Hans Tanzler
Encyclopedia
Hans Gearhart Tanzler, Jr. (born March 11, 1927) is a former American politician
and judge
. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
from 1967 to 1979. During his administration, the City of Jacksonville consolidated
with Duval County
, making him the last mayor of the old city government and the first mayor of a consolidated Jacksonville. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
in 1945. He subsequently attended the University of Florida
in Gainesville
, where he was a stand-out player for the Florida Gators men's basketball
team. He earned his bachelor's degree
from Florida in 1949, then his law degree
in 1951. He was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great". After graduating Tanzler practiced law, eventually becoming a judge
serving on the Criminal Court.
in the race for Mayor of Jacksonville. He ran on a ticket of reform as a "white hat", a supporter of consolidation of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County
governments. Tanzler defeated Ritter in the Democratic
primary, virtually guaranteeing the win; he then easily defeated Republican William Hembree in the general election. Two months later, on August 8, 1967, voters approved the Jacksonville Consolidation
. This meant Tanzler had to stand again for mayor of the new government on September 26, however, for the first time in Jacksonville history, no one challenged him. When consolidation took effect on October 1, 1968, Tanzler became the last mayor of the old city government and the first mayor of a consolidated Jacksonville.
As mayor, Tanzler initiated a number of projects to revitalize Jacksonville's downtown with new revenues brought in by consolidation. Among the projects were the creation of what is now the Downtown Campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville, the construction of a large-scale public health facility, and the completion of major commercial construction projects including the skyscraper now known as the Wells Fargo Center. His most lauded contribution was his effort to clean up the St. Johns River
, toward which he implemented sewage treatment and other environmental regulations. Tanzler was re-elected in 1971, after defeating former Jacksonville mayor and Florida governor W. Haydon Burns
, a "black hat" anti-consolidation activist, in the Democratic primary, and then easily winning the general election. He was re-elected a second time in 1975, defeating Republican Don Trednick in the general election.
In 1978 Tanzler announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida. He lost in a seven-way Democratic primary eventually won by Bob Graham
. The run required him to step down as mayor as of January 2, 1979; Jacksonville City Council
President Jake Godbold
was appointed to succeed him.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
from 1967 to 1979. During his administration, the City of Jacksonville consolidated
Jacksonville Consolidation
The Jacksonville Consolidation was the city-county consolidation of the governments of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida. It was effected on October 1, 1968.-Background:...
with Duval County
Duval County, Florida
Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 864,263. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968...
, making him the last mayor of the old city government and the first mayor of a consolidated Jacksonville. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Early life
Tanzler was born in Jacksonville, and he graduated from Robert E. Lee High SchoolRobert E. Lee High School (Jacksonville)
Robert E. Lee Senior High School is a four-year secondary institution in Jacksonville, Florida. It was named after Confederate States of America general Robert E. Lee. It is one of the two oldest Jacksonville high schools operating in situ, --that is, at their original sites...
in 1945. He subsequently attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he was a stand-out player for the Florida Gators men's basketball
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
team. He earned his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Florida in 1949, then his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
in 1951. He was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great". After graduating Tanzler practiced law, eventually becoming a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
serving on the Criminal Court.
Career
In 1967 Tanzler ran against incumbent Lou RitterLou Ritter
Louis Hampton "Lou" Ritter was an American politician and lobbyist. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1965 until 1967. A Democrat, he assumed office when W. Haydon Burns, mayor since 1949, resigned to become Governor of Florida...
in the race for Mayor of Jacksonville. He ran on a ticket of reform as a "white hat", a supporter of consolidation of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County
Duval County, Florida
Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 864,263. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968...
governments. Tanzler defeated Ritter in the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary, virtually guaranteeing the win; he then easily defeated Republican William Hembree in the general election. Two months later, on August 8, 1967, voters approved the Jacksonville Consolidation
Jacksonville Consolidation
The Jacksonville Consolidation was the city-county consolidation of the governments of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida. It was effected on October 1, 1968.-Background:...
. This meant Tanzler had to stand again for mayor of the new government on September 26, however, for the first time in Jacksonville history, no one challenged him. When consolidation took effect on October 1, 1968, Tanzler became the last mayor of the old city government and the first mayor of a consolidated Jacksonville.
As mayor, Tanzler initiated a number of projects to revitalize Jacksonville's downtown with new revenues brought in by consolidation. Among the projects were the creation of what is now the Downtown Campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville, the construction of a large-scale public health facility, and the completion of major commercial construction projects including the skyscraper now known as the Wells Fargo Center. His most lauded contribution was his effort to clean up the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
, toward which he implemented sewage treatment and other environmental regulations. Tanzler was re-elected in 1971, after defeating former Jacksonville mayor and Florida governor W. Haydon Burns
W. Haydon Burns
William Haydon Burns was the 35th Governor of Florida from 1965 to 1967. He was also Mayor of the city of Jacksonville, Florida from 1949 to 1965.-Early life:...
, a "black hat" anti-consolidation activist, in the Democratic primary, and then easily winning the general election. He was re-elected a second time in 1975, defeating Republican Don Trednick in the general election.
In 1978 Tanzler announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida. He lost in a seven-way Democratic primary eventually won by Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
. The run required him to step down as mayor as of January 2, 1979; Jacksonville City Council
Jacksonville City Council
The Jacksonville City Council is the legislative governing body of the city of Jacksonville, Florida.-Composition:The Jacksonville City Council is composed of nineteen members who are elected to four-year terms and serve as part-time legislators...
President Jake Godbold
Jake Godbold
Jake Maurice Godbold is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1978–1987....
was appointed to succeed him.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Levin College of Law graduates
- List of University of Florida alumni