JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ponte Vedra's Susie Wiles was named White House chief of staff for the new Donald Trump administration, the first woman in history to be named to that position.
Wiles broke her first barrier at Jacksonville City Hall when she was named chief of staff by Mayor John Delaney in 1995. That was the first time in Jacksonville's history that a woman held that role. She continued to make an impact on Jacksonville and some who know her best say she's going to make an impact on the nation.
"Let me also express my tremendous appreciation for Susie and Chris, the job you did," said President-elect Trump during his acceptance speech on election night.
During his speech, Trump tried to bring Wiles into the spotlight.
"Susie likes to stay sort of in the back," said Trump. "But let me tell you, the Ice Maiden, we call her the Ice Maiden."
Wiles worked with every Republican mayor in Jacksonville since 1995 and was a consultant for former Mayor Lenny Curry in 2015.
"It's surreal to me that somebody that I know from Jacksonville, from this area that I've known for years, that is a friend, is going to be in that job," said Curry. "This was decades in the making, all the work she did for this community under Mayor Delaney, Mayor Peyton, she gave me all the help when I ran."
"She's very, very steady," Curry added. "Keeps the trains running on time, making sure things get done."
New York Post writer A.G. Gancarski believes Wiles will have her fingerprints on the direction of the second Trump administration.
"She's going to be a massive influence on this administration because Donald Trump trusted her on the campaign process," said Gancarski, who added that Wiles has extensive political experience and influence with all political parties.
"They know she's a fair broker, an honest broker," said Gancarski. "She's got deep relationships in this community and the state. Ultimately Trump's election was good for the state at large, I think Wiles will be also."
Wiles is also credited with being a major factor in the implementation of the half penny sales tax to fund the Better Jacksonville Plan in 2000. The half penny sales tax was extended to help supplement the city's pension fund under the Curry administration.
"She shaped a lot of policy and a lot of policy going forward even after she was out of office," said Gancarski.
"She helped get Ron DeSantis elected, get Rick Scott elected," said Curry. "Not just helped, but top of the campaign and here we are after all the years of work, major finger prints on Jacksonville, major signature on our city."
Wiles isn't the only person with ties to Jacksonville politics who might be involved with the new presidential administration. Brian Hughes was also part of Lenny Curry's administration and was a senior advisor on Trump's campaign staff.