In Memoriam: Tony Bates: 1934 – 2012

Our friend and leader was born Anthony Whitfield Bates in Jacksonville on May 5, 1934 and all too soon shuffled off this mortal coil on August 29, 2012.  Tony was an inspiration to us all in his selfless dedication to the cause of honest and transparent local government and home rule.  After service in the [...]

In Memoriam: Tony Bates:  1934 – 2012 In Memoriam: Tony Bates:  1934 – 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GOOD JOB ALVIN BROWN, SHAME ON COUNCIL AND MORAN…

JACKSONVILLE, FL May 10, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   The Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County (“CTDC”) praise Mayor Alvin Brown for his stand on cost-savings at the new courthouse and congratulate him for his veto of the City Council’s attempt to force disbursement of $750,000 in taxpayer money to pay for furniture in 37 hearing [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  GOOD JOB ALVIN BROWN, SHAME ON COUNCIL AND MORAN… FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  GOOD JOB ALVIN BROWN, SHAME ON COUNCIL AND MORAN…

Does the City Need Taxpayer Funded Lobbyists?

  A recent article in a local paper referenced the need and value for Taxpayer funded lobbyists. Taxpayer Funded Lobbyists Should Taxpayer money be used to lobby on behalf of the city government politicians?  It appears that more often than not that these lobbyists work AGAINST the interests of Taxpayers. CTDC members recall in particular [...]

Does the City Need Taxpayer Funded Lobbyists? Does the City Need Taxpayer Funded Lobbyists?

Pensions: Taxpayers Pay but Have Almost No Say…

The Taxpayers contribute about 80% of the money to fund the Police and Fire Pension system. That’s right 80%! Police and Fire participants in the pension plan ONLY CONTRIBUTE 10%. The remainder comes from insurance premiums. In spite of all this, Taxpayers only have a 40% say in how the Police and Fire Pension Fund [...]

Pensions:  Taxpayers Pay but Have Almost No Say… Pensions:  Taxpayers Pay but Have Almost No Say…

In Memoriam: Tony Bates: 1934 – 2012


Tony Bates as we knew him


Our friend and leader was born Anthony Whitfield Bates in Jacksonville on May 5, 1934 and all too soon shuffled off this mortal coil on August 29, 2012.  Tony was an inspiration to us all in his selfless dedication to the cause of honest and transparent local government and home rule.  After service in the Korean War Tony was involved in local politics before consolidation and he joined and rose to the presidency of the Junior Chamber, the Jaycees, at a time when virtually every successful candidate for public office in Jacksonville came up through their ranks. 

 

Yet although Tony ran at least once he discovered that his calling to service to the community was not to be as an elected politician.  Observing over the decades that power corrupts, Tony refused to participate in dishonest schemes and gradually came to realize that it is the nature of those who handle public money to come to regard it as their own, and spend it in ways to benefit themselves and their friends if not to transfer to themselves outright. 

Tony Bates As a Younger Man

Arguably Tony became obsessed with trying to keep our government honest, open, and above-board. He knew it was too large a task for one person yet it was almost impossible to recruit others with both the passion and the time for the kind of public service that Tony became committed to. His life was arranged around his own need to attend as many committee meetings, study groups, and watchdog functions as possible, all the while going to political gatherings hoping to recruit like-minded citizens for the great task of shadowing the decision-makers.

 

After his official retirement but before the illnesses of the past few years made it impossible to continue, Tony delivered the Times-Union since the early morning hours were free of public sector activity. When he became sick, he rushed his convalescence so that he could resume monitoring our officials, with no regard to his own discomfort or physical needs. Health conditions that would have deterred nearly all of us from travel or spending long hours sitting and observing the operations of government did not stop Tony, who could have still made substantial contributions by watching City Council and its committees on the internet, but who properly felt that the physical presence of independent citizen observers makes a difference in the outcome of events. So in the absence of excruciating pain (and sometimes in its presence, as those of us who saw Tony wince now and again can testify) Tony Bates would drive himself, literally and figuratively, to endless venues to make the point that there are at least a few who watch and wait.

 

Tony utterly exemplified the motto, Esse quam videri, “to be, rather than to seem,” condensed from Cicero’s original phrase, “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt” (Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so). There were no ulterior motives in Tony Bates, no hidden agendas, no hypocrisy. In a world largely devoid of virtue, Tony truly was an honest man.

— John Winkler, one who shall forever be in Tony’s debt

 

Tony Bates at the memorial service

Tony Bates Committal Ceremony

The Remains of Tony Bates Were Interned At the Jacksonville National Cemetery on September 24th 2012.
Tony Bates, Conscience of the City of Jacksonville will be missed by all, even those who did not know him…

The Remains of Tony Bates Were Interned At the Jacksonville National Cemetery on September 24th 2012.

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February 2012 CTDC Show


President John Winkler discusses the JEDC, dog parks and other citywide issues with board member Tony Bates.

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February 2012 CTDC Show


President John Winkler discusses the JEDC, dog parks and other citywide issues with board member Tony Bates.

