Retired Florida Blue executive Darnell Smith returned to Jacksonville City Hall as Mayor Donna Deegan's chief of staff on Aug. 10, filling that post days before City Council takes up Deegan's proposed budget with an eye toward cutting it.
Smith previously served as her chief of staff in 2024 through an "executive on loan" arrangement with Jacksonville-based Florida Blue when the insurance company paid his salary.
This time around, he has retired from Florida Blue and the city will pay the salary for his work at City Hall. He will earn $277,000 per year.
Smith's return fills out the top leadership roster in the mayor's office. The chief of staff typically is involved in talks with City Council members about the budget and other legislative matters
while coordinating the daily operations of the mayor's office.
“Darnell is the rare type of leader who brings decades of executive experience combined with genuine humility and an unending desire to help people,” Deegan said in the Aug. 10 announcement. “Jacksonville is a city on the rise, and we’ll only climb higher with Darnell returning to lead our talented team.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our city and building on the momentum that Mayor Deegan has created,” Smith. “It’s an honor to be part of a team that is working to make Jacksonville safer, healthier, and more affordable for everyone.”
Smith was co-chair of Deegan's transition team when she won election in 2023.
After Smith became chief of staff in January 2024, he shifted back to Florida Blue later that year and Mike Weinstein replaced him in September 2024. Deegan named Weinstein chief administrative officer in December 2025.
Smith retired earlier this year from Florida Blue where he was North Florida market president for a 36-county area. He worked three decades for Florida Blue.
Outside of Florida Blue, he has been on boards for the Sulzbacher Center, Cathedral Arts Project, First Coast YMCA, LIFT JAX, JAX Chamber, JAXUSA Policy Council, United Way of Northeast Florida, A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity and Impact Fund, and Blue Zones Jacksonville.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Darnell Smith back as City Hall as Mayor Deegan's chief of staff
