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parents, to serve others. I’ve fulfilled that obligation, and I can be more selfish now.” The score in Tallahassee was 22-19 campaign and for not pulling his But not too selfish to establish, with , with 26 seconds left. Gary threw supporters behind Pajcic. his brother, a million-dollar scholarship Jacksonville, FL, Copyright 1995 Sunday, July 9, 1995 130th Year – Number 190 – 19 Sections – 204 Pages a 45-yard pass and hit Lane Fenner in the “There were some underhanded things fund at Paxon High School — a fund end zone. But Fenner was called out of that hurt my candidacy,” said Smith, who intended to ensure that young scholars in bounds. Florida won. In his law office, went on to serve as Florida secretary of need find the same financial help the Gary has a framed photo of Fenner’s state and attorney general. “There were Pajcics did 30 years ago. reception. Fenner is clearly in bounds. phone banks into black neighborhoods And not too selfish to sponsor and “It’s tough to be famous for an saying I was racist and a letter to the coach teen basketball teams. Each of the incomplete pass,” Gary laughs. His last South Florida Jewish community saying I 60 players on their teams is rewarded with two years at FSU were plagued by was anti-Semitic.” a piece of clothing for each class in school Pajcic Secret: Smarts, hearts injuries, sabotaging his hopes to play Pajcic responds, “I never saw the in which they improve. Those who professional ball. letters, and I never heard about the phone improve in all six classes get a new pair of Brothers are partners in work, pursuit of better world At the same time, Steve was playing calls. I don’t knowGiving that that back ever occurred.” basketball shoes. basketball for Princeton. This is where he The Pajcics have plenty of fans who This year, the Pajcics bought new shoes By: Martin Wisckol And they are smart. Steve met future pro basketball star and Sen. would like to see Steve run again or Gary for 10 players. “When you’re in politics, Staff writer take his first shot at office. you influence a lot of people to a small graduated magna cum , D-N.J., for whom Steve will Once upon a time, there were two laude from Princeton and hold a Jacksonville fund-raiser this fall. brothers who went from rags to riches. They cum laude from Harvard But unlike Gary, Steve spent more time on ran barefoot on the cinders at track events, Law School. Gary hasn’t the bench than playing and was one winning the state juniors title for the 50- lost a trial in 10 years. more intensely focused on his yard dash. The other would go on to be the Best of all, unlike studies than on sports. starting quarterback at Florida State Forrest Gump, Steve and In 1974, after three years with University and win a national back of the aren’t some a Jacksonville law firm, Steve was week award. Hollywood hallucination. elected to the state House of They challenged two future basketball They are real, and they Representatives. He retained his pros to a game of hoops and won. One went live in Jacksonville, their seat until 1985, when he stepped on to the Legislature, then was nearly elected hometown playground down to run for governor. His governor. This year, the two led the for politics, law and stint in the Legislature was successful campaign of a long-shot black pursuit of a better world. marked by an exemplary grasp of candidate for Jacksonville sheriff. budgetary issues and a track The brothers Pajcic are two of the most record of liberal votes. successful lawyers in town, with grueling “On social issues, I was a schedules and clients from throughout theA landmark liberal,” Steve says. “At the same country. But they’ve found time to start six time, I was very concerned with the talent-filled basketball teams in a poor, blackcampaign size of government. I’m an neighborhood. The brothers complain of the egalitarian, a libertarian, a moralist money it costs them to fulfill a promise of “Whether or not and a freemarket economist.” shopping sprees for players who improveour community is While he led the charge on two their grades. progressed enough to be Save Our Rivers bills to clean up The complaint is in jest, of course. Theable to elect a black, Florida waterways, some of his money’s a drop in the bucket compared toI don’t know.” Those other positions were more the million-dollar college scholarship fundwords on Feb. 2, 1994, controversial. He supported they set up at the Westside high school wherefrom Sheriff Jim – Will Dickey/staff decriminalization of marijuana, they graduated. McMillan launched the Brothers Gary (left in photo above) and opposed the death penalty and – file If Forrest Gump trooped through life withlandmark campaign that Steve Pajcic graduated from Paxon High. In 1986, gubernatorialNow that his candidate children Steveare nearly Pajcic (right)degree, celebrated “ says Steve. his “When 40th you’re out of was pro-abortion rights. a brother, this could be their story, right downmade Nat Glover Jacksonville’s first After the session, Newman cornered birthdaygrown, in Metropolitan Gary says he Park might with consider lieutenant a bid gubernatorialpolitics, you candidatecan influence Frank a few Mann. people to a In the gubernatorial race, his to the corned sweetness. black sheriff. Pajcic and challenged him to back up his for state attorney, if longtime friend and much greater degree.” contender for the Democratic nomination, “In fifth or sixth grade, I asked Steve if he Steve and Gary Pajcic, lifelong statement. sitting State Attorney Harry Shorstein Indeed, you won’t hear the Pajcics Jim Smith, hammered away at Pajcic had a best friend,” says brother Gary. “Headvocates of racial equality, were “I knew we needed a progressive and steps down. Steve, on the other hand, has comparing life to a box of chocolates. relentlessly on these issues. When Pajcic said no and asked if I had a best friend. I saiddisturbed by the statement. respected [white] community leader to pull had his fill of running for office. “You talk about power,” says Steve, won the nomination, Republican no. So, we decided to be best friends.” Black community leaders, meanwhile, this off,” Newman says of Glover’s “I’m more cynical now about how reflecting on one allure of politics. “The candidate picked up Smith’s Geez, Louise. found the white candidates lacking. One of campaign. “Steve Pajcic is one of the much difference I could make,” Steve thing you have the most power over is what line of attack on Pajcic. But unlike Forrest Gump, the Pajcicthese leaders, the Rev. John Newman, was brightest and most visionary people in says. “Plus, part of why I ran was a sense you do with your own life. That’s the most Smith, who changed parties after the brothers are not the recipients of dumb helping Glover gauge his chances. Then, at Jacksonville. Steve Pajcic understand that of obligation, instilled in us by our important thing.” election and became Martinez chief of luck. They work hard and always have.a Times-Union round table discussion, Steve African-Americans have not always had staff, is credited with playing a key role in Pajcic said, “We’re going to elect the best equal access to the American dream, and Pajcic’s defeat — both for his bitter qualified person, regardless of race.” he’s always worked to change that.” , Pajcic brothers’ ‘unselfishness stands out, Glover says

Ambulance chasers time of need. No. 2, we think we’re doing parents, who raised five kids in a blue-collar Link and Steve Pajcic are rehearsing their The law offices of Pajcic & Pajcic take up something to improve fairness and safety Westside home. Their father, a carpenter mediation presentation for Gary. After they much of the 31st floor of the Independent in the society.” with a fifth-grade education, worked two jobs finish, Steve asks Link to try the seat belt Life building downtown. Although they Ambulance chasers on a mission of and still found time to raise money for their once more. It pops open. Steve winks don’t advertise, the Pajcics are the busiest goodwill for the world? Not entirely. Their high school. The football field at Paxon is playfully at a visitor. They will use it. personal injury attorneys in the city, with commissions start at 25 percent and go up named in their father’s honor. about 500 cases at a given time. The offices from there. In 1992, they won an $8.5 Their mother always has followed politics are friendly and bustling, with five attorneys million award for a client, Kenneth closely, and the two sons brag aboutAthlete how scholars and a support staff of 30. Norwood, who was brain damaged after well-read she is. Both parents emphasizedIf you look hard enough, you’ll find On his way to the main conference room, falling at the construction site where education and, in sharp contrast to manysomebody of to say bad things about Steve Pajcic sticks his head in the office of he was working. virtually anybody. The Pajcics are no attorney Bob Link. Link has a seat belt in his This year, they exception. But before hands and is snapping it against his hip. won a $4.9 that part of the story, After a couple of tries, pops open. Pajcic and million award it might be useful to Link laugh but are nervous about whether in a Chicago explain the differences the seat belt will open if they use the construction between the two