Hertzberg’s Heroes: Vol. II, Issue I
Millie Jones
Welcome to Hertzberg’s Heroes! Every month, Team Hertzberg will highlight an organization or individual who exemplifies heroism through their dedication to making life better for the San Fernando Valley. Have a Hero to suggest? Submit your idea to Senator.Hertzberg@sen.ca.gov!
Millie Jones, a longtime public servant in the San Fernando Valley, discovered the importance of public service from the lessons she learned from her father about giving back to their community. Some may know her from her role as a Deputy for former County Supervisor Mike Antonovich or for her work for former Councilmember Mitch Englander. To many, Millie is a smiling and familiar face at community events in the San Fernando Valley. She volunteers with the Northridge Kiwanis club regularly and it’s not rare that you’ll see her helping a community event in the North San Fernando Valley.
Millie was born and raised in Virginia, where she attended college and started her own business. Through her business experience she became more involved in the political and public sphere. When she moved to California, she continued her work in public service in the San Fernando Valley and her legacy for being a dedicated public service has permeated.
Here are Millie’s Top Ten Public Service Tips for anyone who wants to invest more deeply in giving back to their community:
MILLIE’S TOP TEN PUBLIC SERVICE TIPS
On Building Relationships
1. “First of all, you have to have your own integrity and it doesn’t happen overnight like elected officials that become statesmen. It takes months and years of building those contacts.”
The Importance of Dependability
2. “…Dependability, more than anything else. Doing what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it.”
On Being a Reflection of your Office
3. “When you’re in public, you’re a reflection of that elected official.”
On Community Concerns
4. “It’s very important to be proactive, not reactive.”
5. “Your working groups: your council on the local level, on the county level you had town councils, and in the city of LA you had neighborhood councils, and that’s a good place where you can get a sense as to what’s going on and what the issues are…”
Staying True to Your Principles
6. “Be true to your principles. Never compromise your principles.”
On Community Involvement
7. “A good elected official will be out in the community with his or her people. They will go to all the various events. You glean an incredible amount of what’s going on in the community by going to a chamber of commerce meeting, by going to some of the non-profit groups to see what’s going on there.”
On Having a Good Public Standing
8. “Your reputation is so important. If you lose it, you might as well pack up and go home.”
On Navigating New Opportunities
9. “To give as much sufficient notice as you can when you’re going on to move on in your career.”
There’s Always More to Learn
10. “One of my big lessons in life, is to take wise counsel from those around you.”
