2014 General Election recommendations

Historic City News convened the members of our editorial review board this morning to discuss and consider which candidates on local ballots could be recommended for election on November 4th. We realize that many readers have obtained an absentee ballot and are voting now. On next Monday, October 20, continuing through November 1, registered voters will go to the polls to vote early. Election Day is Tuesday November 4, 2014.

We endorsed Nancy Shaver, with a complete explanation of our findings, during the Primary Election for St Augustine Mayor. She succeeded in the Primary and returns in the General Election, so there is no reason to write a new endorsement. We stand by our original endorsement and hope that when you vote, you will consider our recommendation.

Although not unanimous, which is no surprise, by a majority of the six voting members, we recommended Rick Scott for Governor, Pam Bondi for Attorney General, Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture, and Jeff Atwater for Chief Financial Officer.

We voted against all constitutional amendments and against retaining any of the judges.

We previously announced our endorsement of Cory Mara in the local Mosquito Control Board race.

In the race for Seat 4 on the St Augustine city commission, we are virtually stumped. We really feel that we should elect both of the candidates who survived the Primary Election because each has highly desirable skills that are lacking on the existing commission. That said, we feel John Valdes has essential experience in zoning and infrastructure development sufficient to warrant our recommendation. We hope Todd Neville will return in two years because he will be an asset to any board on which he serves.

The decision to support Grant Misterly for Seat 5, however, was clearer. Although he is a political newcomer, he served the maximum continuous term on the city’s Planning and Zoning board. His employment as a professional engineer will be of enormous benefit as the city rebuilds from the past six or eight years of neglect. Misterly is a fiscal conservative and has demonstrated the vision to move us forward; away from the culture of wasteful spending that has defined city hall under the current administration. He will be an asset to our new mayor and a voice for action — not endless and ineffectual studies and workshops that lead nowhere. Comparing six-years of talk to measurable results leads us to the gist of our support for Grant Misterly. We are excited to see how he does over the next four years.

Adding to our local recommendations are:

City of St. Augustine Beach Commission – Group 4, we recommend Margaret England.
Airport Authority – Group 1, we recommend Suzanne W Green
Airport Authority – Group 3, we recommend Bruce Maguire
Port Waterway and Beach – Group 3, we recommend Herb L Rippe

Historic City News is confident in these recommendations and we respect our reader’s duty to learn about the qualifications of each candidate on their own. We are committed to remain politically aware in St Johns County and work with any new office holder as they complete their term of service.