Tommy Hazouri

Tommy Hazouri
Born	Thomas Lester Hazouri Sr. 10/11/1944
Birthplace	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Died	9/11/2021 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	3rd Mayor of Consolidated Jacksonville, member of the Florida House of Representatives, Jacksonville City Council member
Education	Jacksonville University
Spouse(s)	Carol Hazouri
Awards	Mandarin Park renamed Tommy Hazouri Sr. Park (2023)

Thomas Lester "Tommy" Hazouri Sr. (October 11, 1944 – September 11, 2021) was an American politician who served the city of Jacksonville, Florida, in elected office for nearly five decades. A member of the Democratic Party, Hazouri represented Northeast Florida in the Florida House of Representatives from 1974 to 1986, served as the third Mayor of Consolidated Jacksonville from 1987 to 1991, sat on the Duval County School Board representing District 7 from 2004 to 2012, and held an at-large seat on the Jacksonville City Council from 2015 until his death in 2021. Known for his deep roots in the Jacksonville community and his sustained commitment to public service, Hazouri was one of the most enduring political figures in the city's modern history. Following his death, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor, and the Jacksonville City Council voted to rename Mandarin Park as Tommy Hazouri Sr. Park in recognition of his decades of service.

Early Life

Thomas Lester Hazouri Sr. was born on October 11, 1944, in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up in the Jacksonville area and developed ties to the community that would define his career in public life. Hazouri was a cousin of Donna Deegan, who would later become the Mayor of Jacksonville herself. His upbringing in the city instilled in him a connection to Jacksonville's neighborhoods and civic institutions that would become a hallmark of his political career. Hazouri remained a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, living in the city from birth until his death in 2021.

Education

Hazouri attended Jacksonville University, where he earned his degree. Jacksonville University, a private institution located on the St. Johns River in the Arlington area of Jacksonville, served as the educational foundation for his subsequent career in public service and politics.

Career

Florida House of Representatives (1974–1986)

Hazouri began his career in elected office in 1974, when he won a seat in the Florida House of Representatives. He initially represented the 21st district, serving constituents in the Jacksonville area. Following redistricting, he represented the 20th district from 1982 until 1986. His predecessor in the seat was Bill Birchfield, and he was succeeded by David W. Troxler.

During his twelve years in the state legislature, Hazouri established himself as a prominent Democratic voice in Northeast Florida politics. His tenure in the Florida House provided him with extensive legislative experience and a political profile that positioned him for his subsequent run for mayor of Jacksonville. The duration of his service in the legislature — spanning six terms — demonstrated his ability to maintain electoral support in his district over an extended period.

Mayor of Jacksonville (1987–1991)

In 1987, Hazouri ran for the office of Mayor of Jacksonville, seeking to succeed Jake Godbold as the city's chief executive. Jacksonville operates under a consolidated city-county government, established in 1968, which merged the City of Jacksonville with Duval County. Hazouri was elected as the third mayor to serve under this consolidated structure.

The 1987 mayoral election saw Hazouri, a Democrat, win the support of Jacksonville voters. He took office on July 1, 1987, and served a single four-year term as mayor, with his tenure ending on July 1, 1991. His successor was Ed Austin, who took over the mayor's office following the 1991 election.

As mayor, Hazouri oversaw the governance of one of the largest cities by land area in the United States. His time in the mayor's office represented the pinnacle of his early political career and cemented his reputation as a central figure in Jacksonville's political landscape. The fact that he held the office as a Democrat in an increasingly Republican-leaning city and region underscored his personal appeal to voters across party lines.

Duval County School Board (2004–2012)

After a period away from elected office following his mayoral term, Hazouri returned to public service in 2004 when he won election to the Duval County School Board. He represented School District 7 and served on the board for two terms, from 2004 to 2012.

His service on the school board reflected a shift in focus from citywide executive leadership and state legislative work to education policy. The Duval County Public Schools system is one of the largest school districts in Florida, and Hazouri's eight years on the board represented a substantial engagement with education issues affecting Jacksonville's students and families. His return to elected office after more than a decade away from the political arena demonstrated his continued desire for public service and his enduring popularity with Jacksonville voters.

Jacksonville City Council (2015–2021)

In 2015, Hazouri was elected to the Jacksonville City Council, representing At-Large Group 3. He succeeded Geoff Youngblood in the seat and began his term on March 9, 2015.

