Behind the Scenes with Mayor Deegan's Chief of Staff Darnell Smith

[00:00:01] Mike Mike Mike Mike, Mike On Mic, a conversation about politics, government and jacks of bill. With 50-year opinion leaders Mike Hightower, Mike Tolbert, an award-winning broadcaster and long time political observer, Mike Miller.

[00:00:18] Welcome to the 51st episode of Mike's on Mic as we barrel towards our first year anniversary our special guest of the day, is Dahnel Smith, who has been Mayor Deegans Chief of Staff since the beginning of the year.

[00:00:30] We wanted to know what was going on behind the scenes in the Mayor's office and discuss some of the bigger issues that she's going to be facing and has faced in her first year in office.

[00:00:39] Dahnel is an executive on load from Florida Blue where he serves as Blue's North Region Market President, no stranger to community service. Of course, Dahnel was co-chair of the Deegans Transition Team and served on boards on numerous nonprofit organizations, including the South Baccer Center Cathedral Arts Project, first

[00:00:59] course, William C. A. Jackson, Chamber, Lift Jats, United Way and many, many others and his wife says some days should really come home and see what your family looked like. And by the way, one other side note to this, Pytower and Dahnel worked together for more

[00:01:16] than 20 years at Florida Blue, but despite that, he's agreed to be with us on today's ball yesterday. Appreciate it very much. Well, I'd like some Mike Dernel because we both have pictures. That's right. That's really how you went.

[00:01:31] First of all, thank you. Thank you for having me and I got to tell you that was a great time having an opportunity to work with Mike while he was at the Blue. We'd like to be able to say that too.

[00:01:42] It's only been here every guy 19 more years to go. By the way, Dahnel for all of the has for seven years has been a speaker at the High Tower Mergin leader. Yes, and y'all, you're a long work here. The main result is for two people. That's really terrific.

[00:01:59] Yeah, very, but Dahnel is always one of the most requested speakers. So we appreciate that. And Tiri, he really inspires our young folks. This is every day. Mr. Tolberg, kick it off for us. Were you pleased? Yeah, Dahnel, I know that we've pulled the tooth out from 23 election.

[00:02:14] A number of community leaders came to you and urged you to run from there. And you resisted that. Tell me why? You know, I believe when you go into any line of work and especially serving in the capacity of being elected, I see it as a calling.

[00:02:39] And I enjoy the work that I do in the corporation that many of you know is Florida Blue. I've been there for 34 years. I am in regards, I think I have been able to do a lot of ministry work by helping people truly become healthy.

[00:03:00] And I think that's been my call. I don't think I've gotten the call. I've heard a lot of people ask me to certainly run. But I usually pray about it by the way.

[00:03:12] I want you to know that when I usually get these kind of requests, I pray about it. And I don't think I've got the answer that says this is the assignment that you have next and for that reason, I've chosen not to do it. Wow.

[00:03:27] That's classic Dahnel Smith. Tell us the difference, Dahnel and being an executive, it blew and being inside the government at a very high level. How did you transition? How did that come about? And how has it experienced been for youth these last six months?

[00:03:44] Thank you for the question. First of all, I want you to know the experience has been very, very good. Quite frankly, when I think about the various people who first I talked to three people or it's

[00:04:01] two people and my Lord before accepting the opportunity, the mayor came to me asked if I would consider such an opportunity on many of her requests before for things I just simply answered by saying thanks but no thanks.

[00:04:17] I don't think that's what I'm asked to do, but I was still going home and I'd pray about it. This time, I asked her for the chance to once again go home and pray about it.

[00:04:27] Talk to my family, talk to Pat Garrett, it's at Florida Blue and then I think I've answered was just an all three quite frankly. And I came back to older, I'd be willing to do it for a year.

[00:04:44] The company was certainly open to that opportunity for a year and the first thing I did was to go to the people who've done this work. And my first 45 days, usually I'd try to do it over a 90 day period when I go into a brand new

[00:05:01] position but I know I did not have 90 days to learn as much as I needed to learn. So I said, let's turn that into 45 days and over those first 45 days, I listened to everybody who would talk to me. Certainly my director, Ports, many folks in the council,

[00:05:19] I met with every council person who had made with me. I just sat down with many individuals who have done this work before, who have been chief of staff and they've just been incredible, everybody.

