Daily Record Financial News &
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Vol. 102, No. 098 • Two Sections
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
DVI’s own version of the Final Four Interviews today for top candidates for executive director
By Max Marbut Staff Writer Four of the seven candidates seeking to become Downtown Vision’s next executive director have been invited back for a second round of interviews. “I have been impressed with the caliber of candidates we have to choose from,” said Debbie Buckland, Downtown Vision board chair. The final four — Jason Dennison, Sunny Gettinger, Jacob Gordon and Abel Harding — will be interviewed today. Dennison, from Sioux Falls, S.D., and Gordon, from Camden, N.J., currently are the top
executives at Business Improvement Districts similar to Jacksonville’s 90-block zone managed by Downtown Vision. Gettinger is former senior manager of people operations for Google and chair of Riverside Avondale Preservation. Harding is a vice president at Wells Fargo Private Bank and chair of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville board of directors. Buckland said while two of the candidates are Business Improvement District chief executives with hands-on experience, “the two locals have other amazing skill sets.” In the first round of interviews,
Bishop says he won’t back Brown or Curry But will run again in 2019
search committee members asked each applicant the same series of questions, focused on what they feel the organization’s best path for the future Buckland would be. They also asked about their personal business and management styles. The second round, Buckland said, will be formal presentations when each candidate will detail how they would direct the organization’s $1 million annual budget.
“It’s a case study,” she said. “We gave them the budget and the strategic plan. We want to see what they would do.” One of the new executive director’s first assignments will be to take the nonprofit agency in a new direction and likely with a new name. Buckland said since the October 2012 formation of the independent Downtown Investment Authority, “vision” is for the city to decide. It’s no longer the focus for the 14-year-old Business Improvement District management organization. She described the authority as “Downtown’s CEO” and the
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mmarbut@jaxdailyrecord.com @DRMaxDowntown (904) 356-2466
City says love locks handled incorrectly Looking for ways to start new display
By Max Marbut Staff Writer
One Spark veteran ready for more There have been a lot of faces come and go at One Spark. Volunteers, staff and creators alike, but Patrick Murphy has been a constant. Murphy came aboard before the crowdfunding festival’s inaugural year in 2013 and has been a part of it ever since. With less than a week until the event takes over Downtown, Murphy is back on the front lines. See his workspace, Page A-7.
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Photo by David Chapman
By David Chapman Staff Writer Bill Bishop isn’t endorsing fellow Republican Lenny Curry. He’s not backing Democrat Alvin Brown, either. Instead, the two-term City Council member who was bested by both in last week’s First Election, is staying on the sidelines. He won’t be endorsing either of them for Jacksonville mayor in the May 19 general election. That news was met with a cheer from the two dozen or so supporters who attended Bishop’s news conference on the steps of City Hall. The louder pop came when Bishop made the next announcement: He’d be running for mayor again in 2019. “A good decision all the way around,” said Dale Parsons, a Bishop supporter, after the announcements. Jeff Evans, a friend of Bishop’s for more than 20 years, agreed. Bishop He said he wasn’t surprised with the non-endorsement decision and getting a head start for 2019 was an “awesome idea” given the time needed to prepare. That next opportunity will be in four years, although Bishop said his vision and passion for the city are “stronger than ever.” “I believe that I can be a very good mayor for the city,” he said. One takeaway he said he learned from his most recent run is it takes earlier preparation. Bishop... Cont inued on Page A-4
nonprofit as “Downtown’s chief operating officer.” The new executive director will “integrate” the nonprofit with the authority, Buckland said to each candidate during the first interviews. Steve Crosby, past president of DVI’s board and selection committee member, described the anticipated new direction with a sports metaphor. “(Downtown Investment Authority CEO) Aundra Wallace is the coach and DVI is one of the position players,” he said.
It was a mistake. That was the city’s position Tuesday after about 30 “love locks” were removed by city employees from a fence on the Northbank Riverwalk near the Acosta Bridge. “We should not have just removed the locks,” said Pam Roman, a spokeswoman for Parks, Recreation and Community Services. “We could have been more sensitive.” Love locks are padlocks intended to memorialize couples’ affection and commitment. The locks were removed by a maintenance worker who was responding to a graffiti complaint, Roman said. Now that the city is more is aware of the love locks’ tradition, the parks department is exploring ways to offer an opportunity to display them. “We’re looking at our options. Somewhere along the Riverwalk makes the most sense,” Roman said. In cities where locks placed on bridges have become problematic due to increased weight, one solution has been to install public art intended to be an officially designated love-lock exhibit. The department plans to evaluate locations and materials that would be appropriate for such an installation. Roman said Tuesday it won’t require a new task force, or even a special committee, and the city should “have an idea within a month.” The cultural community will be called on for input, based on the possible artistic aspect of the project. Tony Allegretti, executive director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, said the council always looks forward to facilitating more public art in Jacksonville. Locks... Continued
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