Mayor Brown's Nominees

The nation’s largest city, in both population and land area, is getting bigger, better and stronger!

Mayor Alvin Brown announced Aug. 31 his nominees for a volunteer group designed to oversee the Jacksonville City Council’s new Downtown Investment Authority.

Mayor Brown, and the nine board members of the new DIA
(photo from coj.net)

Brown and Council President Bill Bishop chose the nine-member board from a long list of qualified Jacksonville citizens who all share the same goal of bringing more business to Jacksonville.

Brown said, in coj.net, the goal of the board will be to attract more residents, increase tourism and increase the city’s value through revenue and commerce.

Brown chose five of the nine nominees:

1. *Melody S. Bishop - architect with Akel Logan & Shafer.  She serves on the A1A Florida Board of Directors and the Florida Foundation for Architecture Board of Trustees.
2. *Robert M. Clements - Chairman and CEO of EverBank. 
3. *Kamira Harper - Practicing attorney with the Harper Law Firm
4. *Donald Harris - General Manager of the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk Hotel.
5. *Paul Perez - Former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and current Chief Compliance   Officer for Fidelity National Financial.

Council President Bishop chose four of the nominees:

1. *Antonio Allegretti - Founding Director of the Riverside Arts Market and a partner at the Burrito Gallery.  Current Director of Downtown Engagement for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.
2. *James F. Bailey Jr. - President of Bailey Publishing and Communications and Publisher of the Financial News & Daily Record
3. *Oliver Barakat -  Senior Vice President for CBRE .
4. *Donald A. Shea - Executive Director of the nonpartisan Jacksonville Civic Council.  Former executive director of the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority and President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

The City Council unanimously approved of the DIA Aug. 15.  The members are all appointed to a four-year term and will perform transparent business the public will see.

Mayor Brown signing legislation to renew downtown Jax
(photo courtesy of First Coast News)

Once funded, the board will put forward a downtown development plan and revitalize Jacksonville’s downtown area.

Click the link to Jacksonville's Official Website to learn more about the DIA and the Better Jacksonville Plan (BJP).