I stand with Judy Mount

Dear Florida Democrats:

I looked to the back of the church, and she was smiling.  Judy Mount pulled it off -- she had tricked me.

Judy, my dearest of friends, had invited me to come to church with her.  I was honored and of course I said yes.

But what she didn’t tell me was that coming to church meant I was going to be speaking to 100 AME ministers and deacons from all across North Florida.  She was smart enough to know my nerves as a 20-something kid would have been enough for me to find a way out. 

I immediately followed the Bishop, who had given a rousing sermon, and I rambled until I got an Amen, then settled in.  She had set me up -- and she knew I would be OK.  I was OK.  I grew up that day, as she knew I would. 

Judy Mount. 

In a week or so, you will select Florida’s delegates to serve on the Democratic National Committee.  There are a lot of great choices, a lot of people I like a lot.  

But one stands above the rest -- the one I hope will be on every single ballot:  Judy Mount.

Now, I recognize there is a better than average chance you already know Judy.  

We all know she’s a committed and loyal Democrat.  

We all know she’s answered the call whenever asked, even once stepping into Chair the party in a moment of crisis -- in the process becoming the first African American to ever serve as Florida Democratic Party Chair.  

We all know how much time she spends mentoring young leaders through the internship program she manages in the Florida Capitol.  And well, if you don’t know about the Boots and Blues event she puts on every year in her county, well, that’s on you.

But I want to take a second to tell you about the Judy I know – the Judy who has been my friend for almost 25  years, the Judy who I’ve relied on for counsel and support throughout my career, and the Judy who is now family to me.

When I first met Judy, she was a part-time assistant working for a committee in the Florida House of Representatives.  Our offices were next door. Judy decided we were going to be friends.  

Soon thereafter, Judy and I both moved to the House Democratic Office – me working for a member who was rising through leadership, and Judy as the office’s new administrative assistant (she's now risen to the role of Deputy Staff Director).

For about 4 years, we worked together every day.  There are three things you learn about Judy when you work with her:  

First, Judy treats every human she meets, from the person picking up the office garbage, to the Presidentof the United States, with the same level of grace and dignity.  To Judy, your decency as a human always matters more than your title.

Secondly, she suffers no fools. At a time as a party when we need leaders who are going to tell it straight, that is Judy Mount.

Finally, because of the first two, she’s as respected as anyone who works in that building.   Spend an hour in Judy’s office, and you’ll see visitors ranging from interns, to legislators of both parties, to folks on the maintenance staff.   They come to seek her advice, and just to earn her grace. 

But the thing I admire the most about her:  Judy just does the work.  

In the Democratic office, she’s organized a model leadership program for young interns, and she not only guides them when they are under her leadership, she mentors them as they move into their life.  At the party level, Judy is always there,  organizing volunteers, recruiting candidates, and raising money. 

Moreover, Judy does the work where the work is hard.  Judy works in a rural, very Republican part of the state.  But she doesn’t let that discourage her.  She just works harder. 

And in my case, she made sure I did the work too.  

Back to that church story.   In the parking lot, I said “Judy, with all due respect, WTF?”

She said “Steve, you did great. One day it will make sense. Trust me.”

Judy really encouraged me in 2008 to work for the Obama campaign, so when I got hired to run then-Senator Obama’s campaign in Florida in 2008, Judy was one of my first calls.  When I expressed some nervousness, she quickly stops me:  “Steve, you got this.  we got this.  Remember when I took you to church?  I wanted you to make sure you had done the work – those ministers will do anything to help you, and I wanted you to know you could do anything after getting through that talk.”  And she was right.

I’ve been around this party to know there are a lot of people who are nothing but talk.  They just want to serve on the DNC to go to the parties, and have the title.  That’s not Judy Mount.  Judy is going to the DNC to do the work – and I know she will use the platform for one reason – and one reason only – to fight to make sure Florida gets its share of national donor attention.

Judy is no longer my friend - she is my family.  To this day, there isn't a day that I walk in the Capitol that I don't stop to get her perspective on this or that.  She’s been there for me through three successful Presidential campaigns.  And now that we face some of our toughest challenges, you can count on her to be there for us.

I will always support Judy Mount.  I strongly urge you to do the same.

Sincerely.

Steve Schale