by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Mayor-elect John Peyton has combed Duval County to find 100 volunteers to staff his 13 Transition Steering Team subcommittees.
Over the next few weeks, the subcommittees, made up of community members from every walk of life, will help his 15-member Transition Team and Executive Steering Committee evaluate current City personnel, issues and departments. They will also help review the dozens of resumes Peyton will receive as he fills out his administration and various City departments.
Peyton spokesperson Susie Wiles said the Transition Steering Committee began the search for subcommittee volunteers shortly after the May 13 runoff in which Peyton beat Sheriff Nat Glover. The Steering Committee recruited volunteers through three methods: suggestions from political and business leaders, a request to contact the Steering Committee if interested in serving and a comprehensive e-mail asking people to make recommendations.
All of these efforts produced a list of over 200 names, which was eventually cut in half.
“It was a very sought-after invitation. You can tell that by the quality of people,” said Wiles, adding there was no real need to intentionally diversify the subcommittees. “When you get 100 of the community’s best leaders, it’s going to be a diverse list.”
Peyton said the subcommittees will prove valuable as he molds his administration.
“I am looking forward to getting ideas and suggestions from the members of the subcommittees,” said Peyton. “These volunteers, with expertise in many areas, will bring a fresh perspective to the work of government.”
In order to quickly bring each subcommittee member up to speed on their job, expectations and Florida’s government in the sunshine laws, each member was given what Wiles calls a “pretty comprehensive instructional manual” created by the General Counsel’s Office.
“We also assigned a member of the Transition Team, an HR [human resources] member and someone from the General Counsel’s Office to each subcommittee,” said Wiles. “We don’t want them to spend a lot of time going over what already exists today. Sam Mousa [current chief administrative officer and COO under Peyton] has compiled a ‘White Paper’ of each City department. We think things will come together pretty fast.”
Here are the members of the subcommittees:
Administration and Finance
Jay Fant, chair. Members: Tatianna Salvador, Earl Johnson, Tony Peacock, Stephen Joost, Michael Dawkins, Wayne Waters and Mark Gelman.
Children’s Commission
Toni Crawford, chair. Members: Carol Daniels, Dave Clavier, Susan DuBow, Edgar Mathis, Deborah Gianoulis, Susan Main and Jay Jabour.
Community Service
Marsha Oliver, chair. Members: Reginald Gaffney, Mark Cowart, Penny Thompson, Davette Turk, Ju’Coby Pittman and Ron Austin.
Fire and Rescue
Lynn Pappas, chair. Members: Robin Sorensen, Scott Baker, John Fletcher, Willie Walker, Brenda Ezell and Zim Boulis.
Jacksonville Economic Development
Steve Halverson, chair. Members: Brad Glass, Willard Payne, T.R. Hainline, Willie Gonzales, Randy Evans, John Demps and Elaine Jones.
Neighborhoods
Ron Salem, chair. Members: Karen Franklin, Luther Quarles, Paul Riel, Diane Kerr, Leona Sheddan and Darrell Gilyard.
Parks & Recreation
Cleve Warren, chair. Members: Jane Covington, Charlie Mardant, T.C. Newman, Larry Fairman, Trip Stanly, Sandy Semanik and Joe Louis Barrow.
Planning Committee
Susan McDonald, chair. Members: Howard Serkin, Robert Harris, John Granby, Mark Hardesty, Rufus Pennington, Doug Miller and Ronnie Fussell.
Public Works
John Baker, chair. Members: Fred Odom, Dr. Bob Brown, Berrilyn Houston, Bob Shumer, Steve Leggett, Don Hinson and J.D. Collins.
Regulation and Environmental Services Division
Mario Taylor, chair. Members: Adrian Soud, Curtis Hazel, Herschel Vinyard, Jim Williams, Anna Dooley and Richard Clark.
Library
Mary Ellen Smith, chair. Members: Rita Cannon, Steve Rosenbloom, John Falconetti, Mike Hightower, Michael Stewart, Phyllis Tousey and Dr. Floyd Willis.
Solid Waste
Richard Sisisky, chair. Members: Mary O’Brien, Charles Kemp, Jon Thrasher and Wayne Williford.
Financing Efficiency
Ashton Hudson, chair. Members: Lee Jones, Barbara Jaffee, Adam Hollingsworth, Chris Verlander, Mac Holley and Paul Rogers.