[00:05:35] And helping me understand what was really important in order to really do this work. Well I read a book that was presented to me by Adam Hollingsworth, Adam did a major

[00:05:49] wonderful job in helping me to see the big picture of what it needs to be done when you step into a role like this. And after reading that book, understanding the four responsibilities that I certainly had

[00:06:02] or have in this particular role, many lessons that I'm telling you would have taken me no less than six months if not the entire year to really learn. I was able to get a good grip or at least

[00:06:19] grasp of what those items were in the first 45 days. And as a result, I had an opportunity to begin practicing them for now. Guys, it's yesterday was the beginning of my second six months here.

[00:06:36] So I've ended the first six months and as you know we've had incredible results and through our team work and it's been magnificent. I want to talk about the biggest story

[00:06:51] but to turn about the big story or they call it the elephant or am I called the biggest story in decades. It's a little bit of a big story since you met our jacks 30 years, but I'll be going back 30

[00:07:01] years. The recent $1.4 billion renovation. Yeah okay. I know you don't like to talk about yourself. What was your role? How did you bring how was the team? I know it was led by the mayor.

[00:07:15] How did that go? Were you surprised? Number one, how quickly it came? The schedule was unbelievable. Nobody thought you could do it. So can you kind of tell us the role you played

[00:07:25] without better fact? She could say two or three the role of President Mr. Salem and then I have to just tell you and I know we won't talk about it. It could accent that like

[00:07:40] but dealing with a Republican majority city council with death schedule. Yeah. I know those are a lot of questions I've thrown at you but I think people really want to know what's behind the

[00:07:50] curtain Mr. Wizard? No, I got a lot of hard work. I think it was a true collaboration as you know once we identified the agreement, I thought it was excellent on the part of the mayor

[00:08:06] and then President Ron Salem. They were on the same page about getting the legislation passed prior to July 1. They understood the importance of making certain that we collaborate and got it done and that's what exactly happened. So I thought that was amazing. Ron did an amazing job

[00:08:32] of working with his team over there identifying exactly what meetings needed to occur made it really clear that if you don't get your questions answered we will not vote. I thought that was perfect

[00:08:46] on this part. The mayor on the other hand made certain that we did everything that we need to do to ensure that we have a fair contract. One that really took the resources of our people

[00:09:02] and made certain that we were put in the link to good use, that we were doing everything possible to ensure that we were keeping a Jaguar as here for the next 30 years. The Jaguars on the other

[00:09:14] hand did a major job as well. It started with Mark Lamping who was just absolutely fantastic. Work with him before in the capacity of Lord of Blue never as much as right now

[00:09:30] for this contract and it was really Mike and Mark, Mike Weinstein and Mark Lamping who did polka bewirp. Obviously when like would come back after having his conversations with Mark and then co-shaders on both sides, the consultants he would share many ideas with me in the mayor.

[00:09:53] I'm typically in the room to make certain that all the things that need to get done outside of that room that she's committed to that they occur and it was but it was those two

[00:10:07] really being master negotiators on behalf of both of their organizations and Mike just you know I pick you know he is a wizard he's very creative he understands the financials like no one

[00:10:24] is very experienced, very expert at this body of work and once again just to master the negotiator and so he would you know really bring to us the many ideas or the things that are being contemplated

[00:10:39] I've mixed certain here understood our position on those particular things the mayor would make those decisions and she would take them back and mix certain that he fought for them

[00:10:49] as much as he could but it was truly a collaboration when they came to the table they made it really clear and I want to say shotgun Mark Lamping they wanted to the the message to be clear

[00:11:03] to everyone in Jacksonville we are in Jacksonville to stay right we want to be here and even for this facility that the city owns they are spending half you know going in one half to make certain that is renovated now some people say it's 5545 technically this true

[00:11:24] but I just remind folks that there were over 200 million dollars of maintenance that we did not take care of right and part of that negotiation was to make certain that before any renovation is done

[00:11:36] that we took care of the maintenance component so that was on us in the beginning should have been on us and it we're just making certain that we're carrying it through but it's truly 5050

[00:11:47] and just the fact that they would be willing to do that with phenomenal but working with this council has been quite frankly amazing I you know we don't always agree but we respect one another yeah

[00:12:04] we can sit down we can have the conversations and even though we may not have an agreement we don't have to be disagreeable and I like that about this council I like that about

[00:12:17] brown I like that about Randy and pretty much all of the council persons they do they work hard they do the work necessary to make certain that they're representing their various districts and those five that large they make certain they represent those particular districts as well

[00:12:34] but I am here to tell you we are willing to have the conversations with one another that will better and best serve the people of Du Boe County and I think that's the part that

[00:12:46] really matters. Martin as you know there are two components to this deal one is the restoration or the refurbishing of the stadium and then there's the community benefit program which is about a 300 million dollar program at least it was when it started in this way and now

[00:13:04] I wanted to ask you how did you feel when they split that out from the program and when you guys gonna bring that back up yeah well you know we felt like the job was not complete that's what we felt

[00:13:17] you know at the end of the day we had a few of our council members who just really felt it best to have it broken out so that they can have an opportunity to look at it against the budget

[00:13:30] we certainly didn't agree that that was necessary and then of course we found ourselves in a scenario where several of the council members were somewhat conflicted to be able to vote on the legislation as it was

[00:13:45] as one piece of document they needed to instead break out the CBA in order to vote on the rest of the stadium and so there was a vote in order to do that but they stopped it on hold.

