by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Describing himself as “one of the luckiest mayors in America,” Mayor John Peyton welcomed a group of more than 100 people to a luncheon at City Hall Wednesday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Jacksonville’s consolidated government.
The guest list included four of Peyton’s predecessors and people who could all remember what Jacksonville was like on Oct. 1, 1968.
“Our form of government is the envy of cities across the country,” said Peyton. “The visionary leaders of this city crafted a form of government that has allowed us to do bold things because we speak with one voice.”
Rick Mullaney, the City’s General Counsel, recalled what Jacksonville was like in the 1960s.
“City officials were being investigated by the Grand Jury and indicted. Our schools were unaccredited and there was sewage in the river. The rest of the country thought we were a smelly, backward, slow-moving Southern town – and so did we.
“Having a consolidated government has given us a different city 40 years later. We have used our assets to transform ourselves by being in a position to address public policy issues on a county-wide basis.”
Guests were given a copy of the book, “A Quiet Revolution,” which recounts events in Jacksonville since 1968. A long line formed of people wanting their copy signed by former Mayor Hans Tanzler, 81. He was mayor of Jacksonville during the transition to consolidated government and one of dozens of City officials who had to resign as part of the restructuring.
“It was difficult to resign because I just got the job,” said Tanzler. “But looking around this room makes me very proud and I thank the Lord for having the opportunity to serve this community.”
Photos by Max Marbut
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