Cassandra Jackson: Best bet for Tallahassee city attorney and community

By Dorothy Inman-Johnson
Special to the Outlook

Since the Jan. 17, Tallahassee City Commission Meeting, I have been trying to figure out why three Commissioners feel we need a head hunter to lead a second national search for the City Attorney vacancy, when their interviews of finalists from the first national search proved they already have the best in Cassandra Jackson. She is already doing the job as interim City Attorney, has an outstanding record of service with the City as Senior Assistant City Attorney, Deputy City Attorney, and now interim City Attorney. She stood head and shoulders above the other two finalists in qualifications, experience, and credentials. I know because I served on the City Search Committee for this position, and had the opportunity to review all nine applications for the position that included Attorney Jackson’s application and the two other finalists. I was not present at the City Commission meeting, however, and do not know what rationale Commissioner Nancy Miller and Commissioner Gil Ziffer gave for their refusal to support the motion to appoint Jackson. Commissioner Maddox indicated he was not prepared to vote at that meeting and preferred to delay the vote until January 31. Hopefully, at that meeting he will do the right thing. Attorney Jackson has earned their support.

 
For starters, she has over 20 years of experience as a local government attorney beginning as Assistant City Attorney in St Petersburg Florida in 1987, Assistant County Attorney for the Leon County Commission in 1991, and Assistant City Attorney for Lakeland Florida before joining the City Attorney team in Tallahassee. Her local government legal experience covers a wide range of areas beneficial to the City of Tallahassee. They include labor and employment, land use, code enforcement, contract law, public records, public meetings, and ethics. She has represented the City of Tallahassee in arbitrations, state court, and federal court; as well as providing sound legal counsel to the Mayor and City Commissioners, executive, and staff leadership teams throughout her tenure. In addition to her legal experience at the municipal and county level, she served as Chief State Labor Counsel and Deputy General Counsel for the Florida Department of Management Services (April 2002-September 2003), and temporarily filled positions for the City of Tallahassee as Human Resource Manager and interim Assistant City Manager for Transportation and Land Management, demonstrating her high level administrative skills. Those skills are much needed in managing the almost 30-member City Attorney team and contracted attorneys as needed. None of the other candidates had the breadth of experience that Jackson has.

 
Attorney Jackson has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1987, 31 years. She is, also, a member of the Middle District of Florida, the 11th Federal Circuit in Atlanta Georgia, and the Northern District of Florida.  She is among an exclusive group of municipal attorneys with certification by the Florida Bar Board in local government law. Only 7 percent  of Florida local government attorneys have received this certification.

 
Further, she has the support of both of her former bosses, former City Attorney Jim English and most recent former City Attorney Lew Shelley. They know well the needs of that branch of City government and her ability to manage it. There is no good reason to procrastinate in confirming her as the next City Attorney for the City of Tallahassee. For those demanding a new national search with a high priced head hunter, I say ridiculous. They are not likely to find anyone more qualified than Jackson. It would be a waste of tax dollars that could be better used to serve the needs of city residents; and a disservice to this outstanding public servant. In addition, her years of experience with the City of Tallahassee give her insights into the problems that exist that an outsider with less experience and exposure just would not have.  She would not need on-the-job training or orientation. She is already doing the job.

 
I am reminded of the Florida A & M University search for President. For years Dr. Robinson, now President Robinson, was overlooked as the university selected others in national searches. At the same time, they were confident enough in Robinson’s ability to appoint him interim President during each of these searches for people who did not work out. They learned a hard lesson before finally appointing him President.  I only hope the City of Tallahassee does not make the same mistake. And just to be clear, this is not about gender or ethnicity. This is about qualifications. And Interim City Attorney Cassandra Jackson is by far the most qualified to fill this Appointed Official position in the City of Tallahassee. Tallahassee residents should attend the January 31 City Commission Meeting and watch their government in action.
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