Press Release
Tim Poynter
Candidate Group 2
[email protected]
(904) 415-6533
October 2, 2017 7:59 a.m.
Editor’s Note: We ask our readers to refrain from posting comments on candidate press releases. Although difficult to monitor, we will remove comments as soon as possible.
Local businessman Tim Poynter is seeking reelection to a 3-year term as Fernandina Beach City Commissioner, Group 2. Poynter, who with wife and business partner Theresa Poynter, owns and operates Café Karibo, Karibrew and Timoti’s Seafood Shak, sees increasing citizen involvement and public/private partnerships as a promising strategy for solving some of the city’s longstanding problems.
“When people share a common vision, they can do great things,” he said, pointing to examples such as the Humane Society, reconstruction of the historic train depot, the expansion of the Fernandina Beach Branch Library building, the Pirates Playground behind the Atlantic Avenue Recreation Center, the Egans Creek Park, and most recently the 11th Street beautification efforts.
Poynter wants the city to continue harnessing the many positive forces in Fernandina Beach to overcome past differences that have divided the community and sapped the commission’s political will to act on important projects such as downtown redevelopment and beach parking. “Only by listening to each other and making compromises can we solve longstanding problems that will broaden our tax base without sacrificing our small town values,” Poynter said.
“Many people believe that the city should purchase undeveloped land for public purposes such as conservation and an expanded riverfront park; others feel that the city should build a downtown parking garage,” Poynter said. “I’m not sure that advocates understand that embarking on such efforts would entail raising taxes to pay for a General Obligation Bond. If we were to do so, we could begin setting aside money to purchase land—as the city did for the Greenway. “
Poynter is proud of his service with the current commission that has had the courage to tackle many longstanding problems like stormwater and the city marina. “By purchasing the Vuturo property,” he said, “the city is poised to move the city marina north into deep water and save citizens the cost of dredging every two years.” The commission has also supported development changes to improve the 8th Street corridor and make downtown living a possibility for more people.
“Our commission has restored civility to public discourse and demonstrated that while commissioners can and do disagree, we do not need to be disagreeable,” he said. Poynter credits the new city manager with improving the information flow to both commissioners and the public. “Dale Martin’s hiring was one of the commission’s major accomplishments. He has brought professionalism and experience to handling many internal problems and restoring calm to our Fire Department.”
Poynter is the only sitting commissioner to hold regular town hall meetings for citizens to voice their concerns. He invites the public to attend his monthly gatherings at 6:00 p.m. on the Thursday following the first City Commission meeting of each month, where he and Theresa provide tea and freshly baked cookies. He encourages citizens to contact him via email [email protected] or phone (904) 415-6533. “And of course,” he added, “they can always drop by Café Karibo to visit.”
Poynter faces challenger Philip A. Chapman, III in Group 2.