The City of St Augustine Beach announced to Historic City News this week, the appointment of Beth Sweeny as its new mayor.  Sweeny aims to strengthen regional partnerships, manage costs, and to enhance pedestrian and bike-friendly initiatives.  Outgoing mayor, Dylan Rumrell, who has served on the City Commission in St Augustine Beach since 2019, and as mayor for two years, was widely recognized for strengthening partnerships between the City of St Augustine Beach, St Johns County, and neighboring City of St Augustine.

Historic City News is following an unexpected turn of events that occurred at yesterday’s meeting of the St Johns County Board of County Commissioners; when commissioner Clay Murphy moved to remove Chairman Krista Joseph and elect himself instead.  On a 3/2 split vote, with Joseph and Ann Taylor opposed, the motion passed.

SEE DECEMBER 3, 2025 UPDATE

At the special re-organizational meeting earlier today, Commissioner Krista Joseph was elected to a second term as Chair and freshman Commissioner Ann Taylor, was elected as Vice Chair for a one-year term.  Joseph, representing District 4, and Taylor, representing District 5, were each endorsed by the Historic City News Editorial Review Board in the last election.  The Chair and Vice Chair roles are voted on by the Board of County Commissioners annually at the second meeting in November.

Lance Thate, Contributor
Special to Historic City News

On February 17, 2025, several hundred anti-Trump protesters demonstrated at City Hall in St Augustine, Florida. On March 4, 2025, members of a Communist faction of the Democrat Party, which promotes continuing support for the Ukrainian war, held an additional demonstration in front of the Castillo de San Marcos. Most recently, on March 26, 2025, another anti-Trump event was held at the Castillo de San Marcos.

Local Historic City News reporters will be on hand tomorrow morning, Thursday, February 27th, to observe when the County Attorney Advisory Review Committee meets to discuss applications from 16 area attorneys who have applied to fill the full-time position currently available at the helm of St Johns county’s legal department.

An email alleging sexual harassment against a county employee was discovered by Historic City News during the recently held commission meeting February 4th. Two St Johns County commissioners feel the alleged incident was not sufficiently investigated by County Administrator Joy Andrews.

Florida is going dark and it is up to us to turn the lights back on. It’s time for lawmakers and citizens alike to push back hard against Governor Ron DeSantis for obstructing government transparency. Do not keep Florida “in the dark” any longer.

Tyler Jarnagin reported to Historic City News reporters this week that state and local officials toured the office of the District 23 Medical Examiner in St Johns County to see several pressing needs requested to be filled in the region.