Hayward raises $9,000K+ in one week
Tags: Ashton Hayward / Finance reports / Pensacola mayoralty
Mayoral candidate Ashton Hayward has filed his first quarter financial report, posting total contributions of $9,450. As Mr. Hayward filed to run on March 23 and the reporting period runs through March 31, that number was reached in little over a week.
A number of the contributions came from area attorneys, including Fred Levin, Mark Proctor, and Paul Flounlacker. Other members of the Levin family also contributed significantly.
The Hayward campaign issued the following press release:
In a remarkable show of campaign support, political newcomer Ashton Hayward on Thursday reported nearly $10,000 in campaign contributions raised in the first week of his campaign. The report, filed with the Escambia Supervisor of Elections, covers the fundraising period from January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. Hayward filed for office on March 23, making his campaign haul of $9,450 in seven days a significant achievement.
Hayward said he was pleased with his fundraising efforts but more work was to be done. “The outpouring of support has just been incredible,” said Hayward. “I’m really grateful to all the people who have contributed to the campaign so far, and to all those who have committed to support us over the next few weeks and months. This was a great first week of the campaign, and we’re just getting warmed up.”
The 40-year old businessman and Pensacola native said he planned to continue his fundraising efforts over the next several weeks and months leading up to the August primary, in addition to collecting petitions to qualify for the ballot, talking to voters in their neighborhoods, and developing a plan for the city.
“After our tremendous first week, and the events surrounding the Maritime Park over the last month, I remain convinced now more than ever that Pensacola is ready for new leadership,” Hayward said. “It won’t be easy, and there are big challenges and tough decisions to be made, but I believe that the citizens of Pensacola are ready to get on with the business of creating jobs, improving economic opportunity, and making Pensacola a place where people want to live and work.”
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Good to hear. Maybe finally someone with leadership skills to move our city forward.
I could not find an email for you so I thought that I would post this message here and you can then tell everyone what your official position of the park is.
IN opening, I noticed your comments in the Pensacola News Journal. Although they did not quote any specifics I agreed that there were questions that should have been answered 2 years ago. Unfortunately the piece that you missed, they were asked. Asked and ignored. Asked and washed over. Many people have asked questions about this park from day 1 and the answers were just glossed over.
In fact, questions were asked even as far back as the vote, no answers. You should see the emails between the major players with regard to limiting public input, No RFP, having Council members in their pockets, planners understanding the wants of the principal player, etc. EW Bullock wanting to keep his involvement secret because he worked both for the park players and the city at the same time. These are just a FEW quotes.
Below is a letter that I have written to the Mayor and City Council. I am under no illusion that any of them will actually read this letter much less act upon it. In fact, some will simply delete it in my opinion. Why, because they are so blindingly focused on building that baseball stadium that no amount of logic will break their determination to make this happen at any cost to the citizens or the City of Pensacola.
This park is out of control and it is time for the citizens and leaders of Pensacola to stand up and say enough is enough. This park is not the same park we voted on. It exceeded the promised cost to tax payers and funding is NOT isolated to the CRA as promised and now will be paid from the General Fund. They have no idea if it is viable because they failed to demand the viability study which was a prerequisite for signing the master lease agreement, they signed anyway.
I would be interested in your comments and position on this.
Council Members and Mr. Mayor,
In opening, I am in support of a park. In fact, I would support a park with a Maritime Museum. However, that at this point it is an unrealistic expectation. I am convinced, as you most likely are privately that UWF will not obtain the funds to build or maintain the museum. It is a fact that the state is cutting back funds to Universities and that UWF at this time and in the future will have to deal with their own budget constraints. Simply put, it is a luxury that they cannot afford. In fact, Dr. Bense herself wished that the decision on her ultimatum would have been against her because he knew she did not have the funds to do this project.
I contend, that the CMPA knows this and that once the Baseball park is built you will get the announcement that the Maritime Museum will not be a part of this project for lack of funds.
With this being said, where are we? We are left with a baseball stadium, 310 parking places and Studer’s office building, green space and infrastructure for speculative commercial investment. This is my understanding of Phase 1 in summation. I am also convinced without the Maritime Museum, Educational Center, Conference Center the park lacks the kind of anchor projects which will draw the numbers of people to support the commercial elements of the park. What does this mean, again simply put this will reduce the marketability of the commercial elements.
These are the realities at this time and they cannot be denied.
The park’s commercial space is entirely dependent on MPDP, their financial muscle and marketing ability to attract commercial interest in the park. As you clearly know by now, their financial viability is in question and the Council MUST demand that they have the capacity to make the kind of speculative investments required by this park. My fear, and you should fear too that this company will collect their fees, claim that the park is not viable and leave us with nothing but expenses.