[00:13:58] So they did they really you're right you're right so a couple of them stood in vote held it then you maybe you can have them one two strength yeah and they can explain that

[00:14:11] but I would tell you trust me there are a lot of people who would like to know why I will not be opiny but I would tell you that you know we were able to get the parks then because that part of the

[00:14:24] CBA really wasn't a conflict and so it was really good to have the focus on the river front parks the other two out east and county white out east focuses on the economic development housing and homelessness county white focuses on workforce development housing and homelessness and so

[00:14:45] when you look at the out east piece there I think to a large degree everyone can kind of that this is a really really good thing it is an area that deserves the investment all of our

[00:15:00] communities deserve it by the landlord and so our intent long-term is to invest in many of the disinvested areas of our city that have not gotten a lot of the investment in the past

[00:15:15] and allow you to promise us and it will happen a lot of promises there were simply not kept and so calling the effective consolidation right and through a better Jackson that's right so the intent is

[00:15:25] to learn from this process make this significant investment make the improvements that we think we can make we think that we will be bolstered by all of the great development that is happening down in that area

[00:15:40] already with the stadium renovations and the things that are happening on the river front etc we think that will help in that particular area as well we're looking for something where many of the folks out east call with inch application with inch application instead of gentrification

[00:16:02] wanting people to come in inviting people but not pushing people who are there out and how do we work hard to do that to make certain that historically cultural area of our city is maintained

[00:16:21] for many, many years to come so the intent is to learn from this and see how we can apply it to other parts of our city as we go for one of them and one of your predecessors in

[00:16:34] the cheapest staff position Chris and was on recently with this week in Jacksonville on channel 4 a discussed the financing you're going to get into the weeds a little bit if I can and he pointed out

[00:16:46] that there may have to be some very serious conversations about financial resources because it's not just the money that's going to be needed and the bonding that's going to be needed for the for the

[00:16:57] stadium deal and the CBA but we've got the trio that's coming down the bike we've got a jail that's going to be moved at some point which has already been estimated to cost more than one billion dollars

[00:17:08] I understand that we have the bonding capacity to be able to afford or get the money necessary to do these projects but those bonds have to be payback. Can you explain this it's

[00:17:20] a little complicated with better jacks money and if you ever can you explain how that's going to be done and how we're going to be able to generate what revenues we need to pay off the bonds

[00:17:29] on all of these major projects that you're going to be facing yeah and I'll remind you in addition to the things you highlight it we did a number of other things as well we looked at

[00:17:40] the pay for our buyer yeah that will be totally perceptible or three years upon the business which was absolutely in this which was great because long overdue by the way long overdue but also quite frankly they simply were unable to be as competitive as they need to be

[00:18:00] to bring in and retain key resources needed to make certain that we are providing that public safety and so we're that is job one for the mayor I think everybody knows that and I think she

[00:18:15] demonstrated that so in addition to the things that you're highlighting there were a number of other things that we felt that was really important and the way we're going to go about doing it obviously

[00:18:26] is to one there have been I would say there are a number of things we pay for in the city that we need to evaluate you know are they bringing value and if not how do we

[00:18:41] perhaps not pay for those things going forward is a premature downhill to ask for specifics in that it is premature okay I'd rather obviously when we get ready to pray out the budget will

[00:18:55] share exactly some of those things might be I think we got to think differently you know one of the things that we're doing we're trying out is a lean process improvement approach we haven't seen

[00:19:10] that in the in the city I know you remember that from Florida blue this is a flashback well once you hear when we would sit with Pat Garrier or the other seat goes this is classic this is classic

[00:19:23] every year we go back is this is a supplies list you're right I mean you know I got the perfect person for this well it's your share with me you know just move to something called

[00:19:34] docu-sign it doc design has been available for me every year well but at the end of the day you know we're able to now move documents around for signature and retention without printing

[00:19:47] reams and reams of paper he's passing them on to person to person that way but we got to think differently as we continue to move forward and I think that is something I'd love to see us continue

[00:20:00] to do certain members and directors within our organization have just been marvelous when it comes to that our IT area is just really stepped up when you and he has just been amazing and so

[00:20:16] and I think you may know when you're in a conch Kendrick but she's just been amazing in how she has brought a very transparent approach to the work that we do very innovative and creative

[00:20:29] approach to things and just learning how to do things differently and many regards catching up without things are done in other parts into the world and so at or at least a business community and I think that's a big portion of what we're hoping to make certain habits.

