Media Release
Contact: Mark Adams, 904-626-9337
July 23, 2015 10:41 a.m.
Dr. Kathy Burns, a lifelong resident of Nassau County and candidate for Superintendent of Schools, held her campaign kick-off
event this past Tuesday, touting her education, experience, and leadership
skills.
Dr. Burns was well received by the nearly 400 people in attendance with
over five thousand dollars being raised for her campaign. “It was very
humbling having so much support from the community,” said Burns.
Retired Fernandina Beach High School Band Director Johnny Robinson
performed for the evening alongside the Instant Groove Band while members
of the Nassau County Professional Firefighters prepared the meal.
Notable supporters who attended the event included Tax Collector John Drew, Chair of the County Commission Pat Edwards, Commissioner Danny Leeper, Chair of the School Board Donna Martin, School Board Members Gail Cook and Jamie Deonas, along with many other dignitaries and elected officials.
Retiring Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Ruis gave an encouraging
speech, endorsing Dr. Burns as his successor.
It was announced at the event that this was possibly the largest campaign
rally in Nassau County history.
Editor’s Note: The Fernandina Observer does not endorse candidates. During previous elections, we have offered to all candidates the opportunity to publish a reasonable number of campaign press releases. We do reserve the right however, to not print press releases we deem inappropriate as to content.
Quite the turnout and wide level of support. If the teacher’s union is behind Kathy it is probably a done deal. As to being the largest campaign rally I think Paul Ryan’s visit at Main Beach when he was the VP candidate might have been a bit larger but certainly not a large as when “the Donald” visits! LOL
Ooops, missed that Janet Adkins is running as well. Will be an interesting race of the Republican establishment running against the “people’s” candidate and long time supporter of John Ruis’ actions at the School Board. Termed out of office, Mrs. Adkins still has political clout and other election candidates are aligning themselves with one of the candidates.
Frankly the endorsement of the teacher’s union would incline me to vote against such a candidate. I would like a superintendent that does not feel in any way beholden to the teachers … especially when negotiating salaries and such. It’s like the county/city commission candidates getting endorsements from the firefighters or police unions. I want someone independent of the people whose salaries and benefits they may be deciding. I don’t want someone who will not work with the unions necessarily … but I do think there is a bit of a conflict of interest in these endorsements.
If the Republican Party blindly endorses and gets behind Janet Adkins, they will be doing the citizens and school children of Nassau County an egregious disservice. Her qualifications for this critical position pale when compared with Kathy Burns. Ms. Adkins is a politician, nothing more, nothing less. If our superintendent was a “competitively hired position”, Ms. Adkins wouldn’t get past the first interview. A superintendent is first and foremost an educator,; one who has “walked a mile” in the moccasins of a classroom teacher. Someone wrote of Ms. Adkins “she was the first in her family to graduate from college”. She may have also been the first in her family to ride a two-wheeled bicycle. Neither qualifies her for this job. And the charade of getting some stooge to run as a Liberterian candidate so as to close the election to non-republicans is a farce. The leadership of the Republican Party should think twice before acting like lemmings and blindly endorse Ms. Adkins. Don what’s right for our school children. Kathy Burns IS THE ONLY CHOICE.