why not quarles?
permalink | categories: Florida, buccaneers, citizens, sport, state, transportationby tommy @ 8:33 am
Last week, Gov. Charlie Crist named former Buccaneers linebacker Shelton Quarles as chairman of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. Lots of people are scratching their heads over a football player. From Quarles:
“I’m not a dumb jock. I went to Vanderbilt University, I didn’t have the easiest course load, and I was able to graduate in four years,” said Quarles, who won’t have to leave his job as a Bucs scout for this part-time position. “We have a lot of different possibilities as far as how we could alleviate the congestion here, so I’m looking forward to being a part of the solution.”
Loafie winner Michael Hussey suggests that Quarles’ $500 donation to Crist’s campaign got him the gig. That’s a pretty cynical reaction, without knowing Quarles’ qualifications. But even the St. Pete Times wonders why Crist appointed Quarles, and says the move suggests your governor doesn’t care about TBARTA.
Huh? Come on, the gig is only a part-time job – how hard can it be? These folks just like to whine. The main function of a board’s chairman is to provide leadership and ensure the agency stays on track. A middle linebacker on a great NFL defense certainly needs leadership and direction, and Quarles has those qualities in spades.
Anyway, you can find out more about his qualifications from Quarles’ biography on the Buccaneers website. Also take a look at the Shelton Quarles IMPACT Foundation. In addition to his many charitable initiatives and football-related accolades, you’ll find that Quarles is a bright and passionate guy. We think he’ll do fine as chairman of TBARTA.
Tags: buccaneers, citizens, Florida, sports, state, transportation
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September 25th, 2007 at 9:43 am
If they can name a crap expressway after a football player, they can certainly let one oversee a couple of them.
Maybe they could get a cooperative crossover going and Gruden could name one of his plays “Sun Pass.”
September 25th, 2007 at 11:12 am
I disagree. I am a fan of Shelton Quarles, but a leader has to know very detailed things about transportation issues, as it is the CHAIR who sets the agenda.
I’m sure Quarles is smart … but so am I. Yet, I am not clamoring to be on a transportation commission.
September 25th, 2007 at 11:22 am
In Crist’s defense … he’s just following the lead of the Hillsporough voters. I mean they put a pro wrestler on the county commission, how can this possibly be any worse?
September 25th, 2007 at 11:49 am
what happens when the Bucs trade him?
September 25th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Props to chaaalie and Jeff (”Sun Pass”, that’s hysterical). Given the BOCC and Planning Commission troubles, I say give the guy a chance, he can’t be any worse than what we’ve already got. And maybe he’ll actually do a good job, who knows?
September 25th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Nobody — Quarles is no longer playing pro football.
As for Quarles as chair of TBARTA — well, the pro-Shelton argument is that he’s a 3rd party and not going to be swayed by one region or one solution over others (or so his agenda will prove).
The anti-Quarles argument is that a person with no background in Transit issues, government or business-government cooperation being named to such a board is a reach to begin. I’m not trying to put down Shelton or the courses he took in college… I am hazing a rookie who hasn’t proved anything yet.
There’s also the figurehead puppet issue — is he just being named as a surrogate for someone outside the fray who wants to influence things?
September 25th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
John: The cynical side of me has a tendency to go with the latter issue you raise.
Time will tell us if this was a wise move….
September 25th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I have no problem with Shelton. He’s proven to be a thoughtful person and a solid citizen — unlike many pro athletes.
My commentary above was simply intended to point out the irony of the “How dare Crist appoint an athlete!” crowd, when the voters do the exact same thing.
September 25th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
The basic premise of a democratic government (in theory) is that the best-qualified citizens can hold office. It used to be farmers and merchants; who’s to say it can’t be a former football player? Quarles earned a degree from Vanderbilt, not (insert name of football factory university here).
September 25th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I do think those who say he should not be the chair because of he was a professional football player should be so quick to judge. I have met Mr. Quarles and spoken with him at length. I think he will do a fine job. The board needs a leader and that is what he brings, leadership. Never judge a book by the cover.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
There is NO Money allocated to any of these proposed projects. SO, it seems to me to be more of an Honorary Transportation Position. There already are lots of transportation studies and proposals in the cabinets. Many are very good. ALL have gathered dust with NO Money allocated. What an effort in futility. As a supporter of mass transit, this entire TBART is nothing but another effort to placate people like me with pretty drawings and concepts with no real substance.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I think there is some confusion here.
First of all, my points are not that he’s a football player and he’s too dumb to be in this post. It has nothing to do with the fact that he’s a football player, and more to do with the fact that he is in a position to set the agenda for an agency that not only has the ability to PLAN these projects, but BUILD these projects as well.
I don’t know if there are funds allocated to it or not, but the point is that this is more than just some advisory committee somewhere.
And whether Quarles was a football player, the head of a major corporation or Donald Trump … the question isn’t his education, but his EXPERIENCE. What in Quarles’ past prepared him to run a committee to not just advise on transportation issues, but to DEVELOP AND BUILD transportation issues for the 13th largest metro market in the United States?
I know he has a degree. That’s great. You don’t see a lot of professional football players who do that. But I would like to see him answer some direct questions about transportation issues in this region. I bet he couldn’t even tell us how much it costs to build a one-mile single lane of highway — something even the clerk of this board should know.
Transportation is not a light issue, and it’s just plan dumb to choose this opportunity to put a figurehead at the top of a committee. You want to put him ON the committee, sure … but to chair it?
What was wrong with Shawn Harrison?
September 25th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
I agree with john and maf54.
specially THIS part: is he just being named as a surrogate for someone outside the fray who wants to influence things?
September 25th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
So someone thinks $500 influences a state governor these days? $500 was the legal limit for an individual, did Quarles give money to the GOP directly? That amount is uncapped and is worth discussing, but considering the kind of money he raised last year, a $500 contribution to the 06 Crist campaign really doesn’t even garner enough influence to request a 5 minute meeting with the governor.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Oh, I seriously doubt $500 would influence much of anything, so I disagree with that.
I don’t think that Quarles bought influence. But sometimes I think Crist has stars in his eyes.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
[...] +Gov. Crist appoints former Bucs middle linebacker Shelton Quarles to head the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. Quarles first order of business: Deciding whether to keep both “Area” and “Regional” in the title. [Sticks of Fire] [...]
September 26th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
[...] Loafie winner Sticks of Fire has some good links on Gov. Crist’s appointment of former Bucs middle linebacker Shelton Quarles to head the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. Quarles first order of business: Deciding whether to keep both “Area” and “Regional” in the title. [...]