Melissa Lundquist reported to Historic City News that St. Johns County is currently accepting applications for the following Board and Committee vacancies.

In questions answered this morning by St. Johns County Administrator Michael Wanchick, local Historic City News reporters sought to clarify some confusion created by a recent newspaper account of plans for the county to absorb operations of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District.

Historic City News reporters learned today that while in Orlando, Governor Charlie Crist ceremonially signed House Bill 971, creating a Hispanic specialty license plate as well as the establishment of a Hispanic Achievers Grant Council.

Historic City News Editor Michael Gold will seek election to the open seat on the City of St. Augustine Commission created when local architect Donald A. Crichlow decided not qualify for re-election.

With the passing of today’s high twelve deadline, the greatly contested District 2 race for St. Johns County Commissioner lost its non-party-affiliated candidate, Merrill Paul Roland, who failed to qualify.

Two incumbents on the City Commission want to be re-elected — Mayor Joseph L. Boles, Jr., and Nancy Sikes-Kline; however, Sikes-Kline has drawn two opponents for her seat and she will have to either catch 50% of the votes cast in the August 24th Primary Election; or, be one of the two top vote getters in the Primary then win in the November General Election.

“Everybody else has had to tighten their belt because of this economy, but the City of St. Augustine hasn’t,” candidate Charles J. Hennessey told local Historic City News reporters this week as he made his bid for City Commission Seat 5; currently held by Nancy Sikes-Kline.

Historic City News local reporters spent time this morning with two very busy city officials — outgoing St. Augustine City Manager Bill Harriss and incoming City Manager John Regan as Harriss makes the transition to retirement and Regan makes the transition to what some would call “the hot seat”.