Steve Pajcic
Encyclopedia
Steve Pajcic was the Democratic
nominee for governor of Florida
in 1986. A former state legislator, Pajcic now practices law in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida
.
. At Paxon High, he was valedictorian
and student body class president. Pajcic then attended Princeton
, where he played on the basketball team with future NBA player and Democratic presidential candidate, Bill Bradley
. After graduating magna cum laude from Princeton, Pajcic attended Harvard Law School
, graduating with honors.
, where he showed particular interest in educational issues. In 1986 he ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida. In the primary election Pajcic slightly led the second-place finisher, state Attorney General
Jim Smith
; but, as neither had received 50%, per Florida law, a runoff
primary was held. During the brief campaign before the run-off, Smith's rhetoric was seen by many as unprecedented in its vitriol for an intraparty contest. In a televised debate, the candidates were asked if, should they fail to win the nomination, would they endorse their runoff opponent in the general election against the Republican nominee. Both Smith and Pajcic answered in the affirmative. However, when Pajcic emerged victorious, Smith evaded the issue of an endorsement for several days. Eventually, Smith came out and openly endorsed the Republican candidate, Tampa
mayor Bob Martinez
. This split in Democratic ranks was a major contributor to the election of Martinez as only the second Republican governor in Florida history, as even Martinez himself acknowledged in later years.
Pajcic ended his electoral career after the 1986 election, and reentered private practice in his home town of Jacksonville. However, he has remained politically active behind the scenes over the past twenty years. Pacjic's greatest influence was felt during the campaign of Nat Glover. In 1995, Pajcic and his brother, Gary Pajcic
(1947–2006), managed Glover's ultimately successful campaign to become Jacksonville's first African-American sheriff. Pajcic and Pajcic, the law firm owned by Pajcic and his brother, was also a major financial contributor to Bill Bradley's 2000 campaign
for the Democratic presidential nomination, and Pajcic himself was a member of Bradley's advisory board.
Interestingly, Pajcic's law firm donated $7500 to the successful 2006 gubernatorial campaign of Republican
Florida Attorney General
Charlie Crist
.
at the University of North Florida
to pay the full tuition of any graduate of their alma mater, Paxon High School, who was accepted at and enrolled at UNF. Pajcic has also set up an endowment to pay the tuition of Paxon students who enroll at his college alma mater, Princeton University. And in 2002, Pajcic and his brother donated another $1 million to boost education at five inner-city elementary schools in Jacksonville, including Annie R. Morgan, where both brothers attended elementary school.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for governor of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1986. A former state legislator, Pajcic now practices law in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
.
Upbringing and education
Pajcic was raised in Northwest Jacksonville. He attended Annie R. Morgan Elementary School, Paxon Middle School, and Paxon High SchoolPaxon School for Advanced Studies
Paxon School for Advanced Studies is one of three International Baccalaureate senior high schools in Duval County, Florida...
. At Paxon High, he was valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and student body class president. Pajcic then attended Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he played on the basketball team with future NBA player and Democratic presidential candidate, Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
. After graduating magna cum laude from Princeton, Pajcic attended Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, graduating with honors.
Political career
In 1974, Pajcic was elected to the first of six terms to the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
, where he showed particular interest in educational issues. In 1986 he ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida. In the primary election Pajcic slightly led the second-place finisher, state Attorney General
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
Jim Smith
James C. Smith
James Cloudis Smith is an American lawyer. He served as Florida Attorney General, Florida Secretary of State, and is current the Chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees.-Early years:Smith received his B.S...
; but, as neither had received 50%, per Florida law, a runoff
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
primary was held. During the brief campaign before the run-off, Smith's rhetoric was seen by many as unprecedented in its vitriol for an intraparty contest. In a televised debate, the candidates were asked if, should they fail to win the nomination, would they endorse their runoff opponent in the general election against the Republican nominee. Both Smith and Pajcic answered in the affirmative. However, when Pajcic emerged victorious, Smith evaded the issue of an endorsement for several days. Eventually, Smith came out and openly endorsed the Republican candidate, Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
mayor Bob Martinez
Bob Martinez
Robert Martinez was the 40th Governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Tampa from 1979 to 1986.- Education and early career :...
. This split in Democratic ranks was a major contributor to the election of Martinez as only the second Republican governor in Florida history, as even Martinez himself acknowledged in later years.
Pajcic ended his electoral career after the 1986 election, and reentered private practice in his home town of Jacksonville. However, he has remained politically active behind the scenes over the past twenty years. Pacjic's greatest influence was felt during the campaign of Nat Glover. In 1995, Pajcic and his brother, Gary Pajcic
Gary Pajcic
Gary Pajcic , was an outstanding high school and college athlete, lawyer, and philanthropist in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.-Upbringing and education:...
(1947–2006), managed Glover's ultimately successful campaign to become Jacksonville's first African-American sheriff. Pajcic and Pajcic, the law firm owned by Pajcic and his brother, was also a major financial contributor to Bill Bradley's 2000 campaign
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
for the Democratic presidential nomination, and Pajcic himself was a member of Bradley's advisory board.
Interestingly, Pajcic's law firm donated $7500 to the successful 2006 gubernatorial campaign of Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Florida Attorney General
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
.
Continued work in education
Besides working as an attorney, Pajcic has remained an active proponent of education as a private citizen. In 1992, Pajcic and his brother Gary established a million dollar endowmentFinancial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
at the University of North Florida
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
to pay the full tuition of any graduate of their alma mater, Paxon High School, who was accepted at and enrolled at UNF. Pajcic has also set up an endowment to pay the tuition of Paxon students who enroll at his college alma mater, Princeton University. And in 2002, Pajcic and his brother donated another $1 million to boost education at five inner-city elementary schools in Jacksonville, including Annie R. Morgan, where both brothers attended elementary school.