Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
November 02, 2015 5:43 a.m.
Editor’s Note: The Nassau County Supervisor of Elections posted the final list of campaign contributions received by candidates seeking seats on the Fernandina Beach City Commission.
During the final reporting period which ended October 29, 2015, Pat K. Gass, Group 4 and Clinch Kavanaugh were the only two candidates who have received additional contributions. Candidates can no longer receive contributions.
Pat K. Gass, Group 4 received a $100 donation from Andrew Curtin, and a $25 donation from Jackie Osborne.
Clinch Kavanaugh, Group 5 added an additional $1000 loan to his campaign, and Brian Rawson contributed $250. Today, and amended report was filed showing $500 gifts in kind from Brett’s Waterway Cafe, and Sandy Bottoms.
Please note that if there is no donor listed for the individual candidate, at this time, the candidate is self funding his or her campaign. As of today, 551 mail ballots have been received by the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Pat K. Gass
Group 4
Candidate Loan to Self $2,000
In Kind Contribution $10.00
Total Contributions $2,125
Expenses $505.84
$100, Andrew Curtin; $25 Jackie Osborne
Jim B. Higginbotham
Group 4
Candidate Loan to Self $1100
In Kind Contributions $71.19
Expenses $724.66
Jennifer Schriver
Group 4
Total Contributions $170.00
Candidate Loan to Self $170.00
In Kind $474.40
Expenses $151.80
Roy G. Smith
Group 4
Total Contributions $2,346.17
Candidate Loan to Self $1896.19
Expenses $1884.87
Contributions: $100.00 Sheri Green, Louis G. Lashinksy, Next Step Counseling; $50.00 Denise M. O’Connor
Clinch Kavanaugh
Group 5
Total Contributions $7,096.74
Candidate Loan to Self $2,121.74
In Kind Donation $1500 (Amended)
Expenditures $6,938.17
$1000: Brian Adair Harpster, Holly Harpster, Hillary Harpster; $500: Brett’s Waterway Cafe (In Kind), Sandy Bottom’s (In Kind), Stephan Leimberg(In Kind), Donald M. Shaw $250: Gay Culverhouse, John Davis, Brian Rawson; $150: Jaimie Hamilton $100: Nan Gibson, Elizabeth Rawson, Patsy Flynn, James Winston; $50: Gregory Fisher, Stephen Shap
Leonard A. Kreger
Group 5
Candidate Loan to Self $200
Total Contributions $950
Expenses $914
$250: Ronald J. Ross; $200: Michael H. Cook; $100: Judith T. Lane, David A. Olsen, Robert D. Prager
Why would anyone that wants to see Fernandina retain it’s character, preserve it’s environment and avoid corruption donate to Clinch?
Regarding Fernandina Beach’s character;
It was Clinch who foiled the City Planning departments’ efforts to offer a 1 for 1 density bonus for wetlands possibly doubling, tripling or even quadrupling allowable units per acre. This change in our city ordinances made it past the Planning Advisory Board and all five City Commissioners at the first reading. It was Clinch who exposed this potentially disastrous change. Clinch communicated his concerns and gained the support of ALL Five of the sitting Commissioners who denied staffs request 5-0. That was four weeks ago.
Regarding the Environment;
It was Clinch who conceptualized and gained local and state support resulting in the purchase of Martins and Tiger islands, by the state, for the purpose of preserving these natural habitats forever. Included in this effort was Crane island but the State line item denied that portion of the request.
Regarding Corruption;
It was Clinch who stood before me and the rest of the Commission, at a City Commission meeting in 2009 and told us in no uncertain terms that the Water and Sewer impact fees did not meet the requirements of the dual rational nexus test and was thereby illegal. City staff disagreed and I believed them, for that I apologize, The Circuit Court agreed with Clinch resulting in 2.8 million dollars being returned to the citizens from whom it was stolen.
You asked who would donate to Clinch, I did and I support him without reservation. If you want good government as much as I do, you will too.
