Former City Chief of Staff Pat McCollough. | Pat McCollough Facebook
Published on December 18, 2023 at 2:22 pm
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After just under six months on the job, Pat McCollough has left as Mayor Donna Deegan’s chief of staff.
There is no word on why the retired U.S. Marine sergeant major, who served as Deegan’s transition adviser and election campaign manager, has left City Hall.
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In a brief statement to the news media, Deegan said McCollough is “considering how she wants to serve next” after many years of working in politics and government.
“I’m truly grateful for her leadership,” the mayor’s statement said. “Under Pat’s guidance, we won a hard fought campaign, smoothly transitioned into office and made significant progress for Jacksonville, including unanimous passage of our bipartisan task force legislation.”
Besides serving as chief of staff and campaign manager, McCollough has led regional, state and national public health, political, organizing and advocacy campaigns.
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City officials gave no indication who would replace. McCollough, who made $230,000 a yea rin the position. More information is coming, officials said.
McCollough was announced in June as one of 13 people joining Deegan’s executive staff when she took office July 1. But some of those people have resigned or withdrawn themselves from consideration.
Lakesha Burton, director of community initiatives resigned recently due to the health concerns of her husband, Greg Burton, as he recovers from a stroke.
Former City Councilman Al Ferraro, who ran against Deegan, was named to head the Neighborhoods Department. But Deegan withdrew that nomination at his request, after learning Ferraro did not have the required college degree or management experience for the position.
Former City Council member Randy DeFoor took her name out of contention for the city’s general counsel position due to concern over a state rule that does not allow a former council member to be hired in what some called a lobbying position for two years.
