With Jacksonville on the verge of losing Jacksonville Port Authority CEO Paul Anderson to Tampa, the head of one of the port's major tenants is asking for Mayor Alvin Brown to help retain the local port leader.
TraPac Inc. is one of the Jacksonville port's bigger revenue-producing tenants, according to Nancy Rubin, port senior director of communications. Company President Yoshikaru Hirakawa on Tuesday sent a letter to Brown asking the mayor to do what he can to keep Anderson in town.
"Mr. Paul Anderson has in such a short time proved to be an able leader, obtaining federal funds, cleaning up irregularities in port administration and focusing all available efforts on the channel deepening and goods movement projects," stated Hirakawa in the letter.
"We are deeply, deeply disappointed at the prospect of losing Mr. Anderson and feel this loss will be felt not only by our company, but also by the local port industry and the community of Jacksonville, particularly to a neighboring in-state port that will directly compete with Jaxport for funds, cargo and jobs," stated Hirakawa.
"We urge you to reconsider the decision to allow this to take place," he stated.
While the mayor is not involved with Anderson's career decision, he does echo the sentiment in Hirakawa's letter, according to David DeCamp, communications director for the mayor's office.
"The mayor wants Mr. Anderson to stay. He has done a strong job and is a great leader that has helped build momentum for port development. The mayor is committed to working with the port board to keep that strong leadership here in Jacksonville," said DeCamp.
Tampa Port Authority governing board Chairman William "Hoe" Brown on Wednesday said negotiations had begun on the contract that will presented to the board for approval.
The board on Tuesday voted unanimously to offer the port director/CEO position to Anderson, but the contract will have to be signed before he can take the job.
Anderson earns $320,000 annually, and the previous Tampa CEO earned about $250,000.
When the JPA negotiated Anderson's contract, it had a "not-to-exceed" salary of $325,000.
The Tampa board will proceed in a different manner.
"We haven't handcuffed ourselves like that," said Brown.
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