Submitted by Michael Harrison
June 14, 2016 9:49 a.m.
At its May 23, 2016 meeting, the Charter Revision Advisory Committee of the Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA CRAC) voted 6-2 in favor of recommending that OHPA adopt Non-Partisan elections. Background to the discussions can be found at http://fernandinaobserver.org/2016/04/04/partisan-elections-and-ohpa-an-opinion
This decision provides strong guidance to OHPA on an issue that has dogged it for almost two years. If OHPA chooses to adopt the recommendations of, a charter change included in a Local Bill could be enacted by the Florida Legislature in its next session.
The Committee was established in December 2015 by OHPA under pressure from Nassau County’s Legislative Delegation (Rep. Adkins and Sen. Bean) (http://fernandinaobserver.org/2015/12/08/nassau-legislative-delegation-postpones-ohpa-charter-actions-for-now/)
Making the OHPA election Non-Partisan will allow all voters in Nassau County to participate in OHPA elections, regardless of their political party of affiliation. In turn, this is expected to increase the diversity of candidates for office, and to build a stronger relationship between OHPA and the community that it serves. However, this change would not affect the current election cycle which will see OHPA’s elections on a Partisan basis.
Watch this space for ‘next steps’ at OHPA meetings …. Meanwhile, thanks to Fernandina Observer readers for supporting the elimination of an unnecessary restriction to the basic principle of ‘one person, one vote’.
Mike, thanks for your continued efforts/leadership on this issue.
It would be of interest to know the individual votes. What is the process to get OPHA to move this item forward since they have resisted this in the past?
Thanks, Steve and Dave. And belated thanks to the CRAC for taking this decision, which I understand was a binding vote.
I don’t know what process OHPA will follow to address the recommendations from CRAC. Being naive about it, I’d hope that OHPA would accept all recommendations from this their hand-picked committee. That would allow them to save considerable face with the Legislative Delegation (Adkins and Bean) who effectively endorsed OHPA’s establishment of CRAC as the way to hear community concerns. I’d also expect OHPA to wait for all of CRAC’s proposals to come in, and then adopt them as a block.
However, I am old enough to know that events may not follow this simple path. I encourage the community to continue to hold OHPA’s feet to the fire on this, and other, issues.
Mike,
I also wish to thank you for your leadership on this issue and all the hard work including trips to Tallahassee. I hope the OHPA Board endorses the committee’s recommendation.
Thanks also need to go to the members of the Citizens’ Committee for their understanding of the citizens’ needs for representation. I also understand that this was not a unanimous vote. Thank you’s need to go to the courageous individuals who voted for the change. Also, I understand that they voted to eliminate Section 12 of the Charter which allows OHPA to ignore county and city ordinances (conflicts with state law). As Commissioner Fullwood stated earlier before the committee was appointed, the OHPA Commissioners would not have to accept the recommendations of the citizens’ advisory committee.
Would be interested to see what present Commissioners up for reelection have to say about the proposed CRAC plan – and what each of those running for District 1 and 2 seats have to say – before the GOP primary election.
http://www.votenassau.com/Election-and-Ballot-Information/Announced-Candidates