Mayor Shaver rises above party labels to earn respect

In a twist that surprised some members, observers and guests of the Saint Augustine Tea Party, who attended the May 26, 2015 meeting, St Augustine mayor Nancy Shaver rose above party labels earning a newfound respect for her willingness to keep lines of communication open between local government and our entire 450-year-old community.

It is common to have elected public officials as guest speakers for the Tea Party at their twice-monthly meetings. But, according to Chairman Lance Thate, it is virtually unheard of for those speakers to be registered Democrats.

“Although the Saint Augustine Tea Party has included registered Democrats in its membership since inception, no elected public official ever chose to speak to the Tea Party members — that is, until Nancy Shaver came along,” Thate told Historic City News editor Michael Gold.

According to a summation written by Thate after the meeting, a new political party with American solutions is emerging, and that party is the Tea Party.

“I go wherever I am asked,” Shaver replied to an audience question during a question-and-answer period. “When I speak publically, I am more interested in the questions and finding out what other people think.”

Very few members of the Saint Augustine Tea Party have any confidence that Democrats or Republicans will correct the direction of the country. Over the past six-years, the Tea Party, a grassroots American solution to what most members believe is a failed two-party political system, has embraced millions of people with its strict constitutional values.

The grassroots methods employed by Shaver in her campaign resonate with Tea Party members who employ the same methods; placing the highest priority on public participation. Since her election in November, Shaver has received high marks for being true to her campaign promise to improve public involvement in their government and to embrace technology to achieve openness, transparency, and accountability to the people.

“We wish Mayor Shaver well,” Thate told Historic City News and a near capacity audience at their Tuesday evening meeting held at the Village Inn. “She has our respect because she has earned it.”

Photo credits: © 2015 Historic City News contributed photograph by Town Crier Staff Photo