Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
On October 22, 2013, Fernandina Beach City Hall Chamber became the setting for the only scheduled public forum featuring the four candidates vying for one city commission seat in the November 5 election: David Bert Austin, Andrew J. Curtin, Johnny Miller and Lynn Williams. The Fernandina Observer sponsored the event, which, despite rain and dark skies, was well attended by candidate supporters and those voters eager to learn more about the four men who hope to be successful in their attempt to fill the commission seat currently held by Arlene Filkoff, who is not seeking a second term.
Larry D. Myers, former Fernandina Beach city manager and legislative aide to then- state representative Aaron Bean, served as forum moderator. He was assisted by Chuck Hall, the event’s timekeeper. Interim City Clerk Kim Briley and City IT Director Michael Rooney assisted with the technical side of the event, which was broadcast live.
Each candidate made opening statements before moving on to answer ten questions posed by the Fernandina Observer and one from the audience. They concluded about 80 minutes later with closing statements. The candidates had no prior knowledge of the questions.
In their general opening statements, the candidates harkened back to their qualifications and philosophies. Austin, the only native Fernandinian in the race, cited his love for the city and characterized himself as an environmentalist. Curtin cited his 25-year Navy career and management skills, along with service on the Airport Advisory Committee. Miller cited his 20 years in the Navy and his work in the hospitality industry, which allowed him to “listen a lot”, and led him to conclude that it was time for him to “come out and help the city.” Williams said that he had spent a lot of time over the past years at city commission. He expressed interest in promoting better relations with the county, improving the city’s cash position and a view that the city should work more closely with business, industry and schools.
The candidates were respectful and cordial to each other, the audience and the moderator.
Question 1: Why did you decide to run for the Fernandina Beach City Commission?
Curtin, who had the first opportunity to respond, said that he has been watching the city grow and that he believes it is on the right track, moving in a fiscally responsible manner. He expressed a desire to continue along that path. Miller said that he viewed serving on the city commission more as a duty, rather than “wanting to do it.” Citing the city’s unique history, he expressed excitement about running along with his view that the city must “preserve what we have and get folks to come here.” Williams said that problems facing the city are difficult but solvable. He opined that the city must “find a way to keep the ambience” without becoming like a Disney creation or a “geezer” community. Austin said that he was a previous owner of the Florida House and had lived downtown. He claimed a special interest in the town, which he characterized as “a treasure.” He also said, “Not much has changed.”
Question 2: What are the top three goals you would like to accomplish as a commissioner?
Miller said that he wanted to promote the city and bring in outside capital; be more fiscally responsible in a smart way (hire smart people); bring the city together (leaving personal agendas aside).
Williams stated that he wanted to come to a different understanding with the county. He cited the cost of fire/rescue as an example. He wants a greater involvement of business with the commission and to fix the riverfront and Front Street.
Austin listed four goals: Main Beach, the city marina, the city golf course and the airport. He said that with a little bit of help in these areas, the community would benefit.
Curtin indicated that he wanted to speed up restructuring of city pensions while honoring commitments to those currently in the program; reduce litigation; and keep the budget balanced.
Question 3 (submitted by the Historic Fernandina Business Association): What is your vision for the City of Fernandina Beach, especially downtown?
Williams talked about the value of small businesses and their need to be supported. He said the city needs to run a neat, clean downtown and address impact fees for businesses.
Austin said that downtown should be the first order of business, citing the restaurants as a particular asset.
Curtain said that government can create a business friendly environment, provide infrastructure and reduce the cost of doing business.
Miller said that business owners know how to run their businesses, but that the permitting process takes too long. He said, “Everyone wants us [private business] to succeed. We need to help you and keep our business out of your business.”
Question 4: Identify the three most important economic drivers for the City of Fernandina Beach. Do you see significant changes impacting any of your choices over the next 5-10 years?
Austin succinctly stated with no elaboration: marina, Main Beach, golf course, airport. Curtin listed his first as the beach, which is vitally important in his view to tourism, followed by downtown business and the mills. Miller listed tourism first followed by the residents who pay taxes and big business to include the mills and resorts. Williams said he had a problem with the question because it suggested that business changes the intrinsic character of the town. He first listed big and small business, including the marina, followed by keeping up the Historic District and involving the schools.
Question 5: If presented with a request to borrow funds, what criteria would you use to determine whether or not the city should borrow?
Curtin said that his philosophy was that no entity should kick the can down the road. He added that recent city efforts to borrow money did not involve a payback plan and that the city cannot borrow without a solid basis for repayment.
Miller said, “I think it is important to borrow.” He went on to say that it is unfair to make current taxpayers pay the entire bill for improvements that will benefit future generations as well.
Williams announced that the previous respondents had not answered the question. He said the criteria should be: who benefits? If the loan were broadly beneficial to all residents, like stormwater drainage, he would support it. But not some “Disneyesque thing downtown.”
Austin said that he would borrow to benefit the city downtown.
Question 6: Do you support island-wide consolidation of police/fire under either the city or the county? If so, why?
Miller said that he believed the topic should be studied, but he did not want to jeopardize the less than 3-minute response time for fire rescue in the city. He also indicated that Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper and FBPD Chief Jim Hurley meet regularly to strategize ways to save money. Miller said that now is not the time to talk about this topic.
Williams said that he is not in favor of sharing more services with the county because of blurred lines of authority. Because of different growth patterns and needs he opined that the county’s and the city’s needs are different and sharper lines need to be drawn between the two.
Austin said that the city needs good working relations with the county and we should do whatever we need to do to ensure that happens.
Curtin said that a deal could be worked out involving cooperative agreements as opposed to consolidation. He said that zoning is an example that demonstrates the differences between the two entities.
