Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
April 11, 2016 11:11 a.m.
(Corrected April 13, 2016. See note following article.)
As the national level political primaries grind on, there is some movement on Nassau County races as well. At least one more election has drawn Republican competition: Ocean Highway and Port Authority District 1, in which both former Fernandina Beach City Commissioner Pat Gass and former candidate for Fernandina Beach City Commission Ed Coop have filed to run. Also, informed sources have reported that another Republican will soon file to run for Nassau County Commission, District 1 to oppose incumbent Republican commissioner Danny Leeper.
Voter registration by party in Nassau County is broken down below:
As of this date, unless you are a registered Republican, you will have no effective say in the following county races:
Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller
Nassau County Commissioner District 5
School Superintendent
As you can see from the chart above, taken from the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections website on April 11, 2016, third party or no-party candidates have filed to run in the following elections, meaning that whoever wins the Republican Primary in August will technically have an opponent in the November election:
Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller
Sheriff
Superintendent of Schools
County Commission, District 5
But historically such candidates pull in few votes. Their odds of beating Republican candidates in a strongly Republican county are slim. That is, assuming that such candidates are serious contenders and not just filing to block non-Republicans from voting in the Primary election. If they are “straw candidates,” they generally withdraw from the race following the primary.
No one has yet filed seeking the nonpartisan offices of Amelia Island Mosquito Control Group 1; Heron Isles Community Development District Seats 1, 3 and5; and Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, Groups 2 and 4.
In order to appear on the 2016 ballot, a candidate must qualify between noon on June 20 and noon June 24. There are different qualifications for the various positions. Generally speaking, they include executing an oath, filing an ethics and financial statement, paying a filing fee or submitting valid petitions. Those interested in learning more about running for a specific position should visit www.votenassau.com and consult the Candidate Information Sheets available there.
NOTE: Alert reader Joe Zimmerman contacted the author to advise correctly that because no non-Republican candidate has filed to date to contest certain elections in which multiple Republicans have filed, those elections will constitute general elections and as such will be open to all registered county voters. Those offices include: Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections, County Commission District 3, and Ocean Highway and Port Authority Districts 1 and 2. The author thanks Mr. Zimmerman for his correction and apologizes to Fernandina Observer readers.
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.
Interesting to see that very few Democrats have switched in order to vote in the contested elections.
“We have met the enemy and he is us”. Pogo, 1971 – Walt Kelly.
DO NOT allow Pat Gass to sneak back into office after being ousted last year. She has long and deep ties with the mills and now wants a position in which she can further push their agendas. Not only has Pat Gass worked for the mills, look at every vote that was in her hands over the last three years. If it hurt the mills, she voted against it, if it benefited the mills, she was all for it. DO NOT give her any power to help the mills expand and push their boundaries further.
We hope that whomever is elected will hold true to ‘Home Rule’, allowing municipalities to govern their own area, without the radical concern of OHPA forcing their own will upon these towns.
Callahan, Hilliard and Fernandina Bch all share the same concern.
Should OHPA decide it wants to utilize areas of Callahan and Hilliard, and force those towns to submit, they can do that; according to the OHPA attorney.
This election is now about Home Rule, and whether or not OHPA will change the charter to allow towns to govern themselves, or continue to use antiquated forced legislation.
While Fernandina is currently in the cross-hairs for OHPA, other towns should be on notice that OHPA is nearby, and anxious for industrial opportunities, wherever they may be.
As citizens of Fernandina, we have demonstrated patience and acceptance of OHPA’s activities, knowing full well that there is much to be gained with a broad employment landscape. However, OHPA’s future leanings will hurt our thriving tourist trade, and hundreds of businesses here. This is currently a $500,000,000 annual business.
This is a lesson that our neighbors to the West should take note of. Towns should always be determined to protect their rights to Home Rule.
Given the mess in both the Republican and Democratic parties, and the fact, I believe, that public tax dollars are being spent on each of their primaries, isn’t it time that we consider publishing a single primary ballot with all candidates on it … and have the election between the top vote getters, whether both Republican or both Democrat or something else entirely different. If not, should we ask the parties to reimburse the county for the costs?
We have it – the “GOP/Tea Party” primary. Our problem is that the system has been gamed so long that this is the only way to make a difference in our local “elections”.
http://www.votenassau.com/Portals/Nassau/Documents/Office%20Info%20Sheets/OHPA_SD.pdf
These two seats/election is still OPEN to be registered for!
Until June 20th
Filing fee is a whopping $25