St Johns re-elects Stevenson to third term

In election results that started off strong and kept getting stronger, St Johns County Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson had lots to celebrate as returns were tabulated in her bid for a third term, and were announced to a crowd of about 100 guests of Florida Senator John Thrasher last night.

Stevenson won nearly 77% of the votes cast; defeating her opponent, perennial candidate Merrill Paul Roland, by almost 56,000 votes. Stevenson is a Republican who was successful in the Primary Election against political newcomer, Brian Iannucci. Although Roland has changed his party affiliation to Republican this year, he ran on the General Election ballot without party affiliation.

“Thank you for your vote and support; it is a privilege to serve as your District 1 Commissioner,” Stevenson told Historic City News editor Michael Gold. “I am looking forward to the hard work to keep our local economy growing and strong.”

This is the third election in which Historic City News has endorsed Stevenson to the St Johns County Commission.

Roland told Historic City News that, because of redistricting, his residence at 6281 Old Dixie Drive, north of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, is now part of County Commission District 4. Roland says that in two years, when District 4 County Commissioner Jay Morris comes up for re-election, he will campaign again to unseat him.

Stevenson, who lives in Fruit Cove, brought her father up from Volusia County, her husband Henry, and other family members, to last night’s election watch; including her niece, Jessica Thomas, who assisted Stevenson with publicity for her re-election campaign.