by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
As political campaigns in the city continue to materialize, yet another is getting started.
City Council member Faye Rustin announced earlier this week that she has her eye on the vice president’s job for the 2003-04 term.
In a letter to Council president Jerry Holland, Rustin — a Jacksonville resident since 1985 — said her abilities to be fair and, ultimately reach compromise, make her a viable candidate.
“My years of experience as a leader have brought me to believe that, by gathering enough information, building consensus and compromise where feasible, most issues can end as a win/win to everyone’s advantage,” she said. “One of my most valued compliments is a sincerely offered comment from one of our legislative staff, which was, ‘You are always fair.’ ”
Since coming to the Council in 1999, Rustin has served on the Special Committee on Cecil Field Redevelopment, the Public Health and Safety Committee and the Waterways Commission. Currently, she chairs the Land and Zoning Committee while also remaining active on the Value Adjustment Board and the Special Committee on Legislative Issues. Additionally, she owns Rustin and Associates, Inc., an employee consulting firm.
She told Holland that, if elected vice president, she will “make every attempt humanly possible to promote cohesion in [the Council’s] efforts as Jacksonville’s leading body for creating the highest quality of life possible for our great community.”
While Holland has expressed his support for Rustin’s campaign, she is the only candidate who has openly expressed an interest in the position, which is currently held by Lad Daniels.