Last week, Carl Blow, Commissioner with the St. Augustine Port, Waterway & Beach District, reported to Historic City News on the recent deployment of additional concrete pipe and boxes at the High School Reef. Our story was posted here.

In a media release from Karen Pan with the Office of Public Affairs, Historic City News and Media was advised that St. Johns County is currently accepting applications for the following Board and Committee vacancies.

Since at least 1905, as best as can be determined, at least one St. Johns County constitutional officer has had opposition according to Vicky Oakes, Assistant Supervisor of Elections in a conversation with Historic City News this afternoon.

At the close of qualifying week for candidates seeking county office, which ended today at noon, every constitutional officer in St. Johns County is running for re-election without opposition.

Historic City News learned that after today’s “Meet the Candidate” forum at the county auditorium, Merrill Paul Roland crossed the street and went to the Supervisor of Elections office.

Friday was a busy day for County Commission candidate Randy Brunson, according to information obtained by Historic City News from the office of Penny Halyburton, St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections.

Late Friday afternoon, Brunson made his bid for retiring Commissioner Jim Bryant’s seat (District 5) as St. Johns County moves forward into qualifying week for state, multi-county, county, district and political party executive committee seats.

Historic City News contacted the office of St. Johns County Administrator Michael D. Wanchick this morning in an attempt to clarify events surrounding an article that appeared on the front page of The Record this morning alleging that County Commission Chairman Tom Manuel is the subject of an FBI criminal investigation.

In an announcement forwarded to Historic City News from Alison Johnson, Legislative Aide to District 20 Representative Bill Proctor, we were advised that State Representative Proctor will hold a town hall meeting, open to the public, on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008.

This will be an informative meeting designed to review the recent Legislative Session and budget.

In an interview this morning with Nancy Sikes-Kline, newly announced candidate for City of St. Augustine Commission – Seat 5, we learned a little bit about the candidate’s motivation in seeking office. Nancy tells me “My motive to serve has always been the love I have for this community and the people who live in it.”