by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Last night’s City Council installation of officers at the Times-Union Center was a grand ceremony complete with food, drink and entertainment. While it did cost a cool $50,000, two things may be more impressive than the price: not a penny came from City coffers and every dime was raised in about a month.
Wachovia of Florida CEO Bob Helms chaired the committee that helped raise the money for the ceremony that saw Michael Corrigan installed as Council president and Daniel Davis as vice president. The rest of the committee — which raised money solely through private, individual donations — included Ward Blakely of Tidewater Consulting, Bert Ralston of Vox Populi Communications and Heather Surface of Surface Communications. Ralston said raising $50,000 quickly wasn’t difficult.
“I have been raising money for 20 years and this is the easiest one yet,” said Ralston. “It was easy because Jacksonville is that kind of town.”
Helms agreed.
“Actually it was pretty easy,” he said. “It was just a matter of asking. The people in this community are very supportive of the candidates and the political process. Fortunately, this city embraces its public officials. I am not from here and I can tell you, it’s not that way everywhere.”
Ralston said last year’s installation of immediate-past president Kevin Hyde cost about $65,000 and while he and his team did raise $50,000, Ralston doesn’t expect to spend the whole amount. The rest, he said, will be donated to charity.
Helms said many people contributed, but singled out Ed Burr of LandMar, Steve Halverson of Haskell Co., Mike Hightower of Blue Cross Blue Shield, attorney Lynn Pappas and Tom Purdie of the Property Group of Jacksonville in particular as top contributors. Helms added he’d never chaired a fundraising committee, but since he and Corrigan live in the same district, “it made sense.”
Corrigan called the month-long campaign “amazing” and said Helms and his team did a great job. Aside from being a banker, Corrigan said there were several reasons he asked Helms to chair the committee.
“One, he’s a friend. Two, he’s the immediate past-chair of the Chamber,” said Corrigan. “Three, he’s with Wachovia, a corporate leader in the community. Finally, we live in the same Council district.”