Editorial Staff
Douglas Newton
Susan Hardee Steger
Co-Editors
Suanne Z. Thamm, Reporter-News Analyst
October 29, 2014 4:54 p.m.
“So when a print news story surfaces a week before the city election, dredging up allegations and insinuations about one of the candidates, do we sit idly by because we do not endorse? Or do we try to counter such a story with facts?”
From its unheralded beginnings a little more than two years ago the editors and reporters have tried to live by the words above, which are stated in our “About” section on the Fernandina Observer (FO) website. Through three city election cycles the FO has remained steadfast in not accepting political advertising or endorsing candidates. Why? Because we believe it is our job to deliver information to our readers, who can then form their own opinions on which candidates and directions are best for our city.
While those of us who volunteer our services in putting out this news blog have personal opinions, we strive to keep them out of news stories. We label our opinions as opinions—and we put our names on them. And believe us when we stress that all of us—editors, writers and technical helpers– are all volunteers who have two things in common: no Fernandina Observer paychecks and a strong love for our city.
There is always much more going on in this fascinating city than we can cover with our volunteer workers. When we tackle something controversial, we strive to get the facts to back up our stories, whether it be the “Sidewalk to Nowhere,” the impact fee lawsuit, the port’s master plan or more mundane issues like horse droppings on the beach or chickens and peacocks in residential areas.
So when a print news story surfaces a week before the city election, dredging up allegations and insinuations about one of the candidates, do we sit idly by because we do not endorse? Or do we try to counter such a story with facts? In the recent case of Tim Poynter, candidate for the Group 2 City Commission seat currently held by Commissioner Charlie Corbett, we have decided to put some facts at your fingertips.
Anyone who has talked with or listened to Tim Poynter since he first became a public person with his election to the Fernandina Beach City Commission in 2009 quickly realizes that he is forthright, unapologetic and passionate about supporting public actions which he believes are in the best interest of Fernandina Beach’s future prosperity. He can be strong in voicing his ideas and strategies, but that same behavior demonstrates his belief in this community and its future. Indeed, he and his wife Theresa have invested in developing three, successful, small businesses in our downtown catering to appetites and thirsts of locals and visitors.
Yet some people have never been able to get beyond rumors and allegations surrounding the “propriety” of permits issued to his businesses. Although no one has emerged from the shadows to take legal action against either Poynter or the city for issuing the permits, the rumors continue to circulate from year to year and election to election. These issues seem to gain new life with each election cycle. To set the record straight, the Fernandina Observer here below publishes in their entirety a memorandum from City Manager Joe Gerrity that was published when originally written in 2012 and a letter from Poynter’s architect, John Cotner, replying to specific allegations made by the local newspaper over a year ago.
We encourage you to read both letters and then decide whether these issues continue to merit the discussion and ink that they receive in some local quarters. You may like Tim Poynter or not like Tim Poynter; you may feel that his vision for the city is worth pursuing or not. But please base your vote on what is real as opposed to what some are floating as fact based upon their dislike for Poynter and the commission on which he served.
If you needed any final convincing that Poynter is being railroaded, you might ask why it is, if Poynter as alleged, paid no impact fees for his restaurants, did he along with other restaurateurs receive a refund, when the city refunded him more than $10,000 in impact fees that he overpaid? You might also ask why the local newspaper did not mention his refund in their recent article.* Or why they edited out of Poynter’s campaign announcement that he was the only commissioner to vote against a 15.95% tax hike for the 2012/13 budget year. Neither Commissioner Charlie Corbett nor Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican can make that claim, because the record speaks for itself.
* The Fernandina Observer has been informed that the local newspaper did in fact include Tim Poynter’s impact fee refund in a story on the city’s overall refunds of more than $700,000. Their report appeared on September 4, 2013. We acknowledge and apologize for the error. We have corrected our opinion piece above.
I applaud the Observer for providing the facts for readers/voters to consider when deciding whom to vote for this coming Tuesday. I continue to be disappointed by our local paper which appears to have abandoned any semblance of objectivity when it comes to its endorsements. As candidate Robin Lentz said in a letter to the editor, the paper didn’t even make a good-faith effort to try to meet with her, or to interview her, before endorsing the incumbent. It’s just another reminder that local city and county political leaders seem to do whatever they can to discourage well qualified and well intentioned residents from running for public office.
A few years ago my wife and I were driving through Wyoming, and had stopped in a small town for lunch. It was election time out there, and inside the small diner was a campaign poster which simply said, “Vote for Bob. He’s one of us.” Couldn’t be any clearer could it. That same attitude prevails here in Nassau. When we made our first drive up South 8th Street in 2000, we saw a campaign sign which said, “Vote for (name unrecalled). No Big City Ideas.”) If your family hasn’t been here for at least two generations, you’re an “outsider,” and while the “locals” may not like having you around to “spoil their community,” they sure do love the millions of tax dollars you pay for their government services.
