Tom Wills: Tommy Hazouri was a man of the people

3 years ago 285

Of each the nationalist officials this newsman has ever interviewed, Tommy Hazouri is the lone 1 who ever began galore of our conversations connected assorted issues by asking maine this question: “What bash you privation maine to say?”

The archetypal clip we spoke was successful the 1976 league of the Florida Legislature. He was a third-year authorities representative. I was a second-year News4Jax TV reporter.

MORE | Fighter, mentor, friend: Tommy Hazouri dies astatine 76

I was startled by his question and aft stumbling implicit my words said, “Mr. Hazouri, I can’t archer you what to say. I conscionable privation to inquire you about…”

I’ve agelong since forgotten what contented was the taxable of our interview.

The lasting memory, however, is however approachable helium ever was. He was a person who genuinely liked reporters due to the fact that helium liked everyone.

Unlike galore members of the authorities House, Hazouri’s ambition was not to determination up to the authorities Senate arsenic a imaginable stepping chromatic toward seeking statewide office.

This Jacksonville native, the pridefulness of Jackson High School, dreamed of becoming mayor. His imagination came existent successful the 1987 metropolis election.

He showed himself to beryllium a shrewd politician.

Tommy Hazouri wins the predetermination arsenic politician of Jacksonville successful May 1987. (WJXT)

As helium was taking office, News4Jax had been investigating the inefficiency and unfairness of the city’s dependence connected span and expressway tolls.

Public absorption to the tolls was growing, partially due to the fact that the JTA had precocious raised them.

A fledgling effort was opening to regenerate the tolls with a half-cent section enactment income tax.

The caller Mayor Hazouri seized upon the anti-toll momentum. He pb a palmy run and convinced a constrictive bulk of Duval County voters to abolish tolls and o.k. the tax.

Hazouri was a earthy person and celebrated with friends the time helium presided implicit the toll plazas coming down connected the Mathews Bridge. (WJXT)

GALLERY: Tommy Hazouri done the years

Unfortunately for Hazouri, his governmental instincts failed him connected different issue, an summation successful the fees residents are charged for trash collection.

It outgo him a 2nd word successful 1991. The imagination of being politician didn’t slice away, however. He ran for the occupation and mislaid 2 much times -- erstwhile successful 1993 and past again successful 2003.

Always a antheral of undaunted spirit, helium was elected to the schoolhouse committee successful 2004 and past won a countywide contention for Jacksonville City Council successful 2015.

In the 46 years I’ve lived here, helium is the lone 1 I cognize who has served successful the legislature, the mayor’s office, the schoolhouse committee and the City Council.

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

I’ve saved my favourite representation for last. Anyone who has ever been successful the Mandarin Walmart astatine the aforesaid clip arsenic Tommy Hazouri knows it’s similar being successful the store with Elvis. Everyone knows him. Everyone wants to speech with him, and helium wants to speech with them.

Tommy Hazouri genuinely was a antheral of the people.

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