Dale Martin
City Manager
Fernandina Beach
November 9, 2018 12:00 p.m.
Another local election has been completed. I again wish to thank every candidate for City and County offices for their willingness and dedication to run for elective office. The time and resources needed to campaign can be burdensome to many, affecting families, friends, and jobs. It is usually a quest for community service, since the financial compensation is often minimal (City Commissioners received $1,000 per month). It is the desire of individuals to serve locally that is the foundation of our government.
Within the city limits, though, we’ll have to shake-off the post-election exhaustion from the lengthy ballot and return one more time to the polls to fully complete this 2018 cycle. Since none of the three Group Four candidates secured a majority of the votes cast (B. Bean, 2,915; M. Lednovich, 2,204; R. Smith, 1,257), the City Charter calls for a run-off election in December between the candidates with the two highest vote tallies, in this case Mr. Bradley Bean and Mr. Michael Lednovich.
If you have registered for a mail ballot, you will receive the run-off election ballot from the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections (congratulations to Ms. Vicki Cannon and her staff on the conduct and completion of the election). The date for the City’s run-off election is Tuesday, December 11, 2018. The only ballot question will be the selection of the City Commission candidates.
Congratulations, too, to City Commissioner Len Kreger, currently serving as the Vice Mayor, on his re-election. Vice Mayor Kreger served on the Planning Advisory Board prior to his first election to the City Commission in November, 2015. Due to the change in the City Charter also in November, 2015, his final term (Commissioners are limited to two consecutive terms) will be for four years rather than his original three.
Vice Mayor Kreger has a strong passion and deep knowledge of various beach issues, serving as a key liaison with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during beach renourishment projects. The renourishment project started, but interrupted, last year, is scheduled to resume shortly, placing additional sand from approximately New York Avenue to as far south as the vicinity of Sadler Road. The project will be completed over the next few months.
Vice Mayor Kreger actively represents the City on several regional boards and commissions, most notably currently serving as the Vice President of the Northeast Florida Regional Council. He serves as the City Commission’s liaison to the Airport Advisory Commission. I look forward to continuing to work with Vice Mayor Kreger.
I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Ms. Zylinski on a few occasions during her campaign. She was enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve her community and was eager to learn more about the issues and operations of the City. Thank you, again, for your willingness to serve the City of Fernandina Beach.
Commissioner Roy G. Smith was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election, failing to garner sufficient votes to be included in the December run-off election. Like Vice Mayor Kreger, Commissioner Smith was elected to the City Commission in December, 2015, having won a run-off election that year.
I enjoyed working with Commissioner Smith. Although our “official” weekly meeting day was Monday (a good day to discuss not only City business but also review the weekend NASCAR activities), Commissioner Smith routinely stopped by for a brief visit every day. I know that he regularly visited downtown to engage local residents and he shared many of those conversations and questions with me. With his previous experience as a contractor, he had a keen eye for the City’s purchasing and contracting policies. I expect that although he will miss his role as a City Commissioner, he will enjoy the regained time with family and friends.
I encourage everyone to learn more about the remaining two candidates, Mr. Bean and Mr. Lednovich. Both have demonstrated a sincere interest in the community, but each has a unique perspective. I know that both gentlemen make themselves available to discuss the issues facing the City. Since voter turnout at a run-off election is traditionally and overwhelmingly lower, each and every vote carries a little more weight: your vote truly can make a difference.