A recent front page article in the Times Union stated Peter Rummell, a Republican, was endorsing Alvin Brown, a Democrat, for Mayor.  He was also investing $150,000 of his own personal money into Mr. Brown’s campaign.  Since that endorsement, he has sent emails asking friends and acquaintances who are also Republicans to endorse Mr. Brown.   Mr. Rummell was Chairman and CEO of the St. Joe Company, one of Florida’s largest real estate operating companies and the state’s largest private landowner.   Because Mr. Brown would not meet with the First Coast Tea Party or participate in our mayoral process, we felt it important to have our voice heard and respond to Mr. Rummell.  That response can be found below.

Dear Mr. Rummell: 

My name is Billie Tucker, co-founder of the First Coast Tea Party.  Prior to becoming involved in the tea party movement, I was a consultant to CEOs.  My consulting practice included strategic planning, leadership development and executive coaching. 

I have spent 25+ years working with CEOs.  My greatest joy has been watching executives develop their own leadership style and succeed in their professional journeys. 

Some of your peers are friends of mine and they have passed along your email as an FYI.  After reading it, I felt it important to respond and reach out to you. 

I agree with you when you stated in your email, “We are at a critical moment in the history of Jacksonville.”  The biggest issue facing our city is the unfunded pension liability that has been ignored by many mayors.  They kicked the pension can down the road and now it is staring at us with huge eyes and a voracious appetite.  The next mayor must be knowledgeable about pensions; must have the ability to negotiate with all parties; and be strong enough to do the hard stuff.  Mike Hogan has experience as a union negotiator during his tenure with AT&T.  He was well-respected by both parties at the table during difficult negotiations.  His ability to look out for the well-being of his employer, AT&T, and achieving a fair contract for all is the reason we felt Mike Hogan would be the best one to handle these difficult negotiations.  He will look out for his employer’s interest (and that would be the citizens of Duval County) and negotiate a fair and equitable contract for all. He has negotiating experiences that your candidate, Alvin Brown, does not have.

You also stated “Alvin Brown is smart, open-minded, and willing to listen to new ideas and new people.” 

We once again beg to differ with you, Mr. Rummell, and here is why:

• Mr. Hogan made himself available and participated in the entire First Coast Tea Party’s process – from filling out the in-depth questionnaire, meeting with our Board, and attending the Mayoral Town Hall.
• Mr. Brown would not speak with us nor participate in any part of our process.  He would not even fill out the questionnaire so people could have a chance to understand his thought process.  He would not meet with our Board comprised of local business owners.  We offered to work around his calendar and he refused.  He did not attend the Mayoral Town Hall.  Even Mr. Warren Lee, a Democrat, participated in every part of our process and we appreciated him and hope to support him in his future endeavors.

Mr. Brown’s decision to ignore so many people who might be his constituents showed a lack of leadership and a total disregard for our concerns.  This tells us he is not open to new people or new ideas.  He may be open to yours but he is not open to the taxpaying citizens of Duval County who are also members of the local tea party.

Another statement you wrote chilled me.  You stated “We will soon choose Jacksonville’s next CEO. He will represent us, all of us, and I firmly believe Alvin will do that well. It is time for Alvin Brown.”

I have been involved in many CEO searches and candidly, Mr. Rummell, Alvin Brown’s resume would be declined as a contender for a CEO position in most organizations.  For you to offer your support to Mr. Brown as the CEO of Jacksonville is strange.  Why?  Because as you stated, “this race should not be about politics.”  Unfortunately, Mr. Brown’s experience is all political and any revenue generated in organizations he was involved in was through taxpayer dollars and not through any hard work, blood, sweat and tears of Mr. Brown.  His resume located on JU’s website tells his story:  http://www.ju.edu/departments/marketing/news/3364.aspx and that story is he will use political influence to achieve his goals for the city – and possibly your goals too.