Question 7: Why do you oppose or favor city subsidies for the Shrimp Festival and local non-profits?
Williams replied that while he was not sure about subsidy for the Shrimp Fest, the city should be able to figure out how to pay non-profits more than they do. He added that the non-profit grants allow the agencies to match them for additional support, and that in a city where so many volunteers do good for their fellow man, the city should be able to help as well.
Austin said that he would not assist Shrimp Fest but would support non-profits.
Curtin said that as a moneymaking event, Shrimp Fest should be able to stand on its own. He also said that under law taxes are collected to support the operations of government and should not be applied to non-profit grants. Williams interrupted Curtin for a clarification, but Curtin said he stood by his statement.
Miller, citing the importance of Shrimp Fest in the history of the community, said he would take issue with the other candidates and offer assistance, not necessarily subsidies, to the event. He also said that non-profits provide many services to the community and should be supported by the city.
Question 8: A clear and present issue facing the citizens of Fernandina Beach is beach renourishment. In the event the county refuses to fund this project, what alternatives would you explore?
Austin said, “We need our beach. We need to do anything we can to maintain it.”
Curtain informed the audience that both the federal and state governments are paying the lion’s share of the cost of beach renourishment. He also supported maintaining the beach, indicating that 10% of the Tourism Development Council’s revenue is devoted to beach renourishment island-wide, not limited to city or county.
Miller expressed his opinion that it is imperative for this project to be done. In addition to providing beaches for recreation, the renourishment project also acts as a barrier in the event of hurricanes. While he understood that the county was dragging its feet in committing to the project, he said that it was up to city leadership to convince the county to participate.
Williams indicated that the current local costs of beach renourishment are not being shared equitably. He suggested that property owners who front the ocean and who stand to lose the most might be asked to pay special assessment to help protect their properties.
Question 9: In recent years the golf course and marina have required taxpayer assistance. What direction would you take to support or oppose the city’s financial assistance of these enterprise funds?
Curtin said that the city had made the right decision to go with outside management companies for these activities. He said that the problems appear to have arisen because the city has used halfway measures and should relinquish “full and complete authority” to the management companies to run these operations.
Miller said that he was not completely up to speed on this matter but would research it and place an answer on his website. He did add that Westrec “has done amazing things” with the city marina and that he believes it behooves the city to have businesses run privately.
Williams said he supports Billy Casper Golf and Westrec. But he believes the key is good management, regardless whether it is public or private. He said that the particular marina manager is the key to Westrec’s success, while Billy Casper seems different because their managers have been the best available, perhaps too young.
Austin said, “If we can’t make ‘em [enterprise funded operations] work, we need to farm ‘em out.”
Question 10 (from a Fernandina Observer reader): What do you intend to do about downtown parking?
Miller said that he believed the city could do a better job of letting the public know where the parking lots are located. He opposed parking meters, but said that the 3-hour parking limit should be enforced. He also said that people who work downtown should not be blocking street parking for any business.
Williams said that Fernandina is an unusual town, and that parking meters can be useful. He said it seems unfair to have free beach parking when the city needs added revenues to maintain the beach. He suggested that city residents could be issued a parking sticker to enable them to park without fee but that the city “will end up with paid parking.”
Austin said that Williams had covered everything in his response.
Curtin expressed his opposition to parking meters and supported better signage downtown. He supported a multilevel paid parking garage and opposed giving up any existing spaces. Williams interrupted for the second time asking Curtin why people would pay to park in a garage when they can park free on the street. Curtin said the matter would take care of itself.
Question 11 from the audience: How would you vote on the proposed library expansion?
Williams said he would absolutely support the current project but that in the long range the library may leave the county system and become the city library. He said it is important to demarcate the city-county boundaries on this matter.
Austin said that he wants to keep the library.
Curtin said that the library is vital. While he did not initially support the project, he said, “We have agreed to do it.” He said we must go forward and do it right.
Miller said he was also committed to the library and that he believed “Don’t ever give money back once you have it.”
In closing candidates thanked the Fernandina Observer for hosting the forum as well as the city and the audience. If elected, Austin said that his experience growing up in Fernandina would help him make decisions. Curtin said that his background in management and the military has prepared him well for the job of commissioner. Miller cited a commissioner’s need to listen and said that the city needs someone to represent all the people. “It’s time to put the little things aside and get down to business,” he said. Williams said that his 30 years’ experience in building large, complex machinery has enabled him to deal with complex problems. He said there is too much reliance on lawyers and that he intends to move forward and bring the whole city along.
Moderator Larry Myers reminded the audience to vote on November 5, 2013 at their polling places or by absentee ballot. He referred those with specific questions regarding the election to the Supervisor of Elections website: www.votenassau.com.
For a more in-depth look at the candidates’ statements and remarks at the forum, readers may view the live streaming of the entire event on the city’s website: www.fbfl.us. Also the forum will be rebroadcast on the city’s public access Comcast Channel 7 (or 264) as follows:
- Mondays at 7:00pm
- Wednesdays at 8:30pm
- Thursdays at 10:00am
- Saturdays at 10:15am
For additional information about the candidates, their personal and financial statements, consult the Supervisor of Elections website: www.votenassau.com
Official contact information for the candidates, as provided in their filings:
- David Bert Austin, 522 Citrona Drive. [email protected] (904) 310-5977
- Andrew J. Curtin, 1227 S. Fletcher Ave. [email protected] (904) 261-4947
- Johnny Miller, 301 S. 18th St. [email protected] (904) 556-3299
- Lynn Williams, 1899 S. Fletcher Ave. [email protected] (904) 491-0059
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
October 23, 2013 2:04 p.m.