Crist chooses Mays

Crist chooses Mays

Investment firm owner to replace Manuel in Commission

By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 12/24/08


Ponte Vedra Beach resident Phillip J. Mays said Tuesday that he plans to bring a "very businesslike financial approach" to the St. Johns County Commission's District 4 seat.

In a short announcement Tuesday morning, Gov. Charlie Crist said he had appointed Mays to fill the District 4 County Commission seat once occupied by Commissioner Tom Manuel, who was suspended Oct. 17.

Crist's announcement said Mays "will serve during (Manuel's) suspension."

Mays, 41, is owner of Mays Equity Inc., of Jacksonville Beach, an investment management and recreational facilities firm.

Late Tuesday, Mays was returning phone calls to well-wishers and said that he and his wife, Stacey, their twin 7-year-old boys and their 7-month-old baby planned to leave town to spend the holidays with family in Clearwater.

"The next year or two will be a very challenging time for the county," he said. "With my business and legal skills, I can make a real difference in a positive way."

This requires careful budgeting, reduced spending and increasing the tax base by balancing the county's commercial-residential mix, he said.

"I feel proud to represent (District 4) and our neighborhoods on the Commission," Mays said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday afternoon. "I will continue to exemplify the same devotion I have shown to civic and community involvement in my new public service role."

Commission Chairwoman Cyndi Stevenson said she's met Mays and said he's appeared before the board on business.

"He's been on the other side," she said. "It'll be good to have five people on the commission again."

Stevenson said the completed commission can now determine its priorities, update county codes and review its budget.

"We must be realistic about what we'll be able to do with our resources. We're going to do the best we can to protect services," she said. "We're all very interested in the long-term prosperity of St. Johns County."

Mays graduated from the University of Florida in 1988 with a political science and history degree, then entered UF's College of Law and graduated in 1991.

Since his admission to the Florida Bar in 1992, he's worked almost exclusively as an investment management attorney for various firms before starting his own company.

In Mays' application for the position, he said his qualifications included "extensive business, legal and civic background and experience including significant work related to finance and strategic planning."

Greg White, chairman of the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Area's Steering Committee, said Mays gave much more to West Augustine than his resume shows. He did pro bono work for the CRA, negotiating with the county and non-profit organizations to get the West Augustine Community Center -- now about 80 percent complete -- and its swimming pool up and running.

"He did a fantastic job for us," White said. "He's never missed a CRA meeting and helped us to get infrastructure. I'm not talking about curbs or signs, I'm talking water and sewer.

"What he did helped all the people of West Augustine. We certainly need a lot more."

Mays said he had a desire to help people in need, and somehow his name came up at the CRA.

On Tuesday, he popped into the County Administration Building, saw his office for the first time and picked up a packet of papers to fill out, county officials said.

"I'd like to work on strategies for managing services more cheaply," he said. "The next two years will be a major challenging time for St. Johns County."




Click here to return to story:
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/122408/news_1222408_001.shtml

© The St. Augustine Record