McMonagle announces candidacy for Fernandina Beach City Commission Seat 5

Staci McMonagle, Candidate
Fernandina Beach City Commission
Seat 5
July 13, 2022

Fernandina Beach City Commission Candidate Staci McMonagle, Seat 5

Staci McMonagle, a 25-year resident of Fernandina Beach and a life-long Floridian, has announced her candidacy for City Commission Seat 5. Staci’s motto is:  “Your Vote Is Your Voice.  Make Your Voice Heard.” I want to be the voice for people that are being ignored.

For instance, who represents the families of Fernandina?  Recently, the City unveiled their plan to get rid of the baseball fields at Central Park.  Activities that benefit and engage our youth have been disappearing from our town for years, and now a plan has emerged to push our youth activities to the outskirts of town. If they go forward with this plan, the City will have wasted $430,000 of our taxpayer dollars since the lights at the ballpark were only updated three years ago. This is a perfect example of wasteful spending. 

What does that tell us? It tells us that families and kids are no longer a priority. It shows us how out of touch our city officials are with the needs of our community as a whole. Such thoughtless planning changes the very core of why we all have chosen to make Fernandina our home. This beautiful small-town community has been in the making for generations and it’s the small town atmosphere we inherited that keeps us here.  It matters not if you recently joined our community or if your family has been here for years. It is evident to anyone listening that we all share a common desire to see Fernandina remain faithful to her roots. Knowing this I can’t sit back and allow the very heart of our island to be destroyed.

Our city government seems to have lost sight of who we are and what makes this place we all call home so special. But we, the people, have not. We know exactly who we are, and now is the time to come together. If not now, when? If not us, who? If we wait any longer, the Fernandina we all know & cherish will no longer be here. She will have gone the way of all the beach communities south of us.

Staci said her most valuable qualifications for public office are: her problem-solving ability; knowing what it means to serve as a servant-leader; and her compassion for people.  “I can think outside the box. I don’t let the box define the solution. As a concierge at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, I was trained to think not only of win-win solutions but to have THREE wins! For instance, when presented with an issue at city hall, I will work diligently to come up with a solution for all parties involved.

Ms. McMonagle’s volunteer experience includes: the Salvation Army Hope House, the Interfaith Dinner Network, and Young Life where she served on their board. She is currently a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant with her own business, C.N.A. Care Services.  As a small business owner, Staci said she believes in shopping local and supporting other small businesses and tourism. “With my many years of concierge experience, I understand the value of tourism to this island.  We are no longer a tourist destination only a few months out of the year. Our tourist industry is our community’s bread and butter and it works hard 24/7, 365 days a year.”

Staci supports: LEADERS who listen to their constituents and act decisively on behalf of the community as a whole; STEWARDSHIP keeping a steadfast watch over taxpayer dollars;  GOVERNMENT that is fiscally responsible and accountable to the citizens of Fernandina; and GROWTH that enhances and protects our fragile barrier island.

Staci can be contacted at 904-477-4086 and [email protected]. 

Her Facebook page is: citycommissionseat5

On her Facebook page she is committed to doing a weekly 3-minute long video to address whatever people are commenting on that week. It’s called, “Give Me 3 Minutes” because that’s all you’re given to speak at in a city council meeting.

Editor’s Note:  Staci  McMonagle joins two other candidates,Darron Ayscue and Genece Minshew, who seek to fill Seat 5 on the Fernandina Beach Commission.

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Doug Mowery
Doug Mowery(@douglasm)
1 year ago

Staci, thanks for be willing to serve!

FO, thanks for publishing this……hopefully more candidates will avail themselves of the opportunity. It has become more apparent over time that the local FBCC elections may be the most important one in which we cast a vote.

CHUCK HALL
CHUCK HALL(@bob)
1 year ago

Best wishes Staci on a successful campaign!

DAVID LOTT
DAVID LOTT(@dave-l)
1 year ago

Is this a policy change of the “new” Fernandina Observer? Previously, the FO permitted candidate announcements but did not permit comments to be made due to the potential discourse that might results from opponents/supporters.

Mike Phillips
Editor
Trusted Member
Mike Phillips(@mphillips)
1 year ago
Reply to  DAVID LOTT

You are right, we had a miscommunication.

Michael
Michael (@guest_65677)
1 year ago

Staci,

I like the message as while we all enjoy the tourism benefits however their is a balance to maintain the quality of life for the very people that reside here!

Getting everyone to vote regardless of opinion is more important than ever considering the growing political dis function occurring at every level of Government for the past two decades.

Regardless of party I hope what I hear from you thus far resonates with all citizens.

DAVID LOTT
DAVID LOTT(@dave-l)
1 year ago

Earlier comments seems to have been deleted. It was the previous policy of the FO under Susan that comments to candidate announcements were blocked. Has this policy changed under the new ownership or did it just slip through?