Kind Regards,
Eric Childers
Eric – Respectfully, Clinch knows full well that a lawyer is a bad choice for a jury member. Why? Because other juror’s will not pay full attention to the Judge, the facts of the case, and jury instructions. That’s why Lawyers are routinely disqualified from jury duty because of their ability to undermine the public function of a jury. City Commissioners don’t need intimidation, they need careful and open consideration of the many issues now confronting the City and County. Clinch also knows about cases lost. We all win one at times. Tammy Bach is an excellent City Attorney – and makes good calls. Fernandina Beach, now more than in recent years, needs thoughtful, considered, informed judgement. Clinch, again respectfully, is a bad choice and would impact in a negative way the objective decision making process of other Commissioners. Suggest he voice his concerns as a citizen, not a public official.
Robert, your comparison of a City Commissioner to a jury member is patently ridiculous. Jurors are obviously not policy makers. IMHO the current and most recent Commissions would have benefited from sound reasoning and legal acumen. For example, I have little doubt that Clinch would have dismissed/ refuted the clearly inferior legal advice provided by the City Attorney resulting in the McGill and impact fee lawsuits and their protracted litigation.
Looks like we’re heading for another law suit with McGill, I’m no attorney but I saw this coming a month ago, and lets not forget the Playground debacle and Robin Marley’s wrongful dismissal lawsuit. Both appear to me to be slam-dunks with city citizens coming up on the short end. Can’t wait to read these executive sessions…
Stephen – I think my analogy was spot on – see my comment in response to Eric’s below. Hindsight is not always foresight.
I disagree
with you Robert
Eric – Some, I guess, would like to see one “forceful” personality (who apparently knows all the answers in hindsight) intimidate, restrict, or impact the considered judgement of 4 other Commissioners relying on proper input from knowledgeable city staff. I think this would prove very bad for all parties concerned.
I’ve attended some of these city commission meetings. Adding a hot-headed attorney with a fire and brimstone delivery to this already-dysfunctional panel simply doesn’t make sense. Especially when you consider the fact it already has a sitting city attorney. Throw in the disproportionate amount of campaign contributions and it’s a slam-dunk “NO!”
Some may be contemplating voting for Mr.Kavanaugh for city commission.Perhaps you should read the following before doing so.
In the early to mid ’90’s,he practiced law in the Tampa area.In 1992,he had an IRS lien of $19674.54(IRS form 656 dtd Aug,20 1992) placed on his assets.Then in 1994,he received a summary judgment against him as a result of a client counter suit.The amount was $11858.00,signed by a circuit judge and dated June 6,1994.
Shortly thereafter,he returned to FB. He apparently did not practice law for some period of time.But he did get involved with the Nassau Sound Land Development CO.,an entity formed to develop what is now the Amelia River Golf Course at the airport. When he tried to transfer these assets to the Kingsley Creek Development Co.,a partner objected and more legal problems ensued.That’s because the city had demanded closing documents from the sale by July 1,1996.The city sent a Notice of Default on July 25th and the documents showed up on the 30th,allegedly signed on July 1st.He also tried to get a runway closed.
Fast forward several years to the brackish water intrusion into the Egan’s creek water shed,Mr. Kavanaugh filed an injunction to stop the FDOT restoration effort.This resulted in a six month delay during which the ecosystem continued to deteriorate.
And yes,I have documentation to support the above.
So,I hardly think he is a desirable candidate.I would hope you agree.
Might be relevant if it were in this millennia, typical 11th hour negative campaign trickery, I would expect nothing less from you Andy.
I don’t know of any of Mr. Kavanaugh past indiscretions, or Business Dealings. But for the last Year, I’ve observed him come before our City Commission as a private Citizen. It’s not been a positive experience. He seems to be arrogant, and argumentative, with absolutely no respect for our City Commission, or it’s council. I feel Mr Kavanaugh would be a total distraction as a member of our City Commission. God knows we have enough distractions to the Peoples Business as it is.
Steve I agree with you. I have addressed the City Council on several issues. Only once have I been the target of personal and professional attack and that was by citizen Kavanaugh during discussion of the brackish water intrusion into Egans Creek.
Andrew, in this case we agree…you hardly think.
Eric,
Time frame doesn’t matter,goes to character.
Interesting to Google some of the largest contributors to various candidates.