Kelso introduces candidacy for Seat 2

Alan Kelso announced to Historic City News that he is making his first run at a political office by registering his bid for the District 2 seat on the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners.

Kelso says that he strives to excel, is willing to “invest in personal growth”, has the “desire and thirst for knowledge” that it takes to be a leader.

When asked, Kelso remarked, “St. Johns County needs leadership that is more concerned with the taxpaying citizen than it has been”.

Kelso said that his agenda is simple, “stop wasteful spending, cut property taxes and impact fees, and promote responsible growth — all the while putting the interests of our residents and taxpayers first”.

Upon graduation from High School, Kelso says that he “heard other callings” and declined an appointment to the West Point military college, instead deciding to attend Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

In 1987, Kelso advised Historic City News that he built a film and video company that was to become “Sony Broadcast of America’s premier facility and the first fully digital facility in the Midwest”.

Kelso informed us that “his developing career path” took him to southern Florida; where he owned a consulting company specializing in residential and commercial renovations.

Since returning to St. Augustine to raise his son Aaron and daughter Renee in 1994, he reports building an Internet service provider, a software company and working in upper management for a wireless-communications company.

A 2004 article that appeared in the St. Augustine Record quoted U. S. Representative Tom DeLay of Texas as saying Kelso made outstanding contributions to an advisory council for then-president George Bush, which led to his appointment to the Business Commission.

Kelso told Historic City News that he was a host to the Pro-Family Rally at the World Golf Convention Center, with the goal of bringing the Marriage Amendment to fruition in Florida.

Kelso is one of several who worked with leader Ken Asplund; helping launch the Christian Professional Resources organization in St. Johns County.

Kelso says he is proud to have worked “in various communities in Indiana and Florida as a senior pastor of several congregations”.

Kelso is a Republican. The commissioner who currently holds the seat, Ron Sanchez, was elected as a Republican in 2006, and says he is fairly sure he will run for re-election. However, a recent news article quotes Sanchez as saying, “We’ll just have to see what happens”. According to the article, Sanchez said. “I’m not going to let that become a priority.”

Republicans Randy Brunson and Ben Adams have also filed to run for the District 2 seat. Florida is a “closed primary” state, so Republicans, county wide, will vote in the Primary Election to be held on August 24, 2010.

Whoever wins in the District 2 Republican Primary, and whoever wins in the Democratic Primary, should they run, will face Merrill Roland, who is registered as an independent candidate, in the General Election on November 2nd.

Photo credit: © 2009 Historic City News contributed photograph