NEWSMAKER Q & A: Jack Hayman reflects on his eight years on the County Council

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Jack Hayman, who retired from the Volusia County Council at the end of 2010, reflected on his eight-year run as the district 3 representative for greater Port Orange and Southeast Volusia, in speaking exclusively with VolusiaNews.net. He answered questions on issues like bailing out organizers of the American Music Festival, managing growth and his support of beach driving. The interview was conducted by contributing writer Dale Smith.

Photo by Dale Smith / Jack Hayman closes the door on his political career.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – On the same day Circuit Judge J. David Walsh swore in newly elected and re-elected Volusia County Council members, former District 3 County Councilman Jack Hayman was sipping coffee at Dunkin’ Doughnuts on 3rd Avenue in New Smyrna Beach.

After eight years on the council, Hayman was term-limited out at year's end, and instead of seeking an at-large seat, he opted to retire. Joie Alexander, who held the at-large seat before she, too, was term-limited, ran for Hayman's seat and won.

Reflecting back on his years in municipal and county politics, Hayman pointed to several events he was most proud of and some he wasn’t. Overall, the retired military officer and former mayor of Edgewater helped guide his city and county through some very interesting times.

QUESTION: How did you start your political career in Edgewater?

ANSWER: “I began by getting on the Building Trades Board in 1987. I had a contracting business. I stayed on that board for six years. Then I was a member of the Charter Review Committee for three years and then I ran for mayor in 1992 and won. I was re-elected in 1994.”

QUESTION: What are you most proud of during your tenure on city council in Edgewater as mayor?

ANSWER: “I would have to say the widening and paving of Indian River Boulevard, taking out the old septic tanks and installing sewer lines, and paving all of the streets in the city. We also put in the largest (at the time) storm water drainage system in the state. Of course, it wasn’t just me; we had five on the city council that helped get all of this done.”

QUESTION: What was your biggest disappointment in politics overall?

ANSWER: “I would say it was the demise of the Water Authority of Volusia. It died because government was more protective of their revenue funds than preserving and protecting its water. There were many people who didn’t want consolidation of its water sharing resources because it just wasn’t equal. One city might have had x-dollars per 1,000 gallons while another would have something different. The government wanted an unitarian rate, but it wasn’t fair. The WAV board dissolved in 2007.”

QUESTION: What are you most proud of as a retired county councilman?

ANSWER: “Introducing smart growth to my colleagues in 2003. Smart growth hadn’t really caught on and I had to explain what it was to them, but it didn’t go anywhere just then. But over time, the whole county had begun talking about it and the council finally saw the light, thanks to then-County (Council) Chairman Dwight Lewis. There were a lot of people, like home builders and some chambers of commerce that were opposed to this concept, but we established a county task force to look into the pros and cons. By doing so it solidified our plans when the task force came out with several resolutions. Land-use attorneys and council staff recognized the importance of this in planning committees and the conservationists saw the importance, too. Smart growth became very popular.”

QUESTION: What do you see is the biggest concern ahead for the county?

ANSWER: “It’s not so much the county or local governments, but more of a national issue, and that’s governance. Over time in America, citizens, I believe, have lost touch with their civic responsibilities. Schools, from elementary to universities, students are not being taught civics and history about our independent nation. Somehow over time, the bureaucrats became the decision-maker for all of us. Citizens have abdicated their responsibilities to them and policies have been delegated away.

"Citizens should ask their local city governments to see their administrative codes, the codes that guide them to make the decisions they do. I doubt they will or are able to produce them. I asked for Volusia County’s administrative codes years ago. It wasn’t until a few months before I retired did I get to actually see them. The county has two very thick books of codes the council relies on to articulate guidelines in detail.”

QUESTION: "Can you give an example of how citizens can show civic responsibility?

ANSWER: “The best example is the New Smyrna Dunes issue over whether to allow dogs or not. The county staff recommended not allowing dogs. But dog owners demanded the reasons why that decision was made. I engaged officials to be a part of public meeting and as a result, we reached an agreement that satisfied dog owners.”

QUESTION: What are some of the concerns you have of the future?

ANSWER:  “Traffic issues. A good example is in New Smyrna Beach where citizens have tried to get state and county officials to slow the traffic down on State Road A1A. But the state and county don’t want to pony up with traffic conditions. Speed and safety should be a priority. We have to keep pushing.

"Another concern is the decision of whether or not to continue with beach driving here. Because of the tragic loss of two young lives this past year, a lot of feedback has been generated. I believe a decision is near. I plan to call a meeting with our local mayors in New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Edgewater and Oak Hill to reaffirm their earlier decision to keep the beaches open to driving. I am going to urge them to go before the County Council and tell them the beach driving issue is their decision. There has been a lot of talk from citizens both pro and con about this issue. I think only those city officials and citizens in Southeast Volusia County where the beaches are located should determine what happens on their beaches.”

QUESTION: What about other issues that have come up recently on the county council. What are your thoughts and how did you vote?

ANSWER: "As far as the council voting to give more than $66,000 to the Cultural Foundation to pay vendors for the American Music Festival, which represents its one lump sum from the county, I voted in favor of it. Vendors needed to be paid. Remember, government can do anything they want to with the money they have. Their budget documents show a road map of how to spend the dollars. The council said we would get on board with providing money to the foundation and it was done in a public setting. I’d do it again. But as far as Daytona State College is concerned, they’re on their own. That has nothing to do with the County Council.

"Another area the county committed itself was to Sunrail. I voted against helping to fund it because there was no specific amount attached to the commitment. That runs against good fiscal management.

"Finally, when the salary increase for the county manager came up, I was not happy with the timing. Our employees didn’t get any raise. It was just bad timing for this to come up. When Jim Dinneen signed his contract with the county he knew at the time he would get less than those in a state retirement plan. I certainly don’t begrudge him getting what he deserves. He has worked hard and deserves everything he got. He’s been a very good manager during some stressful economic times.”

Newsmaker bio: Jack Hayman

Age: 74

About the contributing writer:

Dale Smith is a resident of New Smyrna Beach, who has reported on local news in Volusia County since October 2009.  His writing background includes a mix of journalism and public relations in several community newspapers and a p.r. firm in northern Virginia. He attended Barton Academy in Barton, Vt., and the Cambridge (Mass.) School of Broadcasting for radio & TV broadcasting.