Commentary: Good Old Boys Versus the Public Good

By Mike Lednovich

In the heart of Fernandina Beach, important decisions that shape our community’s future are often made within the confines of City Hall. As citizens, we place our trust in the hands of elected city commissioners and hope that they prioritize the greater good over personal interests.

However, recent developments involving Vice Mayor David Sturges raise important questions about the ethical dimensions of decision-making among city commissioners.

Vice Mayor Sturges is set to vote Tuesday on an ordinance that would annex close friend Roger Todd Bates’ property into the city. Sturges’ vote to annex would enable Bates to build more houses on the parcel, thus generating more profits. While it’s important to acknowledge that this endeavor is within legal boundaries, the optics of such a vote by Sturges demand a closer look at the ethical dynamics within our local government.

For decades, the term “good old boys’ network” has been used to describe the close-knit relationships among those in positions of power, often leading to decisions that benefit a select few rather than the entire community. This is a prime example of the good old boys’ network operating to the detriment of others.

In 2015, Vanneza Stubbs purchased a modest house just three lots west of Bates’ land on Kenneth Court. She has told both the city commission and the Planning Advisory Board that she carefully researched every detail before acquiring the 920-square-foot house. She sought a quiet street, and the 100-foot lot affords Vanneza and her husband lots of space.

Bates purchased the three lots down the street in 2022. In the county, normally, three homes would be allowed to be constructed. But Bates wants to be annexed into the city, which would allow six homes to be built. His friend, Vice Mayor Sturges, gets to decide if Vanneza’s dream of big spaces of 100-foot lots remains or if his buddy Bates can chop the land into six 50-foot wide parcels.

Again, it’s all legal under Florida Statutes, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to ethical decision-making. Shouldn’t the citizens of Fernandina Beach deserve a transparent and fair decision-making process that prioritizes the collective welfare over personal connections?

At the Feb. 6 city commission meeting, a public speaker asked Sturges about his relationship with Bates; Mayor Bradley Bean shut down the questioning as improper. When contacted by the Observer, Bates would not discuss his friendship with the Vice Mayor. Sturges also refused any comment on his relationship with Bates.

There potentially may be future decisions by Sturges as a city commissioner involving other parcels owned by Bates.

Last October, the city commission and the Planning Advisory Board held a joint meeting to discuss Sturges’ proposal to revise the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan to make it easier for landowners to subdivide their lots. Two other commissioners are supporting the Sturges effort.

At that meeting, another long-time Sturges friend, Orlando Avila, spoke about his property on 14th Street. It has the potential to be subdivided into four lots. Under current rules, Avila would have to obtain a variance from the Board of Adjustment to subdivide the property. But under the changes sought by Sturges, he could just file papers with the Nassau County Property Appraiser that his parcel was being divided into four lots of record.

“Money is the motivator. You want to leave generational wealth,” Avila said at the meeting. “I hope you guys come to a consensus and make a decision so it’s easier on us as individual property owners to do what we want with our property with respect to the code and zoning and pass it on to future generations.”

Last April, Sturges voted to have the city buy two Avila properties for $25,000. Although the property was later converted to conservation land, Avila made a nifty $16,000 profit on the deal. Also of note is that Avila’s former co-owner of the land was Todd Ericksen, another Sturges friend who owns a building with the Vice Mayor on Beech Street. Ericksen signed over ownership for zero dollars to Avila after they offered the land to the city. Ericksen runs Amelia Sunrise Realty, which earns commissions from Sturges’ private property transactions. He is also a bartender at Brett’s Waterway Cafe. Sturges has cast votes to keep Brett’s in business despite a city consultant telling the commission the restaurant needed to be closed until repairs were made to the supporting structure over the river. Sturges called it a “witch hunt.”

So we have Sturges’ friends profiting from the Vice Mayor sitting on the commission. How many more friends are out there? We’ll never know unless Sturges tells us.

That’s unfortunate because city commissioners play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of our neighborhoods and influencing the quality of life for residents. By his silence and actions regarding Bates and Avila, the vice mayor is catering to the needs of a select group of friends instead of serving the city with decision-making that reflects the best interests of the community at large. Sturges obviously doesn’t care or respect that the very essence of public service demands that elected commissioners rise above personal friendships and prioritize the common good.

To address these concerns about potential conflicts of interest, the City Commission should consider implementing stricter ethical guidelines. This might include recusal from voting on matters that directly benefit close associates, ensuring a more impartial decision-making process. Transparency and accountability are the bedrock of a healthy democracy, and it is crucial for our city officials to uphold these principles.

As engaged citizens, we must continue to hold our elected officials accountable and demand a city government that serves the interests of the many, not just the privileged few.