[00:20:46] Another thing we're looking for is understanding you know how to make certain that when we look at our fees we're going to have a fee assessment to make certain that we have the appropriate

[00:20:57] revenues coming in for the things that we're actually doing and the services that we're performing and obviously a decision that would have to be made as to whether we make any changes of that

[00:21:10] when they get certain that we're thinking along those lines but needing to cut back is going to have to be a big part of what we do and that is how we're worth thinking about this work.

[00:21:22] Did Mr. Tomard? Yeah, Donnell, let's talk about the Laura Street trio for a minute here. Now that the the IA has ended this negotiations with the developer and it's in the hands of the city council. I have to say administration really feel about the trio and what's happening

[00:21:40] and is the mayor engaged at all and trying to get a deal done? The mayor is very much engaged and trying to get a deal done. We've asked for the opportunity to have proposals that

[00:21:56] are cost-ditutional and that we can absolutely afford as a city and we've had I want to say in the past let's say two months I think I've seen three at least three different proposals.

[00:22:14] As you know, DIA board voted to not move forward with that project with the current developer and we support that based upon the proposal that was in front of them. We we are committed to having those three buildings that represent the Laura Street trio renovated.

[00:22:36] The question becomes how do we get that done? We love very much to work with the developer by which to be able to have that but we have to do it in a way that we're utilizing city resources

[00:22:49] appropriately and the dollars that we're being requested in order to carry out this project just simply wasn't good business or isn't good business. And so that is why we've stepped away from we understand that it's going to the DIA special council, special committee now. We will be meeting

[00:23:08] obviously I'll have a conversation with Mr. Carico, the council and vice president who will be running that particular special committee and just share with them our perspective on it but the long and short of it is in no uncertain terms we want those three buildings renovated

[00:23:27] and that's our commitment. But given those conversations how do you see working with this finance committee or this data proof six six Republicans and one Democrat? How do you see that? Well just just remind you that you know it's 14 and five as a council where you need

[00:23:45] can and that's another day you know I think they're fair. I think the other day there are smart they're fair they give us a chance to have our day in court and give us a chance to

[00:24:00] make certain that we're making the appropriate appeal with the right data and information and I think because they are fair we believe that as long as we bring sound items in front of them

[00:24:14] I wish we should have every opportunity to be able to get those things passed the key at the other day is a focus on the people in this city what is best with this city and I do believe for

[00:24:25] the most part that's what each one. Yeah it's really interesting you say that after this year Mike Tolberg is always said on our show you can never over communicate and wouldn't the public particularly with the voter and he is said that is absolutely the key to success so

[00:24:41] and y'all are doing that. We're gonna have that that's not it got to wrap it up but before we do when we were talking about financing the big news the stadium and the CBA came to mind that

[00:24:53] Daniel has got a book that is that it's your call Jeremy Jerd I have a thing that worked and I was thinking that once you sell the movie rights to this to Netflix you should be able to

[00:25:05] guard her enough funding necessary to pay for all of the projects as a city of Jackson though. So Netflix if you're watching it's to give us a call we'll take care of for this and he says that

[00:25:18] and he's gonna play Darnell. We can talk about that well thank you. I think we'll be able to with us our thanks of course Alan Bliss and the folks of the Jacksonville Historical Society inside the Jacksonville History Center, our sponsor

[00:25:33] for Mike Sunbike and we appreciate the support to be getting from them and from the donors and to contribute to the show. That's it for this week thanks so much next time is our

[00:25:42] 52nd edition that will be our one-year anniversary I'd love to tell you what we're going to be doing but I have no idea if I'm gonna have to just tune in and find out or give us an idea or

[00:25:53] send us a message and we'd like you could do that as well thanks for joining us everybody we'll see you again. Mike Sunbike with Mike Talbert, Mike Hichauer and Mike Miller can be found on your favorite podcasting

[00:26:04] platform Facebook and YouTube. Visit the website at Mike'sonmic.com. Join us next time for more conversation with Mike'sonbike.