Hans Tanzler

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Hans Tanzler
Mayor of Jacksonville
In office
1967 – January 2, 1979
Preceded byLou Ritter
Succeeded byJake Godbold
Personal details
Born
Hans Gearhart Tanzler, Jr.

March 11, 1927
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
DiedJuly 25, 2013(2013-07-25) (aged 86)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Ann Lyerly
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1948; div. 1971)​
    [1]
  • LaMercedes Hutchins Woodard
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1973)​
J.D., University of Florida
, 1951

Hans Gearhart Tanzler, Jr. (March 11, 1927 – July 25, 2013) was an 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 was a member of the Democratic Party
.

Early life

Tanzler was born in

University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great".[4][5] After graduating, Tanzler practiced law and eventually became a judge serving on the criminal court.[6]

Career

In 1967 Tanzler ran against incumbent mayor

consolidation of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County governments.[3][6] In those days, the Democratic primary was the real contest in Jacksonville. Tanzler defeated Ritter in the primary, then easily defeated Republican William Hembree in the general election.[7] 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, no one else filed, thus he became the first mayor in Jacksonville history to be elected unopposed.[7] 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.[3]

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.[8] Tanzler was reelected 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.[9] He was reelected a second time in 1975, defeating Republican Don Trednick in the general election.[10]

In 1978 Tanzler announced his candidacy for

Governor of Florida. He placed third 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.[11]

Personal

Tanzler divorced his first wife, Ann Lyerly Tanzler, mother of their son Hans Gearhart Tanzler III, and in 1973 married the former LaMercedes Hutchins Woodard. The blended family included Tanzler's son and Woodard's two children from her former marriage to an Air Force test pilot.[12]

Hans Tanzler died on July 25, 2013, at age 86.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dates derived from obituary, "Ann Lyerly Blankenship, 1926 - 2019," Legacy.com, 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. ^ Schneider, Jason (April 4, 2006). "Ex-mayor a passionate Gator". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Hans Tanzler: Founding Father". The Florida Times-Union. April 6, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  4. ^ F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  5. ^ Mike Bianchi, "UF football team gets title trophies," The Gainesville Sun, p. 6F (April 14, 1985). Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Kerr, Jessie-Lynne (August 9, 2010). "A Look Back: How the vote for consolidation defined Jacksonville". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  7. ^
    St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press
    . September 27, 1967. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  8. ^ "History". coj.net. City of Jacksonville. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  9. Daytona Beach Morning Journal
    . March 5, 1971. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  10. ^ "Election Protest Dismissed". The Ledger. Associated Press. June 5, 1975. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  11. St. Petersburg Times
    . January 3, 1979. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  12. ^ "LaMercedes Hutchins Woodard Tanzler", Legacy.com, 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Former Jacksonville Mayor Hans Tanzler dies at 86". News4jax. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Jacksonville (Pre-Consolidation)
1967–1968 		Succeeded by
Himself as mayor of consolidated Jacksonville
Preceded by
Himself as mayor of pre-consolidation Jacksonville
 Mayor of Jacksonville (Consolidated City)
1968–1979 		Succeeded by
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