Tommy Hazouri
Encyclopedia
Tommy Hazouri is an American
politician
of the Democratic Party
. He represents Duval County School District 7 in the Duval County School Board, and previously served as Mayor of Jacksonville
, Florida
(1987–1991) and as a member of the Florida House of Representatives
(1974–1986).
descent. He attended Andrew Jackson High School
, and graduated from Jacksonville University
in 1966. Hazouri is married to Carol Hazouri, who has been a school teacher at Crown Point Elementary School in Mandarin for over 25 years. They have one son, Tommy Jr., who is a school teacher as well.
in 1974, representing District 20, and was subsequently reelected. While in the Florida legislature, Hazouri chaired the House Committee on Education, K-12. He also was a member of the House Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Education Funding. He was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles
to the Florida Ethics Commission and lead the Sheriff's Task Force on Mental Health. He served until 1986.
Hazouri ran for Mayor of Jacksonville in 1987. He defeated fellow former State Representative John Lewis in a bitter Democratic
primary election, and then easily beat Republican Henry Cook to win the general election. During his term as mayor of Jacksonville he spearheaded a campaign to rid Jacksonville's roads and bridges of toll booths, and implemented various environmental regulations aimed at getting rid of the city's odor problem. During his tenure as Mayor of Jacksonville, Hazouri welcomed the city's first contingent of visiting Canadian
media personalities in September 1987, including Vic Phillips of Global Television Network
and Chantale Roy of the French language TVA Network
, both of whom broadcast live from Jacksonville. Hazouri was defeated for reelection in 1991 by Ed Austin
.
Hazouri ran for Mayor of Jacksonville again in 1995 and 2003, but lost in the primary elections both times, the races ultimately being won by John Delaney
and John Peyton, respectively. In 2004 he was elected to the Duval County School Board, and was reelected in 2008. He served as board Vice-Chairman for 2008 and as Chairman in 2009. In addition to his work on the school board, he is president of Hazouri and Associates, a private consulting firm.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
. He represents Duval County School District 7 in the Duval County School Board, and previously served as Mayor of Jacksonville
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...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(1987–1991) and as a member of the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
(1974–1986).
Early life
Hazouri was born and raised in Jacksonville. He is of LebaneseLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
descent. He attended Andrew Jackson High School
Andrew Jackson High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
Andrew Jackson High School is the oldest fully accredited high school in Duval County, Florida. It is located just north of downtown Jacksonville on Main Street . It opened in 1927, followed by Robert E. Lee High School, which opened in 1928. It was originally an all-white school, but the school...
, and graduated from Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
in 1966. Hazouri is married to Carol Hazouri, who has been a school teacher at Crown Point Elementary School in Mandarin for over 25 years. They have one son, Tommy Jr., who is a school teacher as well.
Career
Hazouri was elected to the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
in 1974, representing District 20, and was subsequently reelected. While in the Florida legislature, Hazouri chaired the House Committee on Education, K-12. He also was a member of the House Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Education Funding. He was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
to the Florida Ethics Commission and lead the Sheriff's Task Force on Mental Health. He served until 1986.
Hazouri ran for Mayor of Jacksonville in 1987. He defeated fellow former State Representative John Lewis in a bitter 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 election, and then easily beat Republican Henry Cook to win the general election. During his term as mayor of Jacksonville he spearheaded a campaign to rid Jacksonville's roads and bridges of toll booths, and implemented various environmental regulations aimed at getting rid of the city's odor problem. During his tenure as Mayor of Jacksonville, Hazouri welcomed the city's first contingent of visiting Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
media personalities in September 1987, including Vic Phillips of Global Television Network
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
and Chantale Roy of the French language TVA Network
TVA (TV network)
TVA is a privately owned French language television network in Canada. The network is currently owned by Groupe TVA Inc. , a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media...
, both of whom broadcast live from Jacksonville. Hazouri was defeated for reelection in 1991 by Ed Austin
Ed Austin
T. Edward "Ed" Austin, Jr. was an American politician and attorney. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1991 to 1995. He also served as the first Public Defender for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit from 1963 to 1968, and served as State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit from...
.
Hazouri ran for Mayor of Jacksonville again in 1995 and 2003, but lost in the primary elections both times, the races ultimately being won by John Delaney
John Delaney
John Adrian Delaney is an American lawyer, politician and university administrator. He currently serves as the president of the University of North Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1995 to 2003...
and John Peyton, respectively. In 2004 he was elected to the Duval County School Board, and was reelected in 2008. He served as board Vice-Chairman for 2008 and as Chairman in 2009. In addition to his work on the school board, he is president of Hazouri and Associates, a private consulting firm.