They work behind the scenes at City Hall, acting as a buffer between City Council members and the public. Some call them aides, but make no mistake, they’re executive Council assistants. Beginning July 1, five new faces will make their official debut at the Council.
Jessica Adams
Jacksonville native Jessica Adams may the youngest assistant working for the Council — she’s only 23 and just graduated from the University of North Florida on May 2 — but she says her commitment to public service and passion for politics more than bridge any age gaps.
Adams will be working for Dist.12 representative Daniel Davis.
“I know I can do the job and do it well,” said Adams. “My dad raised me and he is really into politics. I think that’s where I get it from. Besides, I don’t really think age really matters as long as you’re not afraid of a little hard work.”
Adams has known Davis for several years. While still a student at Trinity Christian, they became better acquainted while Davis was working as the director of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“I got to know him pretty well then,” said Adams, “and when Daniel decided to run for the City Council the first time [Davis originally ran and lost against Doyle Carter in 1999] I worked on his campaign. When he ran again this time, he asked me to come back and I was happy to.”
Following Davis’ win, he approached Adams about becoming his assistant and may have been taken aback by the reaction he got.
“We were working one day and he asked me about it,” said Adams. “I didn’t really know what to say because I wasn’t even really familiar with Council members even having assistants, but after thinking about it I knew it would be a great opportunity and I said yes.”
With her first day at City Hall approaching, Adams isn’t considering a run for office any time soon.
“At least not right now,” she said. “I’m more interested in staying in the background, not in the spotlight. I’m just here to make sure everything goes through Daniel. He’ll be getting most of the pressure.”
Daphne Colbert
Daphne Colbert is counting on her ongoing synergy with Council member Mia Jones to get the job done when July 1 rolls around. The two met at a “social gathering” last year and Colbert agreed to take the job early last month.
“We just realized from that point that we have so much in common in terms of our interests and community activities. And ever since she decided to run we’ve been talking together about Dist. 10 and all we can do for it,” said Colbert. “There’s a lot to do but I like to think of it as a business. You receive your complaints and you address them quickly and carefully. City Council is a public service and we’re here to serve them. I’m really looking forward to it.”
And Colbert is equally as excited about the opportunities ahead for downtown.
“I look around and it’s amazing to see all of the changes that downtown has gone through since I moved here,” said Colbert, a native of College Park, Ga. “We have a chance to increase the entertainment district and that will further serve as a real draw for tourists and potential business thinking of relocating here. This a great time to be working for Jacksonville, especially downtown.”
And while realizing the complexity of the issues before her, Colbert insists she’s not nervous.
“I’m feeling pretty confident,” she said. “I’ve been in and out of City Hall more and more lately and I’ve seen what we can get done by looking at the guidelines set-up for us. I want to make sure we follow them and make it more accessible. Mia and I are both go-getters.”
Debbie Delgado
Debbie Delgado’s recent foray into politics was a product nothing short of being at the right place at the right time.
“I’ve known Art [Shad] since we were in college at UNF,” said Delgado, 34. “One day I was driving up Hendricks Avenue and I saw his headquarters in Miramar. The signs all had his name on them and I thought to myself, ‘I wonder if that’s the same Art Shad?’ I hadn’t seen him in years so I went in and, as it turns out, it was.”
Delgado, who had first become interested in politics following stints at Folio Weekly and Jacksonville magazine, went to work on Shad’s campaign soon after.
She attributes her work at his headquarters — Delgado was there everyday for three months — as the perfect model for life at City Hall.
“This is a new job that comes with a lot of responsibility, but I think I have a pretty good feel for what to expect,” the Jacksonville native said. “Walking the campaign trail with Art, I got to meet a lot of the constituents in Dist. 5 and learned what’s important to them. I don’t think it will be a completely foreign situation to me when we start in July, but it feels like it’s taking forever to get here.”
In the mean time, she’s been getting plenty of advice from some people who know what they’re talking about.
“Matt Carlucci is a good friend of Art’s and he’s been really great,” said Delgado. “And Christine Sasser [Carlucci’s former assistant who’s going to work for Council member Kevin Hyde] is wonderful. She’s showed me around and introduced me to a lot of the people I’ll be working with. I’m hoping a really smooth transition. Public service is a perfect venue for me.”
Sandra Lane
When Sandra Lane starts working for Glorious Johnson next week, it probably won’t be the first time the public has seen her.
In addition to finishing a master’s degree in business administration this month, Lane has done quite a bit of modeling. Her image can be seen at The Avenues Mall, MSN.com and a life-size photo of her greeted customers on their way into Office Depot for years.
“People think it’s a big deal,” said Lane, “but it’s not. It’s hard work.”
Rather, Lane said it’s her new job that means the most to her.
“When I was asked by [Johnson] to be her assistant, I screamed,” she said. “I was excited, speechless. I felt blessed because she sees something in me that maybe I didn’t see.”
Born in Panama, Lane came to Jacksonville after getting married in 1986. Years later she enrolled at Jones College where she met Johnson, who later became Lane’s mentor. Now divorced, Lane is looking forward to working full-time for Johnson.
“She’s always given me strength and told me I could do things even when I thought couldn’t,” said Lane. “She was the one who told me to go for my master’s degree.”
Lately, Lane has been concentrating on familiarizing herself with the Council and with the help of Heather Patterson, Lynette Self’s assistant, she’s learning quickly.
“Heather really took me under her wing,” said Lane. “She showed so much that it would have taken me a lot longer to learn on my own. I’m really seeing that everyone here makes a great team and I can’t wait to be a part of it. I know it will be a challenge, but I’m not afraid to be put under pressure. I’m a model. We’re always under a spotlight.”
Dianne Smith
Dianne Smith has worked in the General Council’s Office for nearly four years, but she admits she was relatively unfamiliar Council member Michael Corrigan before interviewing for her new job. The former legal assistant was one of the last new assistants to be hired.
“I didn’t know him very well, to be honest, except for that I saw his signs all over the place,” she said. “But I live in his district, heard a lot of great things about him and voted for him. Then I found out he was interviewing for an assistant and I thought of it as a win/win situation. I love where I am now, but I thought it would be interesting to work on the other side of the legislative process, too. Now I’ll get to see all the channels ordinances go through after they leave the office of the general counsel.”
Smith, a Bishop Kenny graduate who was raised in Jacksonville, worked as a legal assistant at BellSouth prior to her work in the General Council’s Office. Following company restructuring, she was out of a job until City Hall came calling.
“I’m glad I came to work here,” said Smith. “I think it’s very interesting to watch our government at work and see all the things that come out of it.”
And Smith is looking forward to her new assignment .
“Michael and I will work well together,” she said. “He’s bringing 20 years of small business experience and I’m bringing my knowledge of City Hall and legal issues. And living in the district he’s representing is going to be great.”