Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 3, 2016 1:00 a.m.
For the financial reporting period following the Fernandina Observer Town Hall Meeting and the Fernandina Beach News Leader Debate, Superintendent of Schools Candidate Kathy Burns reported her highest level of campaign contributions to date, whereas her opponent Janet Adkins reporter her second lowest level of contributions for the same period. The reporting period covered July 9-22, 2016, predating Senator Aaron Bean’s July 26 endorsement of Burns and Former Attorney Bill McCollum’s July 28 endorsement of Janet Adkins. Two former Nassau County Sheriffs—Ray Geiger and Ronnie Dougherty—also endorsed Adkins around the same time.
Unlike previous reporting periods that showed most of Burns’ contributions coming from Nassau County residents and businesses, contributions from conservative political committees accounted for the increase. Burns received $275 from individual Nassau County contributors, $500 from a union, $300 from a lobbyist, two $1,000 donations from Tallahassee consultants, $1,000 from State Senator Dan Gaetz, and sixteen $1,000 contributions from conservative political committees.
Adkins, who received the bulk of her war chest earlier in the campaign, listed only 5 contributions from individuals totaling $850. Two of those contributions came from Nassau County residents in the amounts of $25 and $100.
Despite the recent surge in contributions to Burns’ campaign, she continues to lag behind Adkins in fundraising. The latest report shows that Adkins has raised $102,196 to Burns’ total of $82,557.
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.
This is all about the Big Money Boys, The Lobbyist,and PAC, Reading the Political Tea Leaves, and Spreading some Love around, while they can still get into the game. They figured out who the Next Superintendent of our Schools will be. Another Reason why this Position should never be an Elected Office. and another Reason we must Repeal Citizens United.
Agree with Steven, looks like the conservative PACs are hedging their bets as Adkins has always tried to out conservative Burns.
I hope that this campaign will be the catalyst for the school board to consider changing the Superintendent of Schools to an appointed position rather than an elected one. The question was raised many years ago and the “people” rejected it. Once, early in Dr. Ruis’ tenure, an 18-year-old ran for the office. Nassau County is straddling the divide between small-ish rural county and medium-sized county. As we continue to grow, we should learn to behave like an educated community and choose our educational leader based on qualifications for the job, not political rhetoric. I’m also hoping we’ll dodge a bullet in this election and choose the educator over the “full-time law maker”. Heaven help us if we don’t. There’s a lot at stake, not the least of which could be losing our district accreditation due to not having a qualified leader. And YES, educational qualifications do matter, just as they do in any professional occupation.