Meet Angela Jones

For the Columbus mayor’s assistant, connecting with the public and great co-workers make for a fulfilling job

Former Dispatch news editor Miles Layton sat down with Angela Jones just two weeks after she was hired as newly-elected Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin’s executive assistant and Action Center clerk for the city.

You started two weeks ago. Are you enjoying the job?

I’m enjoying it! I did not expect this. I expected, as ugly as it sounds, I expected a little more negativity. I didn’t know how I would be received, but it has been, it’s been like a dream. People have been very welcoming, extremely welcoming.

On my very first day, I asked Yolanda Smith if she could take the phone calls for about two hours so I could get my space to where I could be productive in it. She said, “Take all the time you need,” and that was huge for me. So it was really, really small gestures. The “take your time,” “we’re here for you,” “you doing okay?” That has meant more to me than they will ever know. I think you have to adjust accordingly because you never know what’s gonna pop in or pop up, but I’m taking it all in stride.

What is (Mayor Keith Gaskin) like to work with? Is he a good guy?

He’s ok. [laughs] No, Mayor Keith Gaskin — which I have to remember to call him “mayor” because that is his title — he’s awesome to work for. He is extremely welcoming and wants to be a part of everything that is going on in the community. My concern is that he may burn out because he genuinely wants to be a part of everything and wants to meet everybody.

And we know that’s just not humanly possible. So I’m just trying to reel him in and make sure he’s using his time wisely. But the way he responds to the community and the people, it’s amazing. It was my second day and I got a call and a lady was upset with what was going on in her neighborhood. And he was like, “Do I need to go over there?” And I was like, I don’t know if you need to go there or not, or you may want to get somebody to go with you, but he was like, “I’ll tell my nine o’clock I’ll be a few minutes late. I need to go check on her.” And he did that. He doesn’t take lightly any phone call, any visit, any comment. He’s here to serve and that’s exactly what I have witnessed since I started working here.

What’s your typical day like? 

A lot of phone calls on phone calls and unexpected visits.

Lots of phone calls, scheduling and visits. I try to put my best foot forward and smile and have a friendly face because a lot of times they just want somebody to listen.

What do you like to do? What are your hobbies? 

I like working out, going to fitness classes. I went back to yoga yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks. I like the spin classes, walking, exercise and being out in nature. And I’ve been married for almost 24 years to Terrell Jones, and I have a 21-year-old daughter, Morgan, who recently graduated from the W in April with a degree in marketing. And I have a 15-year-old son, Kyle, who just received his driver’s permit last week. He’s a sophomore at Columbus High School.

You went to the W, right?

Yes, I graduated from the W in ‘93 with a degree in journalism, public relations.

Did you ever see yourself working for the mayor’s office or city?

No, never, never. When I graduated from the W in ‘93, I worked in public affairs there for maybe two years. Then I left and took several other jobs before going back to the W in October 2002. I was going to retire from the W. That was it, that’s where I was going to be, and that’s where I was for almost 19 years. But no, never, never saw any of this. Never.

How did you and the mayor meet?

When I first worked in public affairs at the W, I was a secretary. Keith was a photographer, so we were coworkers. So I’ve known Keith — excuse me, Mayor Gaskin — 38 years.

Do you think you’re making a difference?

Yes, I feel like in my short time here the people in the community have really just been so supportive. And when I get the phone calls back, when they say, “thank you”... That’s it. Yes, I made a difference.

Something I consider simple but is a big thing to citizens, is making sure the debris at the end of the driveway are picked up in a timely manner. It can be something as small as that. Or it could be something that’s dealing with the pavement. I had a call last week in which a business owner was not too pleased with how the repaving was going. I got in contact with the city engineer and his staff who jumped right on it. And the man called back the next day and said, “I just wanted to say they were so attentive and they handled it so quickly. So I just wanted to say, thank you.” 

I’m not familiar with the Action Center. It’s new to me. 

It’s new to me as well, and I was scared. I thought I would get probably 50 calls a day for the Action Center. But it’s not 50 calls a day, it’s more like 50 calls a week.

When I miss a call Tabatha in public works may get it, or Greg in IT may get it. So when I say there is a great team here, there’s a great team here, and I’m never alone. The support is awesome.

You grew up here, right?

I grew up in Steens, out in the country.

What does it feel like to serve your community?

I always felt I was serving my community in some capacity, whether that was going to the schools to volunteer my time or mentoring high school students at Columbus High for the Lowndes Young Leaders program. So I always felt like I was doing something, but this is a new level. So this is same mindset, bigger platform.

Where did you go to high school?

New Hope High School.

What year did you graduate? 

1989

What did you do in high school? 

I was a bat girl, member of Beta Club, student council, homecoming court, reporter for my school newspaper, just stuff like that.

You seem very acquainted with this. I think you’ll do very well here.

Well thank you, I appreciate that. I don’t think either of us imagined this. Every now and then I’ll just go to Mayor Gaskin’s office, and he’ll say, “Did you think all those years ago that we would end up here together?” and we’re both like, “No, not this.”

I just can’t say enough about the city of Columbus employees. They’re a good group of people who are working together for the betterment of the city. My coworkers, they rock.

PHOTO BY AUSTIN FRAYSER