Fernandina Observer’s Q & A for Nassau County Commission District 5

I believe this should be a decision made by the Fernandina Beach Commission after carefully examining information relative to the subject and speaking with the citizens of the community who will be impacted the most, then make the best decision based around those findings.

I have stated before that I am okay with driving on the beach and parking.  Having said that I believe we must do everything possible to make sure we ensure the safety of our citizens and the protection of the beach environment.  When the county had to make decisions concerning the Covid issues the beach access was limited to Nassau County citizens and there were some controls set in place to help with flow.  These are likely some things we could look at in the future to help alleviate ­problems.  I believe our beaches are for everyone and we definitely need to look at ways to provide parking and access.

 

With the population growth in the county and growth in island tourism, how would you propose solving beach congestion problems such as traffic, and parking?

I understand these challenges need to be addressed, however, they are a result of poor planning. This has been a long-term issue, and the expectation of an effective short-term solution is next to impossible, as well as, impractical. That being said, I would support a parking garage. From talking with residents, the issue seems to be most acute on the weekends during summer and fall. In terms of financing a parking project, I am in favor of issuing free annual parking permits for county residents and charging a reasonable parking fee for our out of county visitors. Parking passes could be purchased daily, weekly, or even annually. The parking fee collected from out of county visitors could be an escrowed resource that we use to build a parking garage. Growth should pay for itself.

I believe if there wasn’t a shortfall in funding due to residential growth not paying for itself this would not be an issue at all. Green space and conservation should be thought about during the planning phases of these large developments and if the growth were “smart growth” then the county would have the additional funding available for pristine parks, recreation and conservation.

First let me start by saying I believe in conservation and conservation easement efforts.  Nassau County needs to continue to work with all to make sure we have conservation areas on both the island and mainland.  Our citizens want to see us keep the look and cultures of the different areas of the county and this will take much planning and working together on the part of all.

 

 

Even though a significant portion of Nassau County property tax revenue comes from Amelia Island, some island residents feel the county is neglecting needs in the unincorporated area of the island, including conservation efforts, to fund projects on the mainland. How do you respond to these concerns?

We have many needs and concerns across Nassau County, unfortunately, these and even more concerns are the result of very poor long-range planning from past county leadership. Our county finances need to be managed better. We can solve these issues if we stop paying cash and start using bonds for our long-term capital project

 

 

 

Why would you support or oppose a charter form of government, also called Home Rule, for Nassau County?

I believe we need to retool what we currently have to include actual transparency, honesty and integrity to see if we can fix the problems we see in Nassau County prior to adding more government. It’s obvious to everyone that we can do a better job involving ALL of the hard working taxpayers with the decisions facing our county moving forward.

There is much debate about the benefits with charter forms of government.  I believe the best way for the citizenry to move forward and protect the rights of all people is to observe the rule of law, and actively engaged in local government and political processes.

I also believe that the best way for us to ensure the most good gets done for all people, is to research issues and initiatives, as well as candidates, before we cast our vote for anyone or anything.

I believe the will of the people is best preserved when we do these things.  In saying all of this, I will always seek the will of the people in making decisions.

Why would you support or oppose a charter form of government, also called Home Rule, for Nassau County?

I support the work necessary to transition to a charter form of government for Nassau County, provided a good charter can be developed. A charter government would allow for increased local control to address clear deficiencies in our local government, such as corruption and ethics issues.  For example, staying within Florida Law, we would have the opportunity to determine our own process for choosing local constitutional officers, such as School Board Superintendent and Supervisor of Elections. I also believe a charter government would promote unity throughout the county.

Considering a charter government must have the support of the population, meaning that it needs to be approved by the voters, it will take a great deal of hard work to develop a good charter, one that will work for all residents. I feel the two most critical elements to successfully develop and implement a good charter government for Nassau County are:

• Educate our citizens about a charter government; this is the most crucial element.
• Create an advisory board or task force made up of broad cross sections of citizens that truly represent our county’s demographics.