by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
How do City Council members get budget figures for Key West or compare its services to Pensacola’s?
They do it with the help of the City’s Chief of Research, Jeff Clements.
Clements’ office is filled with stacks of papers and journals he plans to read in order to keep the 19 members of the Council in the know. His services are in higher demand as Mayor John Peyton prepares to release his proposed 2008-09 fiscal budget City Budget.
“Work is pretty steady throughout the year,” said Clements, “but it gets busier as the Council begins to look over the budget and compare it to other cities.”
The key tool used to provide this information, like most offices, is the computer.
“Without it I’d be hopeless,” said Clements. “The Internet has been a God-send for researchers. It saves us from hundreds of phone calls.”
The responsibilities for Clements and his staff of two include preparing a summary of each bill introduced into the Council, gathering requested information for Council members, attending meetings, maintaining the Council Library, preparing a reference sheet for each Council meeting that explains amendments and substitutes and providing a clipping service of local publications.
Clements began his career with the City in 1989 with a B.A. in American Government and Philosophy from the University of Virginia under one arm and an M.A. in public administration from the University of South Carolina under the other.
He moved to Jacksonville with his wife Lee Ann and two daughters Jennifer and Christine — photos of whom are framed and sitting on his desk at City Hall.
Other pictures in Clements’ office include a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, founder of the University of Virginia, which was given to him by a co-worker. A formerly color photo of Downtown Jacksonville hangs on the wall near the door to his office.
“The sun has really faded it,” said Clements. “It has the Independent Life Building and the Gator Bowl before it had an upper deck.”
Another thing that has faded is Clements’ need for a coffee mug at work. He has amassed a collection of 12 coffee mugs through Christmas gifts and giveaways from conferences.
“It just happened,” said Clements.