JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Five former mayors and other civic leaders came together Wednesday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the consolidation of the city of Jacksonville with Duval County.

Former Mayors, Civic Leaders Gather To Celebrate 40 Years Of Consolidation

The voters of the city and county approved consolidation and it took effect on Oct. 1, 1968.

In the campaign for consolidation, those for it wore white hats -- one of which was at the luncheon Wednesday. Those against the plan wore black hats.

One of the main architects of consolidation is former Mayor Hans Tanzler, whose term began one year before consolidation and ended 11 years after it.

Tanzler may be most remembered for waterskiing on the St. Johns after declaring it clean. He said that never would have happened without consolidation.

"My biggest goal -- it took almost all my time doing it -- was to clean up the St. Johns River." Tanzler said.

Channel 4 took a leading roll in the campaign to pass consolidation. WJXT produced and aired a documentary, "Government by Gaslight," that helped education voters about the problems in the city and county and explaining consolidation.

Former Mayor Lou Ritter, the last mayor before consolidation, said the that time has shown that one weak point of the new government charter are the independent authorities.

"The only regret that I have is perhaps the independent agencies somehow got legislation passed that makes them too independent," Ritter said. "I think they should be back under the hand and the mayor."

Some attending the celebration said we'll never know what the city would be like if the vote had failed, but consolidation made Jacksonville what it is today.

"I think we cannot thank these guys enough that helped form this government," current Mayor John Peyton said.