Gold returns to fire service

Jeff Gold and two other Marion County Fire Rescue officials address a large brushfire that involved multiple structures in the Florida Highlands in 2021. [Submitted]

A month and a half after Jeff Gold’s resignation as a Marion County Commissioner, he has returned to fire service, this time with The Villages Public Safety Department as a division chief of administration.

“When I left the commission in early June, my only plans were to continue working part-time, and to finish the book I had started detailing what I had experienced as a politician in my six years as a commissioner, but I was told about the position with The Villages Public Safety Department and applied. I went through the competitive hiring process, was offered the job, and started July 10,” Gold explained.

Gold probably could have had his pick of fire departments to join, given his long-decorated history as a first responder. He has a doctorate in education, master’s degrees in fire and emergency services and criminal justice, a graduate certificate in emergency management, graduate and undergraduate studies in business and emergency medical services, and is a state certified fire officer, inspector and investigator.

“The Villages Public Safety is a growing and progressive fire department with excellent leadership and support of the administration,” Gold said.

“In 2020, when the pandemic hit, both my wife and I saw the strain on our healthcare providers and first responders. She is a nurse, and I am a firefighter paramedic, so we both started volunteering in our community and then later went part-time, working around my commission schedule to fill in the gaps left by those who quit,” Gold stated.

Returning to full-time fire service feels right, he said.

“This is the happiest I’ve been at work since I retired from the sheriffs’ office in 2014. Those I am working with at The Villages Fire Rescue are genuine people who put serving the community first and have a true servant’s heart. What else could I ask for?” he said.

Gold, a Republican, was first elected in 2016 as the commissioner in District 3, which includes the Belleview area. He won a second term in 2020 against Bobby D. Dobkowski, capturing three-quarters of the vote. His second term would have expired in 2024.

Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox said that in such situations, the governor will appoint someone to serve the rest of the term. Interested applicants do not have to live in the district. The application can be found at flgov.com on the “Appointments Office” page.