ONE-ON-ONE
- October 2000
by Ed G. Lane 'Greater
Louisville Has to be Able to Move at the Speed of the
Internet'
Former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson discusses
government merger and Louisville's economic role in
Kentucky
 Jerry
Abramson
Jerry Abramson, 54, served as Mayor of Louisville from
1986 to 1998, the first mayor in the city’s history
to serve three consecutive terms. Since leaving office,
he’s founded The Abramson Group, Inc. (an economic
development firm), hosted a weekly public affairs program
on the local Fox affiliate, and taught a senior seminar
at Bellarmine College entitled “Urban America In Its
Future.” He is also of counsel at Brown, Todd &
Heyburn PLLC.
After receiving
his degree in business economics from Indiana University
in 1968, he served in the U.S. Army for three years. He
earned his law degree from Georgetown University, and was
a partner at Greenebaum, Doll & McDonald for 12 years
prior to his election. During his mayoral tenure, several
national publications counted him among the top city
leaders in the nation. In addition to his long record of
business attraction initiatives, he has also been an
active proponent of affordable housing, and in 1998 he
was one of only 13 mayors in the organization’s
50-year history to receive the U.S. Conference of
Mayors’ Distinguished Public Service Award.
Ed Lane: The
big issue facing the residents of the Louisville
metropolitan area is the November referendum regarding
the merger of the City of Louisville and Jefferson
County. As a three-term mayor of Louisville (1986 -
1998), what is your perspective on the merger?
Jerry
Abramson: Merger is the most important issue
that’s faced this community since the last time
we had a chance to vote on it in the early 1980s.
Louisville has to be competitive with merged cities
like Nashville and Indianapolis; cities that it
competes against each and every day. The concept is
that one government, one leader, one vision, one
agenda positions a community to be competitive, to be
focused and to be all pulling together in one
direction. That’s what communities in this new
millennium need to do to be vibrant and viable in the
years to come. So I’m working very hard for the
initiative and as I said, merger is probably the most
important issue that Louisville will have dealt with
in my lifetime.
EL: How
broad-based is the support for merger?
JA:
Louisville is very fortunate this time. I say
“this time” because in the previous merger
efforts 16 or 17 years ago – the support was not
as broad-based as it is today. In the past the
African-American leadership was not in favor of
consolidating the city and county governments.
Already this time, the president and CEO of the Urban
League has taken a strong position in favor of
consolidation with a strong argument that as the pie
gets larger, minorities in this community will
receive a larger slice of that pie.
The
merger also has a lot of neighborhood activity at the
grassroots level. A number of the suburban cities are
supporting merger. That was not the case in the
’80s. Mayor Dan Ruckriegel of Jeffersontown
stood up and stated his support for consolidation. In
fact, Dan, after 19 years as mayor of Jeffersontown
and presently the President of the Kentucky League Of
Cities, stood up and said that he was not going to
run for re-election as Mayor of Jeffersontown but was
going to run for a position on the new council.
EL: At last
count, there were more than 90 cities of various classes
in Jefferson County. How do these cities fit into the
merger plan and what seems to be the mood of the voters
in these municipalities?
JA: The
merger legislation provides that all suburban cities
continue as before the vote – their continued
existence is guaranteed.
EL: How will
the taxpayers benefit from the merger plan? Perhaps you
could give two or three examples of cost savings or
enhanced services.
JA: The
merged government would live within the current
revenues and cannot raise taxes. Currently, the
occupation tax is at its legal ceiling and property
tax increases require a voter referendum. Over time,
taxpayers will benefit from increased productivity
and spending efficiencies that a merged government
will achieve in its day-to-day operations.
There
will be 26 council districts, which means
approximately each 25,000 Louisvillians will have a
representative on the council. This assures that all
minority groups and geographical areas have an
influence on the decision making process.
EL: What
would be unfavorable consequences if the voters decided
against a merger?
JA: The
demographics of the City of Louisville are becoming
older, poorer and have an increasing percentage of
minority groups. Over the long haul, the city’s
economic viability will have a major impact on the
Greater Louisville area. Metro areas with declining
downtowns have socio-economic problems that are hard
to overcome. A strong downtown is the anchor and a
key component of vibrant cities throughout America.
This factor in urban economic development also
applies to Louisville’s future.
EL: What
seems to be the taxpayers’ greatest concern about
the merger?
JA: Many
taxpayers are concerned that taxes will be increased.
As we’ve just discussed, because of the existing
legislation that restricts tax increases, this
concern is in reality a non-issue.
EL: Do you
have a vision for metropolitan Louisville’s future?
