Submitted by Mike Boyle
August 25, 2016
I was just about to conclude that at my senior age, and with years of experience as an elected official at both the municipal and county levels, I had “seen it all.” But then Nassau County Politics reared its ugly head, and I was forced to realize that in Nassau County there is no absolute maximum for hypocrisy.
The most recent example involves Clerk of Court John Crawford and his merry band of obstructionists, Commissioners Steve Kelley and George Spicer. For years Crawford has been a thorn in the side of the BOCC by using every opportunity to promote himself to the voters and taxpayers as the county’s only honest official. All of us have seen his self-serving articles (masquerading as news) wherein he questions the accuracy of the financial figures supplied by the Office of Management and Budget, and assures citizens and taxpayers that he alone has the only plan that has no tax increases, but still balances the budget and addresses crumbling infrastructure.
In an effort to actually see the Crawford Plan, Commissioner Junior Boatright extended an invitation to Crawford and his followers to attend a Budget Workshop following the regular August 17, 2016 BOCC meeting. The invitation was extended to anyone who had expressed an opinion on the budget, and who would like to come and be heard. This would be real transparency.
When the Workshop convened, there was no one in the audience to discuss the budget or the overall financial condition of the county. No one! Not John Crawford, not Deputy Clerk Jerry, Greeson, not News Leader Columnist Steve Nicklas, not anyone who has spent the last few years lurking in the shadows sniping at the commissioners who are doing their best to serve our citizens and taxpayers…Also conspicuous by their absence were the surrogates Crawford and Kelley actively recruited to run against sitting commissioners (a strategy frowned upon even in Nassau political circles).
But when Crawford’s bluff was called, he was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he has finally learned it’s easy to stand on the sidelines lobbing grenades at those who are actually “in the fight,” rather than actually joining the fight.
Editor’s Note: Mike Boyle served as Chair for the Nassau County Board of County Commission, and was the former President of the N E Florida Regional Council.
Pursuing a different philosophy about financial matters is one thing, but simply sitting in the peanut gallery with your gang of “no” as John Crawford has been doing for the last several years and not be willing to engage in meaningful debate/dialogue is a disservice to the citizens of Nassau County. Reminds me a bit of the “man behind the curtain” in the Wizard of Oz.
Thank you for the opinion, Mr. Boyle! I was once a supporter of Mr. Crawford. But he keeps insisting that there is wrong-doing in the county OMB but he never contacts the FDLE for an investigation. He can’t say he is the “watchdog” if he believes there is wrong-doing but does nothing to get to the bottom of it. I generally agree with Mr. Crawford that borrowing your way to prosperity is a high-risk strategy. However, he keeps saying that all is well when we consistently spend savings account money to pay for operating expenses. Any private citizen who is buying groceries by increasing credit card balances or reducing their savings account balance is heading toward insolvency. There’s nothing wrong with borrowing or spending savings, but doing either and saying we don’t have any financial problems is almost always errant. I don’t understand Mr. Kelley’s or Steve Niklaus’ odd alliance with Mr. Crawford. I have always thought these gentlemen were pretty astute and civic minded. I’m trusting that Mr. Spicer is starting to get the lay of the land and will soon start making his own decisions.
Oh, just to be fair, long ago when Mr. Crawford hired Jerry Greeson to run the office, I thought it was an honest and reasonable thing to do, since Mr. Crawford had no idea how to do the job. I hope that if Mr. Boatright wins, he will keep Mr. Greeson on at least long enough to get on his feet, if not permanently.
I realize that Mr. Crawford will probably win again. I just hope he doesn’t get that third commissioner vote needed to become the Boss Hogg of Nassau County.
“I realize that Mr. Crawford will probably win again.”
Click, read, remember, pass along, and vote http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-12-19/story/chief-judge-commission-discouraged-clerk-court-100000-legal-fees#
Just read Ms. Hunter’s link. An eye opener when put in context with the other “obstructionists” mentioned in Mike Boyle’s opinion piece. The modus operandi of these “Tea Party” like folks with GOP label is continual questioning and obstruct without any constructive efforts to actually plan, cooperate, and execute. Then – as in Ms. Hunter’s link, litigate – not resolve issues – and pass on the expense (monitory or social) to the general public. Nothing gets done.
I want to put the above in context with a Janet Adkins’ political strategy that has gamed the primary system and continually questions in conspiratorial overtones with no answers. She also refuses to engage directly in public dialogue, and her personal issues with books, the school system, and threatened use of the Attorney General’s office and litigation to deal with “inappropriate” course content or public school resource material (like Crawford’s $100,000 litigation in the link).
Nassau County – as elsewhere in this country- confronts a frontal attack on pragmatic and forward thinking government. There is a common theme in my mind, now. Today’s GOP (at all levels) has been corrupted by destructive “Tea Party” regressive ideology. Let’s hope they don’t take it out on the citizens of Nassau County. Vote smart.
Mr. Boyle
I think your “forward thinking” anti tea party rhetoric in your article pretty much puts you in in the progressive or democratic camp. When you run next time why don’t you run as a democrat or progressive?
Tim, you are evidently under the misconception that the only group of note within the Republican party is the Tea Party. While a major force a number of years ago, their leverage has been weakening at the national and local levels as evidenced by the defeat of a number of their candidates.
Tim:
I’m not really sure how to respond to your comments since party affiliation played no part in the views I expressed.
I am sorry I am no Tea Party expert. l thought the only purpose of the tea party was less taxes, spending and smaller government.