by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
In Martha Barrett’s long and anecdote-packed political career, she has worked for presidential, senatorial and mayoral candidates . . . and found a spot for a future mayor eager to be an intern.
As an aide to Mayor Jake Godbold in 1986, she was told that Herb Peyton had a son who was “interested in politics. I don’t know why,” Barrett recalled.
She was told to find a place for him.
The young intern was “so enthusiastic and wonderful,” she said, that, after the first day, “I said, ‘you don’t need me. You go anywhere you want to go.’ He was with us for about five or six weeks and had a wonderful time.
“I was one of his true believers. And I was so thrilled to have been involved in his 2003 campaign.”
The “irony” of it all is that she is now chair of the Duval County School Board, and John Peyton is mayor.
“We work hand in hand,” said Barrett. “And it is so neat.”
Barrett was the speaker Wednesday for the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association luncheon, hitting the highlights of a political career that goes back to being field director for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign in 1976.
She was a staff assistant for U.S. Sen. Richard Stone’s office in Washington, D.C., and served as Godbold’s administrative aide from 1979 to 1987.
She has also served on the board of advisers for the Professional Woman Network, Executive Committee of Christians and Jews, the Jacksonville Women’s Society Board and the YWCA board of directors.
She had never run for public office herself until 1999 when there was a school board vacancy in her district.
“It was the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Barrett. “I’m going to run again one more time. I’m up again this year, as are three others on the board.”
Barrett encouraged those who are eager to meet others and get involved in the life of the community to “get involved in a campaign. It’s the greatest thing in the world.
“It’s fun. There are a lot of people of all ages, and I would dare say all social segments.
“I know people from all over town. Most people only know people just like them — neighbors, people they work for or with, maybe their church. In politics you have to go out and meet everyone from the mayor to whoever because they’re all voters. They’re all constituents. And they all have problems and questions.”
For as satisfying as politics can be, Barrett said, “It’s tough out there. It’s not easy to put yourself out there, raise money, go door to door.
“But it’s enjoyable because you can see that you really can help people. I feel we have a good school board. We all see things differently, but we really care about the citizens and the students in this community. We really focus in on student achievement.”
Barrett was asked to react to reports that some school systems are as segregated now as they were when the Supreme Court decided Brown vs. the Board of Education in 1954.
“There are some schools that are higher African-American or higher white,” she said, “but we do hit the threshold in every school. Which is good. You have to.
“The magnet schools are doing very well. Most of our schools are doing well. There are still some challenge schools . . . a good 30 of them that we still are very concerned about. And are very interested in their progress.
“We are right in there, really monitoring and trying to make
sure these schools have everything they need. Overall, we’ve got a pretty good racial balance.”
An extra benefit to being in politics, Barrett said, is it “opens your horizons.”
“How many people do you know who are kind of shy who run for office, and they become a different person because they’ve been exposed to the opportunities . . . that you wouldn’t do if you weren’t an elected official?” she asked. “So get involved in a campaign. There will be plenty of them this year.”