Jacksonville city councilwoman makes history as longest-serving female councilmember in consecutive years | Features

With her recent re-election, Jacksonville City Councilwoman Dr. Angelia Washington has made history as the longest-serving councilwoman in consecutive years. 

Washington was first elected to the city council in 2011, becoming the second African American woman to be elected to the Jacksonville City Council behind only former Councilwoman Fannie Coleman. 

Coleman technically served 14 years on the council, serving two years before taking an absence and then getting re-elected and serving for 12. Washington is going into her 13th straight year, making her the longest serving councilwoman in consecutive years, which will become official with her swearing-in on Dec. 5. 

Washington won back her Ward 4 seat earlier this month after beating out Juan Beltran in the municipal election, obtaining over 73% of the votes. 

“I got involved because I was asked by a former councilmember to consider running for politics,” Washington said about her start. “It was something that I was interested in but I wasn’t interested at the moment. I had recently relocated back home, and I was just trying to get my feet wet, trying to figure out which direction I was going in.”

At the time, Washington was going into her fifth year as a teacher with Onslow County Schools. She was then recruited by the federal government at Camp Lejeune to start the health sciences program at Lejeune High School, so she resigned from OCS.

About six months later, a group of community members met with Washington and asked her to consider running for office. 

“I really wasn’t interested because I had retired from Onslow County Schools, had started a brand-new job for Camp Lejeune and I had lost my mother,” Washington said. “I kept getting pressured and the group was relentless.”

Washington laughed that it seemed every time she had a weak moment, this group would approach her and ask her to run. She finally said yes, just to get them to stop. That November, Washington was elected to the Jacksonville City Council. 

“The first four years, I was like a little sponge just soaking up as much information as I could with regards to learning about politics, learning about procedures, government, because you can’t learn everything within one sitting,” Washington said. “It was a lot. Mind you, I was still working full-time and still grieving my mom, still getting my feet wet with Department of Defense.” 

After her initial four years, though, Washington began to see her leadership stepping forth. 

Throughout her time on the council, Washington became the first councilperson to receive an appointment to the National League of Cities Federal Advocacy Committee. After one year as a member, Washington served three years as vice chair before being appointed to the board of directors. 

“In addition, I also received one appointment from Governor Cooper,” Washington said. “Actually, my nomination to the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission came directly from Governor Cooper himself. So, not only did he appoint me, but he reappointed me, so I have two appointments from Governor Cooper.

Washington added she also served as vice chair of the Military Affairs Communities Council for the National League of Cities. 

“Just making my mark with the city of Jacksonville,” Washington said. “I did not envision this back in 2011. I was just merely wanting to be a servant leader and to do what was best for my community.” 

Washington also touched on the difficulties of being an elected official, specifically how harsh some constituents can be.  

“I think, at times, individuals expect for you to solve all of their problems when some of the problems may not be city council at all, it may just be a private citizen’s issue,” Washington said. “But when people have that trust in you, they see you more than just a councilmember, they see you as an ally, and I want to take time out to address whatever they may have, even if it’s nothing more than, ‘where did you say I need to go vote again?'” 

Washington said that trust is vital, because many don’t believe they have a genuine, transparent elected official representing them. 

She added that even in 2023, some people don’t want fairness or justice to prevail. She encourages local residents to do their homework before jumping on the political bandwagon.

One of the things Washington credits her success to is her time at Smith College in Northampton, MA, where she obtained her master’s in clinical social work. Smith College is part of the Seven Sisters, a group of historically women colleges that were the only places women could go to college back in the day, Washington explained. 

She called Smith the “premier college of political first families,” as women like Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Yolanda King, Julia Child and Gloria Steinem graduated from Smith College. 

“I just feel like I’m walking in tall cotton knowing that I walked the same grounds that they walked and although my degree is different, I have a degree from an institution such as these great women,” Washington said. “It’s my desire to do just as great as they did.”

As her new term begins, Washington said she’s looking forward to the next four years and hopes more people will become engaged. 

She said local politics and local government is where it all begins, and it’s what transforms the nation. She said people really come out for presidential and midterm elections, but not so much for municipals. 

“We’re still vying for constituents to come out and cast your vote because it does make a difference and you can see change,” Washington said. “Local politics is where it’s at and if people don’t come out, many people are going to be sitting at the table making decisions about you and you may not be happy with the decisions that they’re making.”

Washington will take the oath of office on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. 

Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@jdnews.com.