While I certainly appreciate your efforts in producing the FO, I sense a strong “pot calling the kettle black” tone in this article. You righteously promote your purity in disdaining endorsements, but the 5th paragraph of the article is a not-so-thinly veiled sanction of Tim.
Your description of Tim as “forthright” and “unapologetic” was perhaps less accurate than “arrogant” and “dismissive” would have been. I am also not so sanguine as you about his “best interest for Fernandina Beach’s future prosperity.” But that’s just my humble opinion.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not endorsing Corbett–I’m not even eligible to vote in this race. I just think you need to be careful about throwing rocks while in a glass house.
Kudos to the FO!! It’s about time this was all put out in the open, not just discussed behind closed doors and around peoples backs. Just yesterday, we were talking with a good friend and going over those running, those who have been in and out and all around……While we are considered “newbies” here on the island, we’ve gotten well involved with the “Sidewalk to Nowhere” and the repair of the RR crossing at Front and Centre….we’ve seen for ourselves the two faces of many people and how quickly some of those in power grabbed claim to the results of these issues that they had nothing, or at least VERY LITTLE to do with! It’s so sad to see what is going on on this beautiful island that we all obviously love.
Lets try something new in the political arena…..tell the truth, stick to your promises and do what is best for Amelia Island….not for yourselves!
No shame? Your sponsor is Cafe Karibo the owner of which is Poynter.
Objective?
“We will inform and educate, not confuse and mislead”
Please
An excellent point! Should have been stated directly in the piece.
You can call Tim forthright and unapologetic or arrogant and dismissive, that would be your choice. The one thing you must call him at the end of the day is honest and passionate. That is a lot more than you can say about our local newspaper. It is actually an insult to anyone in the community with any degree of common sense to buy into this madness. The News Leader is trying to sell it’s readers nothing but snake oil. The sad part is they are paying for the privilege to read what can only be described as ” crap journalism” I did not major in journalism, but I am not dumb enough to be sold oceanfront property in Nevada. To publish this today, less than a week before election day can not be considered front page news— self serving yes,— news no. It is painfully obvious that it was printed for one reason and one reason only. The sad fact is they even admit all the permitting and impact fee issues were approved by City, this was however buried on page 3. Is that good honest reporting or do they know that front page headlines grab attention and influence readers? The real problem is simple, they are the only game in town. When you have no competition. They can feed us all the the tainted food they want as long as we are hungry and keep going back for more. It would be my hope that reasonable self thinking voters will in fact take this article as an insult to their intelligence and look past the slanted crap that it really is and go out and vote for who they think is best. Forthright, unapologetic, arrogant, and dismissive are just words. Look at the record. Look at what was being done in the City ( the past ) , what has been done ( the present ). What needs to be done ( the future ). If you take the time not to buy into the madness the choices become rather clear
I didn’t write to defend the News Leader, only to point out the hypocrisy of the FO’s self- congratulatory pose of neutrality. I support this publication and and think it obviates your assessment that the News Leader is the only game in town. I consider myself to be a friend of the FO, but friends should be able to tactfully point out mistakes.
As for Tim, I do recall his time on the FB Commission and am not as impressed as you obviously are.
This election has been particularly disappointing in its dishonesty, pettiness and mean spiritedness. The best that can be said of Commissioners Corbett and Pelican and their supporters is that they’re not afraid to be horse’s asses. The same can now be said of the FBNL.
People get the government they deserve. The one we now have is an embarrassment.
Yeah Kent. Bemoan pettiness and mean spiritedness then call two candidates horses asses. Cognitive dissonance much?
While I do not always agree with Mr Poynter or in how he may phrase things, I have no doubts that he is the best qualified candidate of the three running for that seat. His in depth knowledge of what it takes to run the City and its short and long term needs shows that he does his homework. The other two candidates do not seem to work as hard for the City as their knowledge, based on the two forums they attended, is shallow at best. Like the man, or not, he knows how to roll up his sleeves and get dirty. He does his homework and is forthright in his opinions. He and his wife ran successful businesses during the recession, employing dozens. When many were shutting their doors. Mr Poynter is the kind of Commissioner we need.
As long as the FBNL has its strings pulled by a few elected officials in this county, you will continue to have lies, miss-statements, and articles that are simply not true. You get the government you vote for and when the city continues to only turn out 10% of the voters, what do you expect? We have massive power grab going on in our county and city right now. What do you think, get back to basics means! I applause the FO for at least giving a forum for concerned citizens to speak their views on the issues.
