Biography
Mabel V. Washington Jenkins was appointed by the Newport News City Council to the position of City Clerk, effective December 1, 2004. She is the first African-American to be appointed to this position in the City of Newport News. Mabel was hired in 1996 as Administrative Coordinator in the Office of Intergovernmental and Community Relations, and has served as Administrative Coordinator to the Mayor, as well as Chief Deputy City Clerk.
Her organizational skills, understanding of technology, cheerful attitude, and team approach to problems, contribute greatly to the smooth operation of the City Clerk's Office. Mabel was an honor graduate of York High School and received a B.S. in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Mabel believes in always learning more. She says, "Enough is never enough. When you learn more, you want to do more. And when you do more, you achieve more."
She is active in her church, teaches the teenage Sunday school and Bible school classes, and serves as a Trustee.
Professional Accomplishments
Professional ties include membership in the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC); the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association (VMCA), having served as Director of Region X for two consecutive years, on the Professional Development Committee, Second Vice President, First Vice President, President and Past-President of the Association. Mabel is also a member of the Peninsula Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians, currently studying to become a Registered Parliamentarian; and the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA).
Certifications
Mabel was conferred the title of Certified Municipal Clerk in May 2003. In December 2004, she was accepted into the IIMC Master Municipal Clerk Academy Program. She attained her Master Municipal Clerk designation from IIMC in April 2010. At the Annual Conference of the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association in Manassas, she was chosen as the 2010 Clerk of the Year.
Additional Duties
Mabel serves as the Designated Records Manager for the City of Newport News, and is responsible for the destruction of all records for most departments in the city.