As an at-large council member, Hazouri represented all residents of Jacksonville rather than a specific geographic district. This citywide constituency was well-suited to his long history of public service across multiple levels of government and his broad name recognition throughout the city. He served on the City Council for over six years, continuing in his seat until his death on September 11, 2021.

During his time on the council, Hazouri was recognized by colleagues and constituents as a veteran political figure who brought decades of institutional knowledge to the legislative body. His service on the council represented the final chapter of a career that had spanned nearly every level of Jacksonville and Florida government.

Following his death, a special election was held to fill his At-Large Group 3 seat. The race drew multiple candidates, and the runoff election was ultimately won by Nick Howland, who succeeded Hazouri on the council.

Personal Life

Hazouri was married to Carol Hazouri. The couple resided in Jacksonville throughout their lives together. Hazouri was a cousin of Donna Deegan, a former television news anchor who was elected Mayor of Jacksonville in 2023.

In his later years, Hazouri experienced significant health challenges. He underwent a lung transplant, and in August 2021, he was hospitalized due to complications related to the transplant procedure. His condition deteriorated, and he was moved to hospice care at his home on August 25, 2021.

Tommy Hazouri died on September 11, 2021, at the age of 76, at his home in Jacksonville while in hospice care. His funeral services were held at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel in Jacksonville, where family, friends, and political colleagues gathered to pay their respects.

Recognition

Following Hazouri's death on September 11, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an order for flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor, a tribute recognizing his decades of public service to the state of Florida and the city of Jacksonville. The order was directed to relevant state and city officials, including Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Jacksonville City Council President Samuel Newby.

At his visitation and funeral, numerous political figures, colleagues, and community members gathered to remember Hazouri's contributions to Jacksonville. News4JAX described him as a "fighter, mentor, friend" in its reporting on his death, reflecting the regard in which he was held by those who had worked alongside him.

In November 2022, more than a year after Hazouri's death, the Jacksonville City Council voted to rename Mandarin Park in his honor. The park, located in the Mandarin neighborhood of Jacksonville, was officially renamed Tommy Hazouri Sr. Park. The formal renaming ceremony took place on June 1, 2023, with city officials and members of the Hazouri family in attendance. The renaming was intended to honor Hazouri's decades of service in elected office across multiple levels of government in Jacksonville and Florida.

Florida Politics, in its obituary coverage, described Hazouri as a "lion of Jacksonville politics," a characterization that reflected his long and multifaceted career in public service. Folio Weekly, in its extended profile published shortly after his death, noted that Hazouri "held nearly every political office you could in Jacksonville," encompassing state representative, mayor, school board member, and city council member.

Legacy

Tommy Hazouri's career in public office spanned approximately 47 years, from his first election to the Florida House of Representatives in 1974 to his death while serving on the Jacksonville City Council in 2021. Over the course of that career, he served at the state legislative, municipal executive, school board, and city council levels — a breadth of service that few Jacksonville politicians have matched.

As the third Mayor of Consolidated Jacksonville, Hazouri held the city's highest office during a period of growth and development. His election as a Democrat in a city and region that was trending toward the Republican Party demonstrated his cross-party appeal and personal connection to Jacksonville voters. His subsequent returns to public office — first on the school board and later on the city council — illustrated a sustained engagement with civic life that extended well beyond a single political career arc.

The renaming of Mandarin Park to Tommy Hazouri Sr. Park in 2023 stands as a physical monument to his contributions to the city. The decision by the City Council to honor him in this way, taken with bipartisan support, reflected the broad respect he had earned across political lines during his lengthy career.

Hazouri's family connection to Jacksonville politics continued beyond his own career. His cousin, Donna Deegan, was elected Mayor of Jacksonville in 2023, extending the family's involvement in the city's governance into a new generation.

The special election held to fill Hazouri's At-Large Group 3 seat on the City Council following his death attracted significant candidate interest and campaign fundraising, further indicating the prominence of the seat he had held and the political vacuum created by his passing. Nick Howland ultimately won the special election runoff in February 2022 to succeed Hazouri on the council.

Hazouri's nearly five decades of continuous engagement with Jacksonville politics — through both victories and periods out of office — marked him as one of the most enduring figures in the city's modern political history. His willingness to serve at multiple levels of government, from the state legislature to the local school board, demonstrated a broad commitment to public service that defined his career from beginning to end.