COURTHOUSE — Delceno Miles, a marketing and public relations executive who served on the School Board in the mid-1990s, will represent the Bayside District on the City Council until the end of this year.
The City Council appointed Miles from among three finalists to complete the unexpired term of City Councilmember Louis Jones, who died this summer. The other finalists considered for the appointment were Ronald Ripley, a real estate executive who served on the Planning Commission, and Charlotte Zito, an English teacher who serves on the 5/31 Memorial Committee.
“I’m grateful and humble and excited to get to work,” Miles said during an interview with The Independent News.
“Certainly, there’s no replacing Louis Jones,” she said “I want to honor his service and legacy.”
The council appointed Miles to serve the Bayside seat on Tuesday, Aug. 9, in a 9-1 vote. City Councilmember Michael Berlucchi nominated Miles. City Councilmember John Moss cast the vote in support of Zito, whom he had nominated for the appointment.
Following the vote, Mayor Bobby Dyer thanked Ripley and Zito for stepping forward to serve. “It was a tremendously difficult decision,” he said.
Miles was sworn in later in the week, and she took her place on the dais at City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 16.
Miles told The Independent News she looked forward to continuing to serve her hometown and help guide important issues that are on the horizon, including discussions about Atlantic Park and Rudee Loop. She said she hopes to use her time on council to address issues that are close to her heart, such as affordable housing.
“I’m going to be available and accessible just like Louis was,” Miles said, “and I’m going to remain an advocate for the people who are paying the taxes, paying the bills.”
During her first formal meeting on the council on Aug. 16, Miles spoke about the need for affordable housing during a discussion about a development proposal.
“I just want to make sure at some point the development community can collaborate with the city to create that inventory for that young professional, for that police officer … our veterans and our seniors,” she said.
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