Darnell Smith named as Mayor Deegan's new chief of staff after Pat McCollough exits

One of Mayor Donna Deegan’s top advisers is leaving the position almost six months after accepting the role.

Darnell Smith, Florida Blue North Region Market president, will replace Pat McCollough as Deegan’s chief of staff on Jan. 2.

Smith will work as an “executive on loan” from the insurance company, the mayor’s office said in a Tuesday news release, with Florida Blue still paying his salary and providing benefits. Smith will work for the city full-time and will not do any work for Florida Blue while in the office. COJ and Florida Blue have not yet finalized a contract.

He previously worked as co-chair of Deegan’s transition team and on a number of community boards, including the Sulzbacher Center, Jax Chamber, LIFT Jax and United Way of Northeast Florida.

“It’s an honor to answer the call to serve Mayor Deegan and people across Jacksonville,” Smith said in a press statement. “I believe in her vision of an inclusive and thriving city that works for all of us – and the shared value that our community is stronger when it’s united.”

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This is not the first time the city has hired an "executive on loan," Phil Perry from the mayor's office told the Times-Union. Florida Blue has entered into similar contracts with other employees.

The company's current business contracts with city entities, including providing health insurance plans through 2027 and leasing an office space to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, were additionally already in place. Perry said the office did not expect any conflicts for Smith.

"We’ve had extensive discussions about this matter before finalizing the agreement and do not anticipate conflicts of interest," Perry said. "That said, in the event of any potential conflict, Darnell would simply recuse himself from the discussion."

The city could not provide a resignation or termination letter for McCollough because she is “currently exploring other roles with the city,” Perry said.

McCollough worked as Deegan’s campaign manager prior to taking the cabinet position. Deegan credited her in the statement with helping pass the administration’s first slew of transition team programs. 

“After working many years in politics and government, Pat is considering how she wants to serve next,” Deegan said in a statement last week. “I’m truly grateful for her leadership.”

Deegan said in a statement she was "excited and grateful" that Smith would be joining the team.

“He will build upon our administration’s early successes, and with decades of experience anda deep love of Jacksonville, I believe he will maximize this transformational moment in time for our city," she said.

City Council President Ron Salem called Smith a "super guy" who already knows "all or most of the council."

"I have always found him to be a fantastic listener and he has been engaged in various not-for-profits all over the city," Salem said. "I think he's a wonderful choice and I'm tickled to death that he's willing to come on board in the government for some period of time."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Deegan replaces Pat McCollough with Darnell Smith as chief of staff