St Augustine Beach elects first female mayor

During Monday evening’s regular business meeting of the commission for the City of St Augustine Beach, commissioner Andrea Samuels was chosen to serve as mayor; making her the first woman to hold that office in the incorporated beach community.

Unlike the City of St Augustine whose voters elect the mayor every two-years, each December, elected members of the St Augustine Beach city commissioners, who serve four-year terms, decide among themselves who will serve as mayor for the coming year.

“I thank my fellow commissioners for their trust in appointing me to lead in this time of economic growth,” Samuels told the other members after her selection, which was the last item on the night’s four-hour agenda. “I am honored to have been chosen as the Mayor of St Augustine Beach.”

Making her vow to do her best “to be a positive and progressive leader”, Samuels succeeds outgoing mayor Gary Snodgrass.

“The economy is coming back and tourism is growing and going strong in St Johns County,” Samuels told Historic City News editor Michael Gold today. “This is an exciting time for the City of St Augustine Beach — we are in a positive position to benefit from that growth.”

Samuels who has been involved in the local Civic Association and many other community activities at St Augustine Beach over the years that she and her husband, Robert, have been residents, seems ready to roll up her sleeves and dig in. “There are new projects coming forward that will enhance our community, our businesses, and our citizens,” she said this afternoon.

The mayor-elect will take office in January and will serve for one year. She was re-elected to the city commission last year and her commission term does not expire until 2016.