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January 2012 CTDC Show


President John Winkler discusses about crime, police and the JEDC with board member Tony Bates.

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January 2012 CTDC Show


President John Winkler discusses about crime, police and the JEDC with board member Tony Bates.

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November 2011 CTDC TV Show


Board members Tony Bates and John Winkler talk about corporate welfare and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.

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November 2011 CTDC TV Show


Board members Tony Bates and John Winkler talk about corporate welfare and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.

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October 2011 CTDC TV Show


Tony Bates, John Winkler and Connie Benham talk about proposed changes to the timing of local elections and corporate welfare.

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October 2011 CTDC TV Show


Tony Bates, John Winkler and Connie Benham talk about proposed changes to the timing of local elections and corporate welfare.

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September 2011 CTDC TV Show


Directors John Winkler, Curt Lee talk with Florida Senate District 1 candidate Ramon Day about the city budget and pensions.

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September 2011 CTDC TV Show


Directors John Winkler, Curt Lee talk with Florida Senate District 1 candidate Ramon Day about the city budget and pensions.

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Tony Bates as we knew him


Our friend and leader was born Anthony Whitfield Bates in Jacksonville on May 5, 1934 and all too soon shuffled off this mortal coil on August 29, 2012.  Tony was an inspiration to us all in his selfless dedication to the cause of honest and transparent local government and home rule.  After service in the Korean War Tony was involved in local politics before consolidation and he joined and rose to the presidency of the Junior Chamber, the Jaycees, at a time when virtually every successful candidate for public office in Jacksonville came up through their ranks. 

 

Yet although Tony ran at least once he discovered that his calling to service to the community was not to be as an elected politician.  Observing over the decades that power corrupts, Tony refused to participate in dishonest schemes and gradually came to realize that it is the nature of those who handle public money to come to regard it as their own, and spend it in ways to benefit themselves and their friends if not to transfer to themselves outright. 

Tony Bates As a Younger Man

Arguably Tony became obsessed with trying to keep our government honest, open, and above-board. He knew it was too large a task for one person yet it was almost impossible to recruit others with both the passion and the time for the kind of public service that Tony became committed to. His life was arranged around his own need to attend as many committee meetings, study groups, and watchdog functions as possible, all the while going to political gatherings hoping to recruit like-minded citizens for the great task of shadowing the decision-makers.

 

After his official retirement but before the illnesses of the past few years made it impossible to continue, Tony delivered the Times-Union since the early morning hours were free of public sector activity. When he became sick, he rushed his convalescence so that he could resume monitoring our officials, with no regard to his own discomfort or physical needs. Health conditions that would have deterred nearly all of us from travel or spending long hours sitting and observing the operations of government did not stop Tony, who could have still made substantial contributions by watching City Council and its committees on the internet, but who properly felt that the physical presence of independent citizen observers makes a difference in the outcome of events. So in the absence of excruciating pain (and sometimes in its presence, as those of us who saw Tony wince now and again can testify) Tony Bates would drive himself, literally and figuratively, to endless venues to make the point that there are at least a few who watch and wait.

 

Tony utterly exemplified the motto, Esse quam videri, “to be, rather than to seem,” condensed from Cicero’s original phrase, “Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt” (Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so). There were no ulterior motives in Tony Bates, no hidden agendas, no hypocrisy. In a world largely devoid of virtue, Tony truly was an honest man.

— John Winkler, one who shall forever be in Tony’s debt

 

Tony Bates at the memorial service

Tony Bates Committal Ceremony

The Remains of Tony Bates Were Interned At the Jacksonville National Cemetery on September 24th 2012.
Tony Bates, Conscience of the City of Jacksonville will be missed by all, even those who did not know him…

The Remains of Tony Bates Were Interned At the Jacksonville National Cemetery on September 24th 2012.

Jacksonville City Government Tax and Spend Hall of Shame

  • Out of Control County Courthouse Costs
    The original cost of the new county courthouse was supposed to be $190 million, but it soon ballooned up to $400 million before it was finally approved at $350 million by the City Council.
  • Peyton's Three New Fees
    Following the property tax reductions enacted by the Florida legislature, Mayor Peyton and the City Council rolled back needed tax relief by imposing three new costly and regressive fees on Jacksonville taxpayers.
  • Shipyard Debacle
    What do you get when you join a poorly drawn up contract with lax oversight of the downtown riverfront project by the city? $36.5 million spent, no downtown park and riverwalk and a black eye for the JEDC.

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Jacksonville City Government Tax and Spend Hall of Shame






Out of Control County Courthouse Costs

The original cost of the new county courthouse was supposed to be $190 million, but it soon ballooned up to $400 million before it was finally approved at $350 million by the City Council.

Peyton's Three New Fees

Following the property tax reductions enacted by the Florida legislature, Mayor Peyton and the City Council rolled back needed tax relief by imposing three new costly and regressive fees on Jacksonville taxpayers.

Shipyard Debacle

What do you get when you join a poorly drawn up contract with lax oversight of the downtown riverfront project by the city? $36.5 million spent, no downtown park and riverwalk and a black eye for the JEDC.