2013 Fernandina Beach City Election: A fluke or a trend?

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter – News Analyst

City residents, other commissioners and city staff now prepare to welcome Johnny Miller as the newest commissioner on December 17, 2013.  While many in our community rejoice over his election, others scratch their heads and wonder how a relative newcomer to the political scene managed to win the runoff with 61.51% of the vote versus 38.59% for Andy
Curtin, a man who has served on city committees for many years and who is in regular attendance at Fernandina Beach City Commission meetings and workshops.  Miller, who appears to be a progressive-moderate on the political scale, defeated Curtin, an outspoken fiscal conservative, who is a close adviser to Mayor Sarah Pelican and who has been active with the local Tea Party.  How did this happen?  Was it simply a matter of one candidate winning or does it portend even more changes for the 2014 elections?

The election numbers themselves contained both good news and bad news.  The good news is that despite the fact that runoff elections usually have much lower turnouts than the general election, this time 20% of the 9004 registered city voters participated.  By no means is this to suggest that a 20% voter turnout should be viewed as positive for the city’s rate of civic involvement.  The number of registered voters increased by 69 between the general and the runoff, and runoff participation increased by 87 voters.  Participation increased in two precincts (102 and 201), while it dropped by 20 in Precinct 101.

By precinct, the changes in voting patterns and results are also interesting.  With both Bert Austin and Lynn Williams eliminated in the general election, their supporters seemed to be more attracted to Miller than Curtin.  Both candidates saw their precinct vote counts rise in the runoff election, but Miller’s numbers grew more dramatically than Curtin’s.

The sitting city commissioners—Sarah Pelican, Charlie Corbett, Pat Gass and Ed Boner—came into office on a tide of voter dissatisfaction with city government and its strategic direction.  During their election campaigns these individuals targeted voters unhappy with the city manager and the commission-adopted strategic plan called Forward Fernandina, or F2.  Incumbent commissioners who supported the plan and the city manager were ousted as the new commissioners promised to bring greater fiscal accountability and more transparency to city government.  However, once the city manger was replaced and the uncommitted money borrowed to finance capital projects under the F2 plan was returned to the borrower, the new commission presented no alternative plan to revitalize the Centre Street corridor and riverfront or pay for the ongoing costs of maintaining the city’s beaches and public spaces.  Instead, the majority of the commission has relied upon a strategy that includes cutting staffing levels, which aggravates those already concerned about slow services, and raising ad valorem taxes, which aggravates those who thought the new commissioners would lower taxes.

With an opportunity to elect a new commissioner, voters were faced with a dilemma:  elect Curtin, an involved citizen who was closely allied to sitting commissioners, or elect Miller, a political novice.  If the voters were largely happy with the actions of the current commission, Curtin was the obvious choice.  If not, they appeared open to an unknown who did not appear to be singing from the same hymnal.

Two specific issues also loomed large in the minds of voters:  city support for local non-profit social service organizations and the future of the Fernandina Beach branch of the Nassau County Library System.

Fernandina Beach is a community of involved volunteers.  While they may tune out local politics, they tend to care passionately about helping make life better for the elderly, children, the sick and disadvantaged.  During the FY2014 budget discussions, there was much talk about getting the city out of the business of making small financial grants to these organizations.  Even though the city manager in following past practice had budgeted $30,000 for this purpose, some commissioners argued passionately against the practice, making what some considered to be rude or hard-hearted comments in the process.  In response to questions posed by the Fernandina Observer during the campaign, Curtin supported fiscally conservative actions of the commission.  Coupled with his close support of Corbett, Gass and Pelican, voters had to question whether non-profits would suffer more with Curtin’s voice added.

The library issue was a bit more nuanced.  In campaign statements both Curtin and Miller expressed support for renovating and expanding the existing city building that houses the county library branch.  But during the campaign an email written in January surfaced in which Curtin forcefully opposed this action.  The email was widely circulated and undoubtedly influenced some votes among library supporters, since the final approval for the project seemed to be getting down to the wire at the same time as a new commissioner was being elected.  Fears were expressed that the county-city-Friends of the Library deal could come undone if the new commission included a strong majority opposed to the library plan and agreements.

There are societal changes that also impacted this election.  Print newspaper advertising did not appear to play much of a role, nor did house-to-house campaigning.  Instead the Internet and social media seemed to be the best vehicle for candidates to get out their messages and alert people to campaign events.  The only public event that allowed the voters to compare and contrast candidates side-by-side on the issues was the Fernandina Observer’s candidates forum held on October 22.  This event was recorded and rebroadcast on the city’s cable channel and was also available on the city’s website.  The Fernandina Observer also published statements from the candidates and their answers to questions over the course of the campaign.  These were available via the website and Facebook.   Candidates met in small groups in neighborhoods and at businesses to communicate their message and respond to questions and rumors.  Signs did not seem to make much difference, except to those who looked to catch their opponent on some legal point involving sign wording.

While the total number of registered Republican voters in the county dwarfs voters with other affiliations, that is not the case in the city.  In looking at the breakdown of voters by party affiliation, the number of registered Republicans who voted was almost equaled by the combined number of registered Democrats and independents.  Many among these latter voters expressed unhappiness over what appeared to be an attempt by county Republicans to influence a city, non-partisan election.  When a Nassau County Republican Executive Committee contribution showed up in Curtin’s financial report, that reinforced fears that county politicians were inappropriately involved in city elections.

In city elections historically, incumbent commissioners refrained from outwardly supporting commission candidates on the grounds that they would be required to work with whomever the voters elected.  This time there was little question that incumbent commissioners Corbett, Gass and Pelican were supporting Curtin.  Boner was the only returning incumbent to stay above the fray.  Contributions from commissioners and/or members of their families and friends were listed on Curtin’s official financial statement.  While these contributors may have reasoned that by publicly voicing their support for Curtin they were helping voters know that he had their support, they may have inadvertently cost him votes.

Another example of the hubris of some of the incumbent commissioners is the question over whether the commission will vote to ratify the general election straw poll vote for mayor in which voters chose commissioner Ed Boner (54%) over incumbent mayor-commissioner Sarah Pelican (46%).  Corbett at a recent City Commission meeting stressed to a citizen that the straw poll is only advisory and that nothing in city law or charter demands that the commissioners follow the results.  A search of recent election results reveals that commissioners have always accepted the will of the people in appointing the new mayor.  Another tradition that was followed until last year was naming the second-highest vote poller in the straw poll to the position of vice mayor.  The current commission ignored that tradition by bypassing then-mayor Arlene Filkoff, who had finished second to Pelican and electing Charlie Corbett, who had not even been in the race, as vice mayor.  In response to a Fernandina Observer question about whether they would abide by the straw poll result, Miller said he would while Curtin talked around the issue.

The Fernandina Beach City Commission will conduct its reorganization meeting at 5:00 p.m. on December 17.  Johnny Miller will be sworn in as City Commissioner.  The other major action to be taken at the meeting is the election of a mayor and vice- mayor for the 2014 term.  Miller’s ability to be effective, knowing that three of the four sitting commissioners supported his opponent, will be tested.  The commissioners will also need to be mindful that the electorate spoke with respect to their choice for mayor.  Failure to respect the voters’ choice may have grave consequences for any incumbent commissioner seeking reelection.

The voters next November will be asked to decide once more whether they like the tone, philosophy and direction embraced by the incumbent commissioners.  Only then will we be able to determine if the Curtin-Miller election was only about the candidates or whether the voters want the city to move in a more positive direction.

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.

December 16, 2013 8:00 a.m.