Cindy Jolley – Recognized Servant Leader for Mexico Beach City Council

I’m Cindy Jolley, born in Phenix City, Alabama and raised in Columbus, Georgia. I have been married to Mike Jolley for 43 years and we have two adult children and 7 grandchildren. While Mike served in the US Army for twenty years and retired, I continued my college education and developed career experience within the Federal Government Civil Service and Corporate Banking and public service. I graduated from Troy State University with a Major in Criminal Justice and Minor in Business and General Studies. I served on the City Council for Hamilton, Georgia for two terms with oversight for the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services for the City. I also supported the strategic planning, policy review and development, problem resolutions, community beautification initiatives, and resolution of citizens concerns. I retired from Synovus Financial Corporation where I served in several areas culminating as a Director, Vice President in Human Resources, Payroll, in support of daily operations, business acquisitions and development, as well as, technology software system implementations and upgrades for a decentralized workforce. I was awarded the Synovus William B. Turner award for Servant Leadership award which recognizes outstanding philanthropic contributions and community service.

My introduction and developed love for Mexico Beach began in 2014 when we purchased a very small townhouse on the beachside of highway 98 of the “Forgotten Coast” of Mexico Beach. In 2018 through 2022, we worked to recover from the destruction of Hurricane Michael, rebuild and now it is my “home”. There were many observations throughout that period, the major impact to the infrastructure of Mexico Beach, business, homes, and lives changed as we faced the brutal destruction of Hurricane Michael. Suddenly there were “new building codes”, what once was city managed operations was “outsourced” to assist in the cleanup, recovery, and rebuilding oversight of Mexico Beach. The escalation of pricing of building materials, lack of skilled labor, and lack of housing and employment of local families who were wanting to remain in Mexico Beach, property sold, new people, the political climate, and of course Covid. When 85% of homes and businesses were wiped out overnight, people came together in crisis. The following days, many residents throughout the United States may have had their first look at Mexico Beach.

I am seeking a position on the City Council as an experienced servant leader and business person. There’s work to be done and we need cohesiveness in rebuilding our community trust, relationships, and to be good ambassadors of Mexico Beach.

We need to work together in completing the required audits and maintain regulatory compliance, implement best business practices, quality controls, seeing that we get the best pricing, strive to reduce the taxes, strategic planning and complete projects on-time, within budget. Prioritization of the infrastructure, flood prevention measures, quality cleanup completion, regulatory compliance, defining and measuring service deliverables and engaging the community in decision making and defining and managing growth within Mexico Beach is a must.

(Bay County Coastal does not endorse candidates.)