B. Jean McCorkle is running for Faye Rustin’s at-large Group 1 City Council seat.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE CITY COUNCIL?
“I’ve been very active on my side of town for 20 years, helping people get things accomplished that they couldn’t do themselves. I think I can make a difference.”
HER SIDE OF TOWN
Westside.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE AN AT-LARGE SEAT RATHER THAN A DISTRICT SEAT?
“Redistricting took our district away and it became District 14. Then, so many people jumped on the boat to represent Dist. 14 that no one seemed interested in the Council at-large seat. I know the people running for the Dist. 14 seat and anyone of them would do a good job. So if I run for at-large, then there would be two of us working for this side of town. Also, I can put my efforts in any part of town. I can help everyone.”
RUNNING AGAINST FAYE RUSTIN
When McCorkle decided to run, she thought she was running for Ginger Soud’s seat [Soud, who is running for mayor, can’t run again because of term limits]. “But after redistricting, I ended up running against Rustin. I decided to go ahead with it anyway. I am well-known all over town from what I have been doing. I think I have a chance because people know I work and get things done.”
WHAT ISSUES DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS WHILE ON THE CITY COUNCIL?
“I don’t know of any right now, but I would like to be available to help anyone who needs me. I haven’t even gotten my campaign team together yet. I know I want more of an open government. I would like to follow Mayor [John] Delaney’s format of an open door policy.”
WHICH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST AND WANT TO BE LIKE?
“Alberta Hipps, because she is a very honest and attentive person who cares about people.”
DOES SHE HAVE PAST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE?
No. She is on several boards, but this is the first time she’s ever run for public office.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVED
She is chairperson for the Southwest SEAPAC, serves on the City’s Planning Commission and is a member of the Oversight Committee for the Better Jacksonville Plan. She is also on the Fire Museum and Jax Pride boards and she is a former member of the board of directors for the SOS Academy.
HER PROFESSION?
She is a retired hairdresser. “When I quit it, I said I’m not going to do it anymore. I was good at it, but I didn’t like it.”
HOW DOES BEING RETIRED GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE?
“I have one child and he is an adult, and the only thing I have to give my time to is a 208-pound Newfoundland dog named Bear.”
WHAT DID SHE DO BEFORE BEING A HAIRDRESSER?
“I spent most of my adult life as an accountant, but when I moved to Jacksonville, I couldn’t find a job that paid what I was used to. So I decided — at 36 years old — to go to beauty school and become a hairdresser. I did that for the next 15 years.”
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW?
“The first thing I have to do is get a campaign team together. Then we have to start raising money. After that, I’ll do what most campaigners do — I will try to get to the people, let them know who I am, what I’m running for and why and try to answer any questions they might have.”
BIRTHPLACE
Mount Vernon, Ga.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1974, when her husband transferred here with Sears to open a store in Orange Park.
COLLEGE
She has an associate’s degree in business from Macon Technical School and is a certified accountant.
FAMILY
She is a widow and has one son, James Prickett, who is an ironworker.
HOBBIES
She goes to meetings, stays involved in the community, attends church and socializes with friends. “I travel back and forth to Georgia because I still have relatives there. I am an accomplished seamstress, I do a lot of upholstery and I read a lot. I also love to do arts and crafts.”
CHURCH
New Life Baptist.
FAVORITES
Her favorite book and movie is “Gone With the Wind.” She doesn’t dine out often, but when she does, she enjoys trying different places. Because many of her relatives are from Ireland, she would like to visit there one day.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis