Being a UNF grad myself, I took an interest in this. I admit that the very thought that we were both alums of this small university in Jacksonville made my nose curl. Why? Well, I am almost always on the opposite side of Norman on sprawl and environmental issues so to think that this towel boy for over-developers was educated on the same beautiful campus (that also doubles as a wildlife sanctuary) that I was.........was a bit much to stomach.
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Photo credit: minds-eye @Flickr.com
Turns out that commenter might be right! According to Norman's bio on the county's website he "studied accounting" at UNF but it doesn't have any mention of the year of graduation or any actual degree....Uh-oh. Here is the bio:
Jim Norman was born in Jacksonville and studied accounting at the University of North Florida. He was elected to the BOCC in November 1992 after a business career that included 15 years as a comptroller and legislative analyst with the Salvation Army. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998 and served two consecutive terms as Chairman. He was re-elected as Chairman in 2004.
I checked the UNF Alumni Page and searched for Jim Norman and James Norman and nothing came up from those searches. I then spoke with the UNF Registar's office and while they confirmed that there was a Jim Norman who was enrolled as an Accounting Major, the spokesman said he did not receive a degree.
Funny because even the St. Pete Times has UNF listed under the education category for Norman so it looks like they fell for his misleading bio. If he didn't have an actual degree then why would he even mention his "education" unless he was purposely trying to mislead people? His opponent, Kevin Ambler, sets the record straight on his website listing Norman's education as NONE. What a relief!
I wonder how a non-profit like the Salvation Army can justify a salary of 95,000 clams to an employee without an education? In his defense, if they gave out degrees for how to promote sprawl, promote discrimination, and promote taxpayer subsidized corporate welfare then he certainly deserves an honorary PhD.
Anybody else find it odd that someone who "studied accounting" and claims to be a fiscal conservative with traditional family values doesn't know the details of his own wife buying a $435,000 vacation home? Uh-huh. I hope voters do not send him to Tally which will be decided this Tues in the primary but either way I will take comfort in the fact that Norman is not really a fellow Osprey.
