Staff Writer
Members of the First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce acquainted themselves with several mayoral candidates Friday to hear their visions for small business development and entrepreneurship.
The forum, part of a daylong business summit at the Main Library hosted by the African American Chamber, was attended by candidates Jim Bailey, Alvin Brown, Andy Bryan, Kevin Hyde and Warren Lee, with several others unable to attend.
A continued sagging economy and high unemployment among African Americans set the backdrop for several of the chamber’s inquiries. The combined unemployment and underemployment rate tops 30 percent, said
Carlton Robinson, African American Chamber director.
“It’s so much higher,” he said of the combined rate over the reported general rate. “So much higher.”
Candidates were individually introduced and given several minutes to talk about their background and vision, including issues such as helping small business get back on track and the biggest threats to small business from a bureaucratic standpoint
A recap of the candidates’ time on the floor, in order of their presentations:
• Bryan, a write-in candidate, discussed economic fear within the business community and banks because of taxes. If elected, he would reduce the size of government, “eliminate every tax of the previous (Peyton) administration” and visit overseas companies to ask them to invest in Jacksonville, he said.
• Hyde, a Republican Council member, called the economic times unprecedented and defended the budgetary actions of Council. “We are making many very tough choices,” said Hyde.
While admitting there is some waste to be eliminated, he defended the position of continued investment in the City, saying it will pay off once the recession is over.
He said that advocating further funds for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and its Cornerstone arm to create jobs was criticized.
Even so, he said a balance must be achieved between cutting and investing.
• Bailey, publisher of the Financial News & Daily Record, called jobs the No. 1 issue and he would ensure government “gets out of the way to let businesses do what businesses do best and that’s create jobs.”
Instead, government is about leadership, he said, and getting the most out of people through advocating citizen leadership. “This is not a spectator sport,” he said.
Bailey, a Republican, also said leadership was responsible to ensure the right people are in place to grow the city.
• Lee, a retired police officer, advocated bringing “everyone to the table” to curb unemployment. He talked about investment within the renewable energy business sector and focused on education as a way to curb unemployment and crime.
Lee, a Democrat, also discussed his desire to see fees, such as those on garbage, repealed and to accept any future stimulus dollars to further aid small business.
• Brown, a former Clinton administration aide, discussed his working experience and his desire to close opportunity gaps and empower people “from the bottom up.” The next mayor, he said, has to “lay out a vision” and new leadership is needed to create change.
If elected, Brown, a Democrat, said he wants to be an ambassador for small business and discussed a business link program between large and small business owners.
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