103 year streak broken!

Since at least 1905, as best as can be determined, at least one St. Johns County constitutional officer has had opposition according to Vicky Oakes, Assistant Supervisor of Elections in a conversation with Historic City News this afternoon.

At the close of qualifying week for candidates seeking county office, which ended today at noon, every constitutional officer in St. Johns County is running for re-election without opposition.

“It’s usually because of the Sheriff’s race”, Oakes pointed out; referring to the fact that the race for sheriff is a very high profile race and draws a great deal of attention and interest from potential candidates. Records that predate 1905 would be difficult to research, but, it is safe to say that an election of every constitutional officer – unopposed – is unheard of in St. Johns County in more than 100 years.

The constitutional officers, who must qualify for election every four years, include the sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of court and supervisor of elections. Some of our current constitutional officers have enjoyed re-election without opposition in recent elections, however, even retired Sheriff Neil Perry – who held the office for twenty years – had opposition with each of his four re-election bids.

Photo credit: Historic City Media news photographer Kerry McGuire