ABOUT ME

Sandy Golding Jacksonville Beach City CouncilMy name is Sandy Golding and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Jacksonville Beach as the Vice Mayor and District 3 Seat 6 representative on the Jacksonville Beach City Council.

I was raised in Huntsville, Alabama and attended Auburn University where I earned a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering. I have over 15 years experience in Project Management, including experience leading international development projects for Motorola. For the last 15 years, I have worked with local nonprofit organizations and I am currently employed as a National Volunteer Specialist for the national animal welfare nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society.

I have been married to my husband Jim for 35 years and we have been residents of Jacksonville Beach for 24 years. Jim grew up in Jacksonville Beach and graduated from Fletcher High School. I enjoy travelling, sailing, running, yoga and fostering shelter dogs and helping them find wonderful forever homes.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Sandy Golding Jacksonville Beach City CouncilFor the last 23 years, I have been actively involved in Jacksonville Beach issues because I care about our special beach community and I want to see it remain a great place for us to live, work and play.

As the Founder and President of the nonpartisan civic organization Beaches Watch, I have made a difference in our community by organizing community conversations and educating and engaging citizens in the issues that impact our quality of life.

 

Prior to my election, I led the following community efforts:

  • Founder and President of the nonpartisan civic organization Beaches Watch, Inc. (2004 to present)
  • Led the effort to pass the 35-foot height limit in Jacksonville Beach
  • Led the effort to open the first public dog park in Jacksonville Beach, Paws Park at Wingate Park (2001 – 2005)
  • Founder and President of Friends of Paws Park; managed the dog park volunteers, fundraisers and improvements for the dog park (2005 – 2010)
  • Led the effort to keep a waste transfer station from being built within half mile of two elementary schools and hospital in Jax Beach
  • Organized a bus trip to Tallahassee in support of preservation of marshlands in Jacksonville Beach

I have also been involved in the following:

  • Participated in the creation of the Jacksonville Beach Downtown Vision Plan and Downtown Action Plan
  • Participated in successful efforts to save the Beaches Branch Library
  • Participated in successful efforts to save the St. Johns River Ferry
  • Participated in successful efforts to preserve the Mayport fishing village when a cruise ship terminal was proposed
  • Beaches representative on the Water Coalition in support of the Riverkeeper efforts to protect the St. Johns River from surface withdrawals and nutrient damage
  • Served on Mayport CRA Citizens Advisory Council (appointed by Jacksonville City Council member Bill Gulliford)
  • Served on Neptune Beach Animal Ordinance Committee (appointed by Neptune Beach Mayor Dick Brown)
  • Served on Jacksonville Beach Chief of Police selection committee
  • Jacksonville Beach Citizen Police Academy (CPA) graduate, 2005
  • Jacksonville Beach Police Department CPA Alumni Association volunteer
  • St. Paul’s Catholic Church, parishioner and music ministry member
  • Leadership Jacksonville graduate, 2007
  • Jacksonville Animal Advisory Committee, founder and Chair (2008 – 2011)
  • Jacksonville Animal Welfare Coalition, Chair (2011 – 2012)

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Home Rule Hero, Florida League of Cities (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • Paul Harris Fellow – Rotary International
  • 2011 HandsOn Earth Award
  • 1000 Friends of Florida – Community Steward Award
  • Sierra Club – Community Activism Award

ENDORSEMENTS

I am honored to have received endorsements from these outstanding community leaders:

Bill Gulliford, Jacksonville City Councilor (2011 to 2019)
Charlie Latham, Jacksonville Beach Mayor (2012 – 2020)
Bruce Thomason, Jacksonville Beach City Councilor (2014 to present)
Lee Buck, Jacksonville Beach City Councilor (2004 – 2012, 2014 – 2018)
Fland Sharp, Jacksonville Beach Mayor (2004 – 2012)
Penny Christian, Jacksonville Beach Mayor Pro-tem/City Councilor (2004 – 2012)
Steve Hartkemeyer, Jacksonville Beach City Councilor (2006 – 2014)
Tom Taylor, Jacksonville Beach City Councilor (2006 – 2014)
Nancy Broner, School Board Representative (2002 to 2010)
Elaine Brown, Neptune Beach Mayor (2016 – present)
Harriet Pruette, Neptune Beach Mayor (2008 – 2016)
John Weldon, Neptune Beach Vice-Mayor/City Councilor (2002 – 2010)
Ellen Glasser, Atlantic Beach Mayor (2017 – 2022)
Terry Deloach, Jacksonville Beach Planning Commission (1994 – 2017)
Linda Lanier, community leader