little guy gets one
Your Hillsborough County Commissioners don’t know everything about everything, so back in the day, they created several "citizens’ boards" and councils, and depend on them for recommendations in regards to various areas of government nosiness.
For instance, the Affordable Housing Advisory Board makes recommendations on issues affecting affordable housing development. There are bunches of boards, such as CHILDREN’S SERVICES, CODE ENFORCEMENT, HISTORIC RESOURCES, HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, LAND USE APPEALS, PLUMBING BOARD, PUBLIC LIBRARY, WATER CONSERVATION, and so on, and so forth…
Usually, those who serve on these boards must have some experience with the subject at hand, so they know what the heck they are talking about, and Commissioners get helpful advice. Every now and again, the county puts out a call for volunteers to apply to serve on these advisory committees.
For years and years, the General Manager of Busch Gardens has had a seat on the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council. Makes sense, since they probably bring more tourists to town than any other place. But a funny thing happened on the way through the process this time around. Turns out some guy named Alligator Bob got the gig, and Busch Gardens is left out on the Serengeti Plain.
Alligator Bob Young runs Alligator Bob’s Ecotours (and gator jerky meat snacks emporium), and asked for votes from commissioners who are fellow members of the county Republican Executive Committee. He was voted in 6-1.
Alligator Bob knew he was up against the big corporation, and was shocked when he learned that he got the position:
"I really didn’t think I stood a chance in hell of getting it," Young said with a laugh. "I’m feeling good now."
It seems that the current GM of BG simply assumed he was a shoo-in, and didn’t bother to let some of the commissioners know he was interested in serving. In fact, it looks like BG GM Donald Mills didn’t even introduce himself:
"[Alligator Bob] asked for my support at the last Republican Executive Committee meeting," said commission Chairman Ken Hagan, who said he did not know Mills is general manager at Busch Gardens (emphasis added).
Of course, that’s a quote from Ken Hagan - there is no telling what he ever really knows.
Dan Ruth says that Ken and the rest of the commission should have just known who the guy is, but I’m siding with your HCBOCC on this one. The vote was six to one - it’s not like it was close. If Busch Gardens wanted the volunteer post, then perhaps they ought to have let commissioners know. And assuming Donald Mills has at least the slightest bit of intelligence, you might conclude that Busch Gardens really doesn’t care either way.
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April 7th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
You may be right about Busch Gardens assuming a continuation of their membership. You generally expect that knowledgeable people will be recruited and encouraged to apply for and continue in these positions. BG appears to have has some knowledge of the tourist business. I wonder if anybody from the county contacted present members of the commission regarding their intentions??
Having said that, however, I’ve been if Florida long enough to know that politicians always take care of their buddies. That ‘Gator Bob just happens to be on the RP Executive Committee is a little more of a coincidence that I can handle.