One in a series of profiles on state representatives and senators leading to the opening of the legislative session Jan. 22.
Terry Fields is the state representative for District 14.
WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST IN POLITICS?
“I have been in politics all of my adult life. I got elected right out of college and this is my 17th year. I’ve always had an interest, even from my childhood. I’ve always enjoyed formulating policy that would affect people and that was my primary goal in college, to go to school and better educate myself so I could come back and do some positive things in my community.”
CONSIDERING SEPT. 11, WILL THIS SESSION BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS IN YOUR 17-YEAR CAREER?
“It’s going to be different. The economy is certainly going through some very difficult changes. People have lost jobs. In particular in Florida, because we depend on the tourist industry, those dollars are no longer as plentiful as they were prior to that time. We are experiencing cuts and we are experiencing a recession throughout the entire state — South Beach, Daytona, Orlando — places that are generally full around this time of year are very sparsely populated. So, yes, I think this will be just a little different because we are going to have to deal with cutbacks in education, in health and human welfare, with Medicaid and Medicare. We’re going to have to make some tough decisions.”
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST, MOST HOTLY-DEBATED CUT THIS SESSION?
“I think education and probably health and human services, dealing with the elderly.”
KNOWING THE DUVAL COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS SOME IMPROVEMENTS, HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE TO MAKE CUTS?
“Duval County’s superintendent [John Fryer] came over to Tallahassee and basically said to us that they were OK, that this county is in pretty good shape. I don’t think that this county will feel the serious effects as much as some of the larger counties like Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Hillsborough and Pinellas. Duval County, I think, is No. 7 now in the state in terms of population. So, we won’t feel the same type of major cuts that a lot of the other bigger counties will.”
AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO RECESSION PROOF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY?
“I think the only thing you can do is something that is very similar to what the governor and other people are doing in trying to encourage people to come back to the state and feel safe and comfortable about traveling. A lot of people are very uncomfortable right now about flying and people need to just be relaxed. I think if we can help to push that agenda forward then I think things will improve.”
WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET AWAY FROM THE REAL WORLD?
“I jog and work out. That’s my stress release. I have to have that. In Tallahassee, I run every morning at 5 until about 7.”
ARE THERE DAYS YOU WANT TO GO HOME AND RUN AGAIN?
“I can’t run in the evening. After an 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, 12-hour day, no, the last thing you want to do is run. Every now and then I try to go to the gym and do some different things late night, just as a stress reliever.”
RESIDES
Jacksonville.
EDUCATION
He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Florida A&M and attended graduate school at Florida State University.
HIS REAL JOB
Fields is a longshoreman/consultant.
FAMILY
He has three children, John, Paul and Treey.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Fields was born April 18, 1959 in Jacksonville.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
Baptist.
IN HIS SPARE TIME
Fields enjoys running, reading and football.
IN THE LEGISLATURE
Legislative council/committee membership includes Insurance, Workforce & Technical Skills, Business Regulation, Fiscal Policy & Resources and House Redistricting.
— by Mike Sharkey