Local attorney seeks commission seat; Cites tax dollar waste and growth issues

Press Release Submitted by Clinch Kavanaugh Email: [email protected]
Phone: (904) 753-0370

August 18, 2015 1:00 a.m.

Clinch Kavanaugh Cropped
Clinch Kavanaugh, City Commission Candidate, Group 5

Local attorney Clinch Kavanaugh, a seventh generation Fernandina Beach resident and long-time critic of the city’s legal and city management executives, announced that he has filed to seek election to the Fernandina Beach City Commission, Group 5. Kavanaugh cites wasteful spending and balanced growth as his top platform issues.

“The people that operate our city need to understand that the money they spend does not belong to them, not one cent of it,” says Kavanaugh. “That money comes out of the pockets of the taxpayers who live here, work here, and own property here and it is the job of the commission to ensure it is spent wisely and in the best interests of the community.”

Kavanaugh represented local business and home owners in the recent class action lawsuit regarding crippling impact fees imposed by the city government on local businesses, and new homeowners. The lawsuit was settled in favor of the business owners, but only after the city spent millions of tax dollars in legal fees fighting its own citizens. “”We filed the case in order to recover money that was illegally taken by the City Government from its citizens. This is just one example of the misguided and inept legal advice the city is currently receiving that is almost criminal itself. This needs to change,” says Kavanaugh.

He cites his experience as an attorney as a means to focus on eliminating wasteful spending on legal expenses as the city faces new lawsuits in the future. Aside from wasted tax dollars, Kavanaugh cites a gap in leadership when it comes to utilizing the city’s assets. “This is a wonderful and beautiful community. It has so many things going for it. As commissioner, I will work to finally see the marina will be redesigned so that it can be economically viable and efficient,” says Kavanaugh.

Other changes Kavanaugh is focused on creating a “rational and balanced approach” to growth, protecting both the environment and people’s property rights. “We need to protect all public beach access. The beach access ordinance needs to be amended to reflect that no one may infringe on the public’s right of using our public beach access either now or in the future.”

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of West Florida (with a degree in history. In 1976 earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. After graduating he became a member of the Texas Bar and soon thereafter a member of the Florida Bar. Initially he practiced law in Bradenton and Sarasota and in the early 1990’s moved to Fernandina, but his family has been deeply invested in the community since 1853 when his great, great grandfather founded the Fernandina’s First Presbyterian Church. His mother, Mary Celeste Hardee Kavanaugh was born in Fernandina and his is father E. Clinch Kavanaugh, Jr. moved here before WWII to work as an Engineer and helped construct the Rayonier Mill. His family has lived on North 6th Street since the early-1850s.

Kavanaugh currently practices in Fernandina, focusing on Government, Administrative, Land Use and Environmental Law as well as General litigation. Clinch Kavanaugh welcomes the opportunity to answer your questions and participate in town hall meetings, debates or interviews. For more information, to volunteer, or to contribute to his campaign, Kavanaugh can be reached at (904) 753-0370, or [email protected].

Editor’s Note: The Fernandina Observer offers all candidates the opportunity to publish campaign press releases. The Fernandina Observer does not endorse any candidates.

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Len Kreger
Len Kreger (@guest_43042)
8 years ago

Nice release. Upon completion of the Qualification Period 28 August 2015 I will be forwarding my press release.

Dave Lott
Dave Lott(@dave-l)
8 years ago

A concern I have with Clinch is that he will act more like a City Attorney than a City Commissioner. Hopefully in the weeks ahead he will address that issue and talk about he plans to deal with it.
The marina “redesign” always makes for a good sound bite, but the success of such a plan is totally dependent upon gaining the riparian rights over the submerged lands north of the marina in order to move most of the slips on the south side of Brett’s to the north and deeper water. Such efforts in the past have been unsuccessful due to the unwillingness of the property owners to grant such rights at a price that made it economically feasible to do so. Hopefully Clinch has the answer to make that happen and solve a problem that has plagued the marina since it was built.

Steve Crounse
Steve Crounse (@guest_43061)
8 years ago

Dave has a good point, I have no doubt of Mr. Kavanaughs Intellect or his Passion for our Community. I do have a question as to his demeanor during Commission Meetings. The Term “A Bull in A China Shop” comes to mind. He can’t be both Judge and Jury at these Meetings. He needs to leave his Ego in his office. I’m looking forward to his response to these questions. I also have no doubt, as to his disposition towards Ms. Burk and her counselling.

Mac Morriss
Mac Morriss(@macmorrisshotmail-com)
8 years ago

Wasn’t it Mr Kavanaugh who got an injunction to stop the repair of the incorrectly modified tidal gate at Jasmine on the Egans Creek system. The resulting long legal delay allowed the salt water intrusion to become worse and eventually it became so bad that the area died off. Resulting in the extensive remediation, eradication of new invasives and replanting. A long, tedious and expensive repair when at the time speed was a high priority to repair the gate. Instead it was a year or two, possibly more of delay that poisoned Egans Creek between Jasmine and Sadler.

Dave Lott
Dave Lott(@dave-l)
8 years ago
Reply to  Mac Morriss

Yes, Clinch was adamantly opposed to the restoration of the Greenway south of Jasmine to a freshwater marsh. My recollection was that his position was that historically that area had been a saltwater marsh and became freshwater only after the construction of Atlantic and Jasmine blocked off the salt water and it should be allowed to return to that condition.

Robert Warner
Robert Warner (@guest_43109)
8 years ago

I think he knows how to obstruct and shut down – but not cooperate and build looking forward.

Ross Gass
Ross Gass (@guest_43110)
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert Warner

Deftly articulated Mr. Warner. I agree 100 percent.