So long as the public continues to endow the News Leader with its perception of journalistic standards, it will continue to be disappointed. The newspaper is a business, foremost. Thanks for the FO clarification.
Facts are a sticky subject. They seem to get in the way of propaganda, dished out in the Fernandina News Leader. It’s such a shame that the oldest news paper in Florida has to have it’s demise under the leadership Mr. Maloy. Honesty in journalism, ounce lost is difficult to forgive. Shame on you Mr. Maloy
The News Leader’s article on Mr.Poynter is correct,accurate and fair.He did what was reported.I think his actions,especially while a commissioner, exude a bad aroma.If one approves of this sort of,in my estimation self serving behavior,then go ahead and vote for him.You will indeed get the government you want and deserve.
However,if you prefer the kind of responsible,ethical,and fiscally conservative government that we have enjoyed for the past three years then vote Corbett and Pelican.Proven public servants and community leaders,as their as their records clearly demonstrate.
Andy, I don’t think this issue is really about voting for Poytner or Corbett. I think it is about the unprofessional journalism exhibited by the News Leader. A blind man can see this was a thinly veiled attempt to discredit Poynter a week before the election. They had all this information for a very long time but when did they run it, and why? You used the words ” self serving behavior ” wouldn’t this also fit the printing of this article? It may appear self serving to some to expand or open a new business, get the permission of the City, meet all their requirement and move forward. I don’t feel that any sitting commissioner should stop expanding their personal business while in office as long as the rules are followed and apparently they were according to the City Manager. Keep in mind that the expansion and opening of a new business helps the downtown area prosper, helps tourism, employs more locals and brings more revenue into the City and yes is profitable. When it comes to voting I agree with you, if you agree with what Poynter stands for and what he has brought to the City in the past and will continue to bring you should vote for him. If you have “enjoyed” the last three years and the policies of the present commission, don’t change a thing. You put it very well ” you get what you deserve ” Lets just all be clear, this article was nothing but self serving with the sole purpose of bashing Poynter. It is my hope that the voters understand this, do the research as to what Poynter did while in office and what his opponent has done and go out and vote on the facts that will effect the City for years to come.
Tony,I believe the self serving behavior was on Poynter’s part.The paper merely reported it.It does serve as a reminder of his performance during his term in office and I certainly do not wish to see a replay.
I agree,the voters get what they want,deserve what they get; there is ample evidence of that,both good and bad,on the commission now.
Andy, Good that we can agree to disagree. The main thing, which I am sure you agree with, is to get as many voters out as possible. This is a very important election for the City. This election is going to set the stage for the next few years. The voters have to ignore all the colorful signs and banner waving come Tues. They have to do their homework and ask a few simple questions. What was the direction of the City when Poynter was in office? What improvements were in the works? How was these improvements being paid for? Was it smart business or fiscal irresponsibility to borrow money at a low interest rate and spread it out so the burden of payback wasn’t only on current tax payers? Was it Financially and morally smart to support local charities as they did while supporting the human society? These are real questions that each voter has to think about. On the other hand was it smart to send the money back in the name of fiscal responsibility? Is it the right and responsible path to cut moneys to local charities? It is right to put items such the waterfront park, and a parking garage on a straw pole as well as entertain with workshops issues that effect a few folks who have a problem with horses? Are you happy with the handling of issues such as lawsuits, impact fees, sidewalks, the marina, the golf coarse and experimental water dredging project? I would suggest if this issues are the way you want the city to go, and feel they are being handled to your best interest—don’t change a thing. The government is working for you. Should it work for the majority the majority than will elect or re-elected who they feel are leading then down the right path. Lets only hope that once all the dust settles they can all play nice. Fernandina is just too nice a playground to mess up.
We are Lucky to have The Fernandina Observer for sure. For the most part, it does seem to me that they do the job, just as the detectives did on that old TV program I watched as a kid. It was called “Dragnet.” They would say, “just give me the facts Lady, just the facts!” Too bad most of our media doesn’t follow that motto.
I for one agree that Tim is the best candidate in this race. He may sometimes express his opinions too bluntly, without explaining the thoughts that provoke the comment; but he is truly passionate about doing what is best for our Paradise Island.
Tony,I’m more concerned about the number of informed voters,rather than simply voters, that turn out.
In your comments,you draw accurate contrasts on the issues that will determine the city’s direction for the immediate future.So,do we want fiscally responsible government or do we want a return to the profligacy of the not to distant past.
Our choice.
Excellent article from the Observer. Dirty pool on the part of the News Leader; as with their endorsement of Robin Lentz. I feel very good about my vote for Lentz and Poynter.
Thanks again for producing the F.O. Your editorial comments and the succeeding discussion above merit high praise! I will read the F. O. much more readily than the N-L, because I can depend on decent journalism and not on rants and raves on P. 1.