October 6, 2015 1:00 a.m.
Editor’s Note: For three more days, the Fernandina Observer will post answers to questions posed to candidates running for the Fernandina Beach City Commission. In the November 3 election Incumbent Commissioner Pat Gass is opposed by Jim B. Higginbotham, Jennifer Schriver, and Roy G. Smith, in Group 4. Clinch Kavanaugh faces Len Kreger in Group 5.
The Fernandina Observer does not endorse candidates.
The Fernandina Observer Candidate Forum will be held October 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the city commission chambers.
Group 4
If you could only accomplish one thing during your term on city commission, what would that be?
Revitalize from S. 8th Street thru S. 2nd Street from Ash to Beach with new curbing and sidewalks and drainage.
Move and rebuild boat ramp to North of Centre Street. Improve S. 8th Street from Centre Street to Lime and beyond.
If you could only accomplish one thing during your term on city commission, what would that be?
Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of the community by revisiting and strengthening policies that will protect the island’s natural attractions and resolving the storm runoff drainage issue that in a major storm could negatively affect the health, safety and well being of Fernandina.
If you could only accomplish one thing during your term on city commission, what would that be?
I believe my greatest accomplishment will be changing the commission from a dysfunctional body to one that actually serves the taxpayers and acts in the best interests of the city. For too long, various commissioners have tried to impose their own political agendas during their terms in office. Due to this, many proposed projects and programs never reached fruition. I want to serve on a commission that the taxpayers know worked on their behalf for the city’s best interest.
If you could only accomplish one thing during your term on city commission, what would that be?
Our first and most important responsibility facing our community is to uphold the commitments the City has made. The issues related to the pensions of our hard working city staff is of the utmost importance. Though it may not be the most “sexy” task, I feel it is our most urgent issue. Upholding those promises to the city’s employees can be seen as a microcosm of the City government and its business dealings going forward.
(Note: The Fernandina Observer apologizes to Mrs. Gass and our readers for failing to include her response in the initial publication of this article. Although she responded to our questions in a timely manner, for unknown reasons, we did not receive them initially.)
Group 5
If you could only accomplish one thing during your term on the City Commission, what would that be?
I would like to redirect the goals and actions of the Commission to the Legal Commitment as outlined by the Comprehensive Plan “to provide facilities and services” as the major responsibility. This includes infrastructure issues such as stormwater, streets, facilities and levels of service for both infrastructure and public safety.
If you could only accomplish one thing during your term on the City Commission, what would that be?
There are many things that I hope to accomplish if I am elected to the City Commission and I am perfectly capable of working on multiple tasks at the same time. If I had to accomplish just one thing on my term as City Commission it would be consolidating and restructuring City services in order to provide our community with a more efficient and economical government. Having said that we have to understand that this island is geographically, geologically and environmentally unique to the rest of Nassau County. This must be kept in mind with any discussion concerning consolidation of services with Nassau County government.
A constituent brought to my attention that my responses to the FO’s questions were not posted along with those of the rest of the candidates. I’ll provide my answers here in the comments, but Susan and Suanne, if you would please double check your email. My server shows that my answers were sent in on 10/1 at 10:23PM
If you could only accomplish one thing during your term on city commission, what would that be?
Our first and most important responsibility facing our community is to uphold the commitments the City has made. The issues related to the pensions of our hard working city staff is of the utmost importance. Though it may not be the most “sexy” task, I feel it is our most urgent issue. Upholding those promises to the city’s employees can be seen as a microcosm of the City government and its business dealings going forward.
Correction made, with apologies to Mrs. Gass.
Thank you.
Thank you Commissioner Gass for posting your response and letting us know of your previous email. We have added your response to our post and apologize for the omission.