demonstration in a settlement mediation. accident. brothers. Their client is suing General Motors and its Currently, they At first glance, seat-belt maker, claiming the belt came are suing the Steve, 48, and Gary, undone in an accident. The client is a Duval County 47, might be twins — quadriplegic because of the accident. School Board on especially if Steve has “We’re proud of what we do, and we’re behalf of the skipped his contact The Pajcics, partners on Nat Glover’s campaign for sheriff, – M. Jack Luedke/staff proud of how the system works when it works parents of Jeff lenses for his wire rim were at his acceptance speech. right,” Steve says. “First, you get a sense of Mitchell, who was glasses. They are both The Pajcics were on board, Gary as “The whole notion of running for sheriff satisfaction from helping people during a fatally shot outside married to their first campaign manager and Steve as an adviser, might not have moved forward without Terry Parker High wives. Steve has two by the time Glover declared his candidacy. their involvement,” School. kids, Gary has five. As well as instant credibility, the Pajcics Glover says. “The Yet, they are Steve is shorter, brought political savvy and contacts to the unselfishness stands convincing when more self-absorbed, campaign. They also recruited enough wealthy out. They weren’t they say the most less patient. business people to ensure a healthy war chest trying to get anything important part of “They’re both and considerable television exposure. from me. There were their job is to be extremely bright, but While the Pajcics are reliable fund-raisers no conditions — they ethical, the second Steve borders on for state and national Democratic candidates, didn’t ask me to give most important genius,” says Glover, they rarely get so involved with local races. In anybody a job or part is to do echoing the sentiment 1972, they rallied behind Leander Shaw, the anything like that. quality work, and of others who know first black candidate for circuit judge in They are unselfish and third is to have them well. North Florida. have the best interest fun. “Gary possesses Shaw speaks of Steve’s integrity and of the community in “Fourth is to – file more interpersonal political insight. But Steve’s late night forays mind.” skills, which allow him make money,” After playing basketball for into the Northside to help Shaw silk-screen “They spent a – file to look you in the eye Gary says. “We Paxon High School, Steve PajcicGary Pajcic, a starting quarterback campaign T-shirts also made a big impression. year of their lives and tell you tough think if we do went on to join Princetons team.at Florida State University, may be “That was a pretty rough area, not the committed to getting things in a way that the first three, the fourthMore willinterested come. in theirhis studies, neighbors, bestPajcic racial known equality. for an incomplete pass place you’d expect to see a young, white me elected. [But] And fortunately, it has.” “Their parents made them whatyou they can walk away not feeling so bad. Steve lawyer,” said Shaw, who in 1990 became the most significant spent most of time on the bench.in 1966. However, a photo in his Indeed, if making money was at the top were,” says Welcomeoffice shows Shearer, that their the principal playis more was matter good. of fact.” the Florida Supreme Court’s first black thing that developed of their list, you might expect them to parlay at Paxon. “Steve and Gary helped me runWhile both were three-sport stars in chief justice. Shaw’s 1972 bid failed. It was was the personal their extensive political contacts into lucrative the school. If there was ever any disciplinehigh school, Gary was the better athlete. In a time when one of his white challenger’s relationship with lobbying contracts. But their firm has never problem, I would ask them to help stophis sophomoreit, year at Florida State, he was campaign slogans was “looks like a judge” — them. I feel close to done political work. and they would.” Back in the startingmain quarterback. Despite his talent, a time before Jacksonville was ready for a them, like they’re The Pajcics credit their work ethic, moral conference room of Pajcic & Pajcic, theGary seat may be best known for an incomplete black judge. But in Glover’s race this year, my brothers.” standards, and interest in politics to their belt is still not popping open every timepass Bob against a Florida team quarterbacked the Pajcics gave the city the chance to prove – file by Steve Spurrier in 1966. times have changed. Gubernatorial candidate Steve Pajcic waved to supporters as he and his wife walked to the poll in November 1986. Pajcic lost.