by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Just a few days short of four months since his installation, Dist. 2 City Council member Bill Bishop already has a lot of experience under his belt. Between the budget process, the debate over the Atlantic and Kernan boulevards interchange and the discussions about lengthening the runway at Craig Airport it’s been a time-consuming term already.
When he’s not serving his constituents, Bishop is an architect and vice president and principal of Akel, Logan & Shafer Architects and Planners.
“Basically, I have two full-time jobs,” he said. “But it’s really just a matter of time management. Normally – if there is such a thing – I schedule two days a week at City Hall and I have the same number of projects at work as I did before I was elected.”
Bishop has for years been interested in devoting time to community development projects related to his profession. He was a member of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority North/Southeast Corridor Mass Transit Citizen’s Advisory Committee. He also served on the Economic Development Advisory Committee for the Downtown Jacksonville Master Plan, the Mayor’s Downtown Green Committee and is a past board member of Riverside Avondale Preservation Inc.
Bishop said each of the members bring their own unique set of skills to the City Council and is centered around, “Understanding what we call the ‘built environment’. Three-fourths of the City’s business is about building things whether you’re talking about zoning or development or plan review or permits. I understand how the process works because I’ve had to work with the system.”
Soon after he was sworn in, though, Bishop realized he would be developing new skills as a Council member.
“In the world of architecture, everything has a start point and a finish point. It’s a linear process. Government, on the other hand, is non-linear. I recognize that while I may not agree with an issue, there is always another side and the process can take a new direction at any time,” said Bishop.
“The trick is figuring out how we’re going to work together.”
Bishop was motivated to run for office by a self-realization about his career and another about what he would like to do for the community.
“There came a time that I gave up on becoming a world-famous architect, but I felt I could bring clarity to some of the issues involving how this city is going to be built. Being an architect, it’s easy for me to visualize the effects and consequences of changes. I’ll do whatever I can do to help make intelligent decisions,” he said.
Another thing that helped make the decision was timing.
“I knew (former Dist. 2 Council member) Lynette Self was term-limited and if you’re going to run for office these days, it’s best to run when there’s no incumbent,” said Bishop.
What most motivated him to throw his hat into the political ring for the first time, he added, was a desire to be a part of Jacksonville’s future development in a more concrete way than he ever could, no matter how involved he was as a volunteer.
“I realized I could advocate from the outside, but I could have more impact if I had a seat at the table,” said Bishop.
“You have to get to where you can push the button.”