JA: My
vision is for a unified local government to develop
and implement a plan that will establish
Louisville’s immediate and long-term viability.
Louisville’s goals will ensure the future for
our children and grandchildren.
EL: What are
a few of the goals you consider important for Greater
Louisville?
JA: Some
of the key issues that need to be addressed include
controlling suburban sprawl; defining smart growth;
providing appropriate business locations; promoting
Louisville as a distribution center, a national
leader in health care services and as a center of
e-commerce.
 EL: Greater
Louisville, Inc. (GLI) and many of Louisville’s
venture capitalists have been investing in high tech
companies. Do you feel Louisville’s initial efforts
in e-commerce have been successful?
JA:
Louisville has done a really good job of moving into
e-commerce, especially when you consider that we were
a late entry into this market. Louisville’s
efforts in this area were helped by the strong
support of Bellarmine University and the University
of Louisville.
EL: GLI
merged most of Louisville’s economic development
efforts into one entity. How would you rate GLI’s
effectiveness since its inception?
JA: GLI
has done a great job and has been very effective.
Doug Cobb was the ideal first president of GLI; his
entrepreneurial expertise created a great culture. I
would give Doug, Steve Higdon (the current CEO) and
the lay leadership of Ed Glasscock very high ratings
– they have done an outstanding job.
EL: Looking
back on your three consecutive four-year terms as mayor,
what single accomplishment of your administration seems
to rise to the top?
JA: Most
people have a tendency to pick “brick and
mortar” projects – like the $700 million
airport expansion, the waterfront revitalization, the
Main Street renovation or the Hillerich and Bradsby
Louisville Slugger Museum. Personally, I feel my
administration’s greatest accomplishment was
creating a positive energy for Louisville –
“seeing the glass half full rather than half
empty.”
EL: In 1996,
you served as the chairman of the Clinton/Gore campaign
in Kentucky. What role have you taken on behalf of the
Gore/Lieberman campaign?
JA: I
have been and continue to be very committed and
supportive of the Louisville merger effort. Because
it’s extremely important to Louisville’s
future, I have concentrated all of my efforts in that
area and not taken my usual active role in this
year’s presidential campaign. However, I have
worked with some of Al Gore’s domestic policy
advisors regarding issues and have also helped raise
money for the campaign.
EL:
Currently, you are: affiliated with the law firm Brown,
Todd & Heyburn; president of The Abramson Group, Inc.
- a firm specializing in urban development; an adjunct
professor at Bellarmine University; on the Board of
Directors of Brown-Forman Corporation; host of a weekly
public affairs program on Fox TV and active in many other
areas. How do you coordinate all of these
responsibilities and what do you consider to be your
prime area of interest?
JA: You
know the old saying, “If you need something
done, ask a busy person to do it. They don’t
have time to procrastinate.” Perhaps that is the
reason why I have been able to work effectively in a
number of capacities. In all of these efforts,
Louisville’s success in the future is my primary
area of interest. My hometown is where I’m at.
EL: With so
many commitments, how difficult is it to balance your
professional and family life? Do you have any suggestions
to our readers on how to excel as a husband and father?
JA: My
most important commitment is to my family. I am very
fortunate because at this stage of my life I have the
opportunity to plan my work around my family’s
schedule. This allows me to serve as the head of the
PTA at my son’s school and to spend a lot of
quality time with my wife and son.
EL: As one of
Louisville’s most popular ex-politicians, at some
future point would you consider running for mayor of a
newly-merged Louisville government or some other elected
position?
JA: I
have to admit that the first couple of years of the
merged government would be very challenging for its
leader and the position of Metro Mayor is something I
would look at very closely if the situation presented
itself. But at this time, my primary focus is to help
communicate the importance of a merged government to
Louisville voters.
EL: What
advice would you give young adults about getting a good
education and succeeding in the 21st century?
JA: I
speak to high schools around the county on a regular
basis. I urge students to participate in civic
activities and to become informed citizens. I also
point out the importance of being able to communicate
their thoughts both orally and in writing as well as
being able to analyze issues and energize others to
action. Being involved, knowledgeable and able to
express their thoughts are important elements to
their future success.
EL: What
impact does Louisville have on Kentucky?
JA: I
agreed with Gov. Paul Patton when he stated that the
Greater Louisville economic area is vital to the
success of Kentucky’s future. Greater Louisville
is the economic engine and the major force that will
make Kentucky a great place to live, work and raise a
family. Greater Louisville has to be able to move at
the speed of the Internet in order to achieve its
mission. I look forward to contributing to this
effort in any way I can.
Ed G. Lane is
chief executive of Lane Consultants Inc. and publisher of
The Lane Report.
edlane@lanereport.com
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