So let’s step back for a minute and ask ourselves – “Do our goals match?”  Would you like to know the goals of the taxpayers of Duval County?  Here are just a few:

• We want the city leaders to run an efficient city using our tax dollars wisely
• We want the city leaders to create an environment for businesses to thrive, thereby creating jobs for our citizens
• We want the city leaders to provide a safe place to live and work
• We want the city leaders to work with the school board and create the best educational system possible that also runs effectively and efficiently
• We want the city leaders to fix the problems that are looming and ensure Duval County will be vibrant again
• We want the city leaders to spend our tax dollars on infrastructure needs and not on more and more entitlement programs
• We want the city leaders to create an environment where other businesses will locate here

Yes, we would love to see Downtown Development and other development ideas that are floating around.  We love our city and any development that brings jobs and growth is welcome.  We do not love development that will cost the taxpayers more dollars during this difficult time while ignoring the debt and issues holding us back.  Right now, we must get our house in order before we can begin new city developments.  We do want private developments and we want to create an environment for that to happen.  To do so, we must review where the tax dollars are being spent.  We must review each and every entitlement program and ask ourselves if this is truly a place to spend taxpayer dollars.  We must streamline our services and ensure duplication of efforts is not being made

Mr. Rummell, in the years I have worked with CEOs there have been a few times when a turnaround situation has occurred.  It might have been caused by bad management or a surprise that happened out of nowhere.  Whatever the cause, when you are in a turnaround situation, you don’t spend money.  You evaluate where you are spending money and you ask if this is a necessary expense.  You look at every expenditure, you seek counsel and you make hard decisions so you can remain in business and keep people employed.

Right now, Mr. Rummell, we are looking for a turnaround CEO and Mike Hogan is the only qualified candidate to handle that job.  You say you are worried about him being a “process manager” and that is a slap in the face of those leaders who are able to lead and run a business with efficient processes.  I’ve seen that type of leader and it makes for a great, well run organization!  A process manager is not a bad thing, sir.  A process manager is one who looks at the processes and determines if it is efficient or not.  Yes, Mr. Hogan will do that AND he will also be a visionary leader who will revive us again. 

He has led through his job at AT&T, his experience at the state level as our Representative, his experience on the city council and his experience as our tax collector.  He’s got it all and his resume would be at the top of the pile if he was applying for a CEO position.

The taxpayers of Duval County need a leader who will lead with integrity, experience, wisdom and principled leadership.    Mr. Brown’s unwillingness to meet with the taxpayers of Duval County who are also tea party members shows a lack of principled leadership or a fear in facing those he will represent.  Either reason is not the making of a great leader.

The FCTP represents those who have NOT had a voice in the making of their city.  Our city lacks leadership; our city is broken; our city has the largest pension issue in the state; our city has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on projects never built; and our city is screaming for help to get it back on track.

You were there with the other mayors, Mr. Rummell, so you must look in the mirror and ask yourself if your choice this time will change things or if it will be business as usual.  If that is the case, we cannot afford business as usual anymore

As you stated, “This election is not a choice between a Democrat and a Republican, but a choice between the future and the past. Alvin Brown represents the future. Mike Hogan is the past.”

Again, Mr. Rummell, you and I see things differently.  We see Mr. Brown doing business the same old way.  We are concerned he will listen to special interests, political buddies and those who have given $150,000 or more to his campaign.   He certainly hasn’t listened to the average taxpayer who can’t afford to fund his campaign because their taxes are too high and they are counting pennies in this economy.

Mr. Hogan represents the future.  He represents those of us who have stood back and waited for our city leaders to do the right things and take care of our town.  They didn’t so now we are here and we support Mike Hogan as our CEO because he has the most efficient plans and vision for the future of Duval County.

While you raise your big dollars, the taxpayers of the FCTP will be out and about informing others about Mike Hogan and getting the truth into their hands.  The truth is:  Mike Hogan loves this city, has the experience and background to run it, has a plan to fix it and has a vision to grow it.  Your candidate, Mr. Brown, hasn’t given us the time of day.  That alone speaks for itself.

I would be happy to sit and have a cup of coffee (or tea!) with you to discuss this further.  If you would like to do that, please give me a call at (904) 683-3945. 

Sincerely,

Billie Tucker, Co-Founder of First Coast Tea Party