Meet Connie…
Connie was raised in Clay County and is a 1979 graduate of Orange Park High School. She went on to complete her Undergrad degree at Newberry College and a Graduate degree at the University of Georgia. She is Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker both in Georgia and Florida. She has been in practice for the past 29 years and is presently a private practitioner at Grace House Counseling Center.
While residing in Georgia in 2006, Connie became activated in her community through a severe environmental crisis that impacted her family and her neighbors. This activation ultimately led her to create an Environmental Task Force resulting in speeches before the Georgia Senate Oversight Committee and placement on a Federal Panel through the CDC-ATSDR where she worked to identify ways to mitigate toxic emergencies across our nation.
Connie’s return to Clay County was in 2010 and in 2014 she and her husband Tony Steve began residing in the Town of Orange Park – drawn there like many others because of the beautiful Live Oaks and the surrounding waterways.
Connie’s passion for her community became readily evident as a founding member of Citizens for a Greater Orange Park – a group seeking to promote a dynamic and inclusive community vision for the Town. It was out of this community group that she sought a position for Town Council.
Connie has brought a broad vision with a dynamic work ethic and a laser focus for results to the Town Council. A snapshot of her many accomplishments thus far include:
Waterways ownership and restoration expanded with continuity under the Environmental Quality Board
Youth Homelessness resulting in the creation of the Clay Youth Connection
Preservation of Mid-Century Modern homes and the activation of the now Citizens group TOP MOD
Preservation of the Orange Park Normal School through the partnership of the Orange Park Historical Society with State Marker Placement at Town Hall
Creation of the Orange Park Athletic Alumni Association to assist youth in financial need with the ability to play a sport
Appointment to the Clay County Tourism Development Council and Chair of the Product Development Sub-Committee
Appointment to Board of Directors of the Northeast Florida League of Cities
Connie is grateful for the opportunity to serve a second term on the Town Council. She knows that when the will of the people and will of government become aligned the higher good for all will always be served! Her laser focus will remain on that alignment! She was sworn in as Mayor on May 21, 2019.