Sharon Laird has been the assistant to City Council secretary Cheryl Brown since February.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
“My position is outlined in the charter of the City of Jacksonville. It is to assist in the implementation of the needs of the Council. I cover everything that is needed as to Cheryl Brown’s direction and the needs of the 19 members of the Council.”
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE?
She was coordinator of the Duval Delegation in the mid-1980s. “I enjoyed the work of City and State government. I left City government and went to Jacksonville University where I was director of academic advising, an academic administrator and an instructor of history for 12 years.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT?
“I think City government gives you real access to the needs of people. City government is the direct contact with the people. The people access their representatives and they feel close and connected to their representatives. They call that person and it is democracy at its best. I really enjoy it.”
WHAT DO YOU ADD TO YOUR JOB?
“With my interest and my knowledge of local history when I work with Council committees on historical preservation or when I provide them staffing or anything that they need, I think I bring a well-rounded prospective to whatever I do. I have an understanding of what good government can do and this is good government.”
STILL IN THE CLASSROOM?
Yes. She teaches American history at FCCJ in the evenings and works with academic research firms.
DO YOU HAVE A DESK JOB?
“It starts at a desk, but then it goes into the needs of the Council members and the community. We recently did the Call to Action for Education Breakfast. Cheryl Brown was the representative of the Council. I really enjoyed that activity. We had a major effort that brought the community together and the action has been a real improvement for schools in need.”
WHAT DO SHE LIKE ABOUT TEACHING?
The direct feedback from her students who range in age from 18-70. “That’s always interesting.”
WHAT WAS A RECENT STRESSFUL TIME IN YOUR JOB?
“The installation was a stressful time, but the conclusion was very nice. It was very smooth and the public was well-served. They seemed to enjoy the event.”
DO YOU HAVE ANY ASPIRATIONS TO BE COUNCIL SECRETARY?
“No, this is plenty.”
BIRTHPLACE
Jacksonville.
HIGH SCHOOL
Jackson.
COLLEGE
She has a bachelor’s degree in history from Jacksonville University and a master’s degree in education and philosophy from Wake Forest University.
FAMILY
She has been married for 33 years to Gary, who is a manager of paperseeker.com, which sells collectible paper items and books. They have one daughter, Elizabeth, 19.
HOBBIES
She enjoys visiting local historical sites in Jacksonville. She also enjoys reading, especially historical periodicals.
RESIDES
In an old house on the banks of the Trout River.
FAVORITES
Laird’s favorite book is “A House on Hubbard Street,” by local author Louise Stanton Warren. She doesn’t watch a lot of movies and says when she gets free time on Saturday nights, she enjoys tuning into FM-89.9 and listening to talk shows. She cites “The West Wing” and “The Education of Max Bickford” as television shows she enjoys. A favorite restaurant that she and her husband often take guests to is The Florida House Hotel in Fernandina. “It is the oldest hotel in Florida and they serve boarding house-style with everyone at the same table. The food is good and you always meet someone fun. It’s a neat place to go.” When traveling, she enjoys the western Carolina mountains, Boston and Washington, D.C.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis