Meet candidate Jeb Smith at Tea Party meeting

Historic City News readers are patriotically invited to attend the general meeting of the Saint Augustine Tea Party on Tuesday, March 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Village Inn located at 900 North Ponce de Leon Boulevard in St Augustine. Hastings resident, Jeb Smith, who is a Republican candidate for the St Johns County Commission, will be the evening’s guest speaker.

For over 80 years, the 400-acre Smith and Johns family farm has contributed to the Hastings and St Johns County economy; producing perennial peanut hay, sod, Tilapia, organic vegetables and pasture-raised beef.

“I can envision our county’s businesses strengthened and thriving, and our county’s debt completely reconciled,” Smith said as he looks forward to being a strong conservative voice for county residents. “It is reasonable to elect leaders who believe in growing the private sector and reducing the footprint of government.”

Smith is a state director for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, and acts in an advisory capacity with the American Farm Bureau Federation. He is a 5th generation farmer whose family began raising potatoes in Hastings in 1923, and he remains actively involved in the agricultural community.

Smith will challenge sitting commissioner Ron Sanchez; who is attempting to win a third, four-year term in office. As a member of the county’s Agriculture and 4-H advisory councils, serving as president of the Putnam-St. Johns County Farm Bureau, Smith believes his experience makes him best qualified to hold the contentious seat.

In addition to Smith and Sanchez, two other Republican entrants into the District 2 Primary Election include Corey “Duke” Mara, and Kim J. Kendall. The winner of that election, on August 26th, will face Democrat Ron Stafford in the General Election, November 4th.