all-star team leading those efforts.
Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings said Thursday that replacing Fowler would be difficult, if not impossible.
“(Fowler) was very valuable to us,” Jennings said. “It is devastating; she understood the negative economic impact it makes not only locally, but statewide.”
She said that Adm. Robert Natter, the state’s top BRAC lobbyist, would have an increased role in working to retain military bases and the Kennedy.
City Council member Lad Daniels, who chairs the Council’s Military Affairs Committee, agreed Fowler added skill and credibility to the team of strategists working to keep Mayport’s military presence intact.
“When you’re working with something as huge as BRAC,” Daniels said, “you don’t know where you’re going to get all of your information, but you do know that it’s going to come from a lot of resources.
“Tillie’s learning curve was already in place. She knew exactly who to talk to and how to craft our strategy.”
Daniels, who has assembled many of the area’s leaders to monitor BRAC, called Fowler a “key member of the team.”
“We’ll definitely lose something now that she’s gone. There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “She was one of our lead consultants.”
Two other consulting firms held on retainer by the City, The Cohen Group and Patton & Boggs, will have the unenviable task of taking up Fowler’s slack, Daniels said.
“But I do have confidence in those groups,” he said. “Both have strong ties at the Pentagon and on the Hill.”
Daniels said U.S. Rep Ander Crenshaw will also have a little more on his military plate.
“Yes, he does have his work cut out for him, but he is very capable and has a high caliber of people working for him,” he said. “I know Ander is very committed and involved in this process. He was able to use Tillie as counsel before, but now he’ll just have to use other sources to help guide him and all of us through this.”
Susie Wiles, a top advisor in Mayor John Peyton’s office, agreed Crenshaw would have the capabilities to handle BRAC’s burden.
“Obviously we’ll have to look to Ander even more now,” Wiles said. “I wouldn’t want to try to find someone to fill Tillie’s shoes. No one can replace Tillie Fowler and her many years of experience, but this office is confident we can rest on Ander’s broad shoulders.”