Two weeks of speculation and rumors have ended this afternoon after St Johns County Commission Chairman and District 3 Commissioner Mark P Miner announced that he won’t seek re-election when his term in office expires.
At the same time as Miner made his announcement, he offered his endorsement of Sergeant Major (Ret) Ray A. Quinn for the now-open seat.
Miner is an Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer in the Florida National Guard who was activated in late 2009 for his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He took a military leave of absence from the County Commission in 2010, without pay.
Then Florida Governor Charlie Crist, at Miner’s request, appointed Quinn who held the position from January 2010 until Miner’s return from military duty in January of 2011.
Quinn retired from the Florida National Guard in 1995 with 30 years of service, of which 22 years were spent on active duty. From 1995 until 2008 he served as the Director of Executive Services and Chief of Protocol for the Florida Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard.
Quinn is past president of the Kiwanis Club of Historic St. Augustine and a charter member and Vice President of the First Militia Chapter of the Association of the United States Army.
He is the past Chairman of the St. Johns County Veterans Council and serves as a member of the Jacksonville National Cemetery Advisory Committee. Quinn is a 26 year resident of St. Johns County.
“I was honored to serve in Commissioner Miner’s place while he served the nation overseas,” Quinn told Historic City News. “Today I am honored to once again step up to the opportunity to serve the citizens of St. Johns County.”
“Commissioner Quinn performed exemplary in my absence during some of the greatest financial challenges this County has faced,” Commissioner Miner said of Quinn’s time on the Board. “I still hear from constituents who were incredibly impressed with his informed and fair handling of all issues that came before him.”
Miner says that he is excited about a tremendous opportunity in the private sector that is available to him.
“It is with mixed emotions that I make this decision, but having a quality person with proven abilities willing to serve yet again makes this decision much easier,” Miner said.
“Serving as an elected official has been extremely rewarding, however, this was never intended to be a career path,” Miner said of his decision. “I am proud of what I have accomplished on the board and now I look forward to returning to the private sector.”
Miner told reporters that he and wife Cheryl look forward to growing their family and staying involved in the community, including continued involvement with the Republican Party.
Photo credits: © 2012 Historic City News staff photographer