Leaning forward in a cushioned chair in City Hall, Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan listened intently as a constituent laid out her concerns, the same focus she gave county officials discussing next year's budget an hour later.
Although such a procession of appointments could be seen as an ordinary day in the life of a mayor, Hanrahan said it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what normal would be.
"I always say it's never dull," she said.
Hanrahan, who is in her second term as mayor, was first elected in 2004. After graduating from UF in 1992, Hanrahan was hired as an engineer for the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department's hazardous materials program.
That position sparked her interest in seeking political office, she said.
"I really liked local government and the interaction with citizens," Hanrahan said.
So in 1996, Hanrahan decided to enter the race on the last day of registration.
She won the election, going on to serve for six years as the city commissioner for District 3, which encompasses UF.
In general, Hanrahan works in City Hall Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and meets constituents on Wednesdays and Fridays, she said. Yet such a schedule is hardly set in stone, she added, as she pulled out her BlackBerry to see if she was going to be in Tallahassee on a particular evening, and again to check what days she would be in Washington.
She also carries an iPhone, which she used to show off a picture of her children, Evyleen, 3, and Quinn, 2.
"They're my little darlins," she said.
From a meeting with four women representing the Action Network of North Central Florida, a faith-based community group, to appointments with county staff, Hanrahan listened attentively to everyone's opinions before responding.
Regardless of who was speaking, she kept her blue eyes fixed on them, laughing and smiling during casual conversation and nodding intently when subjects turned grim.
In her first meeting that afternoon, Hanrahan entered the small room and shook hands with the women from the Action Network and took a seat at the head of the table.
After chatting about mutual acquaintances and church life, Hanrahan asked how their organization was faring.
They went on to discuss helping low-income families make their homes more energy-efficient, the closing of Shands at Alachua General Hospital and the stimulus money Gainesville has received.
Hanrahan, who normally praises Obama, had criticism of his stimulus plan's "shovel-ready" stipulation, which requires that projects be ready for construction to receive government stimulus dollars.
This puts smaller communities at a disadvantage because they don't always have the funds for preparation, she said.
When discussing the closure of AGH, which historically served lower-income residents, Hanrahan shared the story of how she chose a pediatrician on the east side of Gainesville after she was told that "people like [her] don't go there."
"I said, 'Sign me up for that,'" Hanrahan said.
Her penchant for inserting conversational tone into otherwise straightforward business carried into her meeting with Sol Hirsch, the county library director.
They debated online privacy in libraries, including patrons' access to pornography, and discussed pensions for library employees.
At the end of the workday, Hanrahan's duties are anything but over.
With two young children, Hanrahan said it is a priority for her to be around during this "very precious point in their life."
"For any working parent, the toughest part of their life is figuring out that work-life balance," she said.
Although being mayor takes time away from her family, Hanrahan says she feels lucky to be able give back to her hometown and views it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
