Fighter, mentor, friend: Tommy Hazouri dies at 76

3 years ago 261

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville governmental elephantine Tommy Hazouri died Saturday, the metropolis announced.

He was 76.

“It is with profound sadness that the Hazouri household announces the passing of our devoted hubby and loving father, Tommy Hazouri, connected Saturday, September 11, 2021,” the metropolis wrote successful a quality release. “He spent his last days astatine bid surrounded by his household and friends; and successful emblematic Tommy fashion, determination was nary shortage of laughing, reminiscing, and holding loved ones close.”

He is survived by his woman Carol and lad Tommy Jr.

For astir 50 years, Tommy Hazouri has been a household sanction successful Jacksonville.

Winning his archetypal predetermination successful 1974 -- erstwhile Reubin Askew was politician of Florida -- Hazouri served 12 years successful the authorities House of Representatives. He served 1 word arsenic politician of Jacksonville, 8 years connected the Duval County School Board and was successful his 2nd word connected Jacksonville City Council, having conscionable completed a twelvemonth arsenic its president.

MORE | Legislation seeks to sanction Jacksonville City Council chambers aft Tommy Hazouri

Hazouri underwent country for a lung transplant astatine Mayo Clinic successful July 2020 -- little than a period aft helium had been sworn successful arsenic the City Council’s president. He returned to Mayo past period for what was described arsenic complications from the transplant.

Late past month, Hazouri was released from Mayo Clinic to person hospice attraction astatine home, leaving radical astatine City Hall to connection prayers for the antheral who worked with and among them for decades.

“Tommy is simply a beloved friend. He is simply a mentor. My thoughts and prayers are retired to him and his family,” City Council President Sam Newby said upon proceeding that Hazouri was entering hospice care.

Hazouri, of Lebanese descent, was calved and raised successful Jacksonville, attending Andrew Jackson High School and graduating from Jacksonville University successful 1966. He was joined to Carol Hazouri, who spent her vocation arsenic a schoolhouse teacher astatine Crown Point Elementary School successful Mandarin, wherever the mates lived.

They attended Mandarin Presbyterian Church. They had 1 lad together, Tommy Jr.

Lifelong Jacksonville nonmigratory was elected 11 times and held 4 antithetic section and authorities offices implicit astir 5 decades.

GALLERY: Tommy Hazouri done the years

Hazouri was elected to correspond Jacksonville’s District 20 successful the Florida House of Representatives successful 1974. While successful the Florida legislature, Hazouri chaired the House Committee connected Education and was besides a subordinate of the House Committee connected Appropriations Subcommittee connected Education Funding. He was appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles to the Florida Ethics Commission and led the Sheriff’s Task Force connected Mental Health.

Trying to travel iconic Mayor Jake Godbold’s 2 terms, Hazouri defeated erstwhile State Rep. John Lewis successful a bitter Democratic superior predetermination and past easy bushed Republican Henry Cook to go the 3rd politician of the consolidated metropolis of Jacksonville successful 1987.

Tommy Hazouri during clip arsenic Jacksonville mayor

During his 4 years successful office, helium spearheaded a run to escaped Jacksonville’s roads and bridges of toll booths and implemented assorted biology regulations aimed astatine getting escaped of an odor occupation successful the city. Despite his fashionable accomplishments, helium mislaid his re-election bid to erstwhile State Attorney Ed Austin.

Hazouri would tally for politician of Jacksonville doubly much but mislaid successful superior elections some times. In 2004, helium was elected to the Duval County School Board and was re-elected successful 2008. He served arsenic vice-chairman of the committee successful 2008 and arsenic president successful 2009.

After six years arsenic a backstage national and president of a backstage consulting firm, Hazouri and Associates, helium ran for an at-large spot connected the Jacksonville City Council successful 2015 and was re-elected successful 2019.

Jacksonville City Council President Tommy Hazouri chairs a peculiar gathering to spell implicit details of the Jaguars Lot J proposal. (WJXT)

Coming backmost from surgery, Hazouri presided implicit the Council during overmuch of the COVID-19 pandemic, arsenic the JEA enactment debacle was unraveling and during the Jaguars propulsion to make Lot J.

“I’ve covered Tommy Hazouri since 1975 erstwhile I was a rookie Jacksonville newsman and helium was a rookie authorities legislator,” News4Jax anchor Tom Wills said. “If you person ever been successful the Mandarin Walmart erstwhile Tommy Hazouri was successful the store, it was similar being successful a Walmart with Elvis. Everyone knows him and they privation to speech with him and he’s ever consenting to speech with them. Both helium and his longtime schoolhouse teacher wife, Carol, are loved by truthful galore radical present successful Jacksonville.”

Anchor Mary Baer added that she’s often seen him “holding court” astatine the Panera successful Mandarin.