by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
Aaron Bean hawks candy bars for his district. The State representative isn’t trying to raise money: he uses the chocolate to raise awareness about the issues that affect residents of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island and the other areas that Bean represents.
“We (legislators) try to be hip,” said Bean. “We have to sell ideas. Every year, I like to think my thing is candy bars.”
Perhaps the “hip” candy bars – complete with Bean’s body pasted on a glistening, muscled bodybuilder – can be attributed to his youthful energy and business savvy. At age 39, he’s one of the youngest representatives from the Duval legislative delegation. He broke records when he served two terms as the youngest mayor in Fernandina Beach’s history. Bean’s also the president of Nassau County’s Compass Bank, and he used to own a small business and work for the Chamber of Commerce.
Bean is quick to point out that his candy bar handouts don’t violate the new ethics law that prohibits lobbyists from lavishing legislators with gifts.
“Now we don’t get stuff anymore,” said Bean. “But it’s totally legal for me to give you a gift.”
He didn’t seem too stressed when the interview took place early in the 2006 legislative session. Like most Workspace subjects, though, he offered an explanation for whatever clutter was scattered on his desk.
“The interesting thing about my desk is it breeds paper,” said Bean. “It’s like cholesterol. It jams stuff up.”
Now that the session’s over, Bean said he’s happy to return home to Fernandina Beach.
“Just getting back here is a nice change,” said Bean.
Highlights from Bean’s work this session include a mental health funding bill that he said will ensure currently underfunded areas, like Jacksonville, receive more money for mental health programs.
“Mental health is not always a sexy subject,” said Bean. “There’s a great disparity in funding across the state. Everybody ignores it.”
Bean also worked on legislation to limit sexual predators’ access to sexually enhancing drugs (like Viagra) and to help feeder schools receive recognition funding (they can’t be graded normally if they don’t have students who take the FCAT).
He said that his Capitol office is all boxed up now. As elections near, the representatives have to clean house because “there’s a chance you may or may not be coming back.” He’s already returned to his full-time job at Compass, which Bean says he never really left.
“It’s really two full-time jobs,” he said, adding that he already has people giving him ideas for the next session. “But it’s a great gig.”