Mort O Sullivan has on previous occasions failed to read reports for which he has been requested to consult on. For that matter, the Pensacola News Journal has even quoted some members of the council stating they have not read certain documents, agreements, etc. This is at minimum troubling. Without full knowledge that this developer has not only the financial capacity, but the staying power to invest the additional 30+ million dollars in the commercial elements I suggest that you will be proceeding recklessly. That to proceed with this size of a development and not have ALL the pieces of the puzzle, would be abrogating your judiciary responsibilities to the citizens of Pensacola.
In addition, I also contend that the scope of this park has strayed in many ways from the original referendum. It is impossible to claim that you have a mandate to proceed with this park given the changes so far. For example;
• Funding – It is now OVER 40,000,000 dollars in public investment.
• Funding Source- It is now funded through the CRA as well as General Funds or City Tax Payer dollars.
• Park Scope, major elements that were proposed are no longer part of the park such as but not limited to the Education and conference center.
• Muli-Use Stadium that opens up into a festival ground
I think that the citizens of Pensacola once they realize that they spent all this money on a baseball stadium they will be largely disappointed and further disenfranchised. In fact, many uses for the stadium have been eliminated since it no longer opens up into a festival ground.
With that being said, I think that it is time that the City Council put a halt to this project until we can get it under control. I think that the Council has a duty to deliver the park the citizens were sold and not what this has morphed into. I also believe that the right thing to do would be one of 2 options,
1.) Allow the citizens of Pensacola to decide if this new park development scheme is what they want. The ballot would exactly spell out the deliverables for Phase 1.
2.) Eliminate the baseball stadium, invest the remaining funds in the park, park amenities, boardwalks and infrastructure for commercial elements allowing a free market to do what it does best.
With regard to option 2, should the Pelicans wish to build a stadium their organization can purchase or lease the land from the citizens of Pensacola like any other tenant. Furthermore, if a developer sees opportunity in hotels, commercial developments, etc they will invest accordingly in a far better designed and featured park. Imagine, the additional investments we could make in the waterfront infrastructure if we were not spending millions on the stadium.
Thank you for your time,
Mark Clabaugh
All the self-promotional breathlessness – “remarkable show of campaign support” – aside, the Levin family and law firm money makes sense. Ashton Hayward III and Fred Levin appear to be in a business relationship so it’s fair to say Hayward is Levin’s candidate. http://wammaweb.net/officers.asp On the PNJ someone today blogged about Hayward’s involvement in Redfish Harbor, LLC with Cody Rawson. I’m sure all of his past and present jobs and business entities will be described in full on his website when it begins to operate. Right now it very mysteriously has no content at all. His LinkedIn and Facebook pages are likewise unrevealing. His Q1 does confirm he has hired Travis Peterson as expected as his “political persuasion” consultant. At some point people are going to ask him questions and he won’t get a pass like Rick Outzen gave him when he could only come up with two of his three top priorities and no specifics. Peterson should be able to fill in some of the blank space.
“The Hayward campaign issued the following press release: In a remarkable show of campaign support, political newcomer Ashton Hayward …”
Ashton Hayward
Vice-President of Marketing & Business Development
Ashton Hayward brings to WAMMA over 15 years of experience in global market business development and management with an emphasis on advertising, technology and publishing.
Fred Levin
Executive Legal Counselor
WAMMA’s Executive Legal Counselor, Fred Levin, is a nationally known lawyer who has handled legal matters and negotiations for Roy Jones Jr., one time considered “the best pound-for-pound boxer” in the world. Fred was the recipient of the 1995 Boxing Writers Association of America Manager of the Year award and the 1994 Rocky Marciano Award recipient as Manager of the Year.
So Mr. Hayward with 15 years of experience in global market business development and management ….
Let’s see your laundry list of success stories …….
Let’s see your management resume …..
Your YouTube Video, hum !!!! Where’s the MEAT????
Nice teeth though.
Do we really want a mayor beholden to those with money & power, or do we want a mayor that represents the majority of us who live & work here.
I not one to rush to judgment already. I look forward to hearing more from all the candidates. One thing I would say, though, is these are the people who ALWAYS contribute to the local/state/national campaigns and it seems to me usually without discrimination. You might want to check out the US Senate race and governor race campaign finances. Not sure there’s anything conspiratorial about it. Can’t wait to see who all enters this important election and learn their platforms on issues that matter.
Wiggins beholden for 16 years and the votes to prove it.
What will happen when he has more power?
Good luck finding residents in EPH to support Wiggins.