Opinion
By James Antun, 10-3-24
I would like to respond to the recent article in Citizens Journal Florida Jack Knocke posted (article 1, article 2) about misinformation by Democratic candidates in our city election. I specifically want to point out that he slips in a statement at the end that teases readers to question my political party affiliation, conveniently lumping me in with his Democratic targets, and arguably swaying votes on misinformation himself. (Editor’s note: Knocke’s response to this follows Mr. Antun’s.)
First and foremost, I would like to say that I find it puzzling that we are using partisan politics to try and divide a non-partisan election for the local city commission. This has an inherent lack of merit in what our voters should be informed upon to make proper decisions in the upcoming election. The statement Jack makes in the article points out that I had no party affiliation until 2020. My wife and I lived with her parents for two years as we got our business started, then rented homes in city limits for two years before purchasing our home in city limits in April of that year. This is important to point out for two reasons – First it demonstrates we exercised fiscal responsibility as our business grew we began to make moves in a sensible manner to home ownership while simultaneously creating jobs in the community. I would like to hear a Republican who doesn’t agree with that path.
Second, and more importantly for technical purposes the “issue date” on my voter registration showing as October 1, 2020 is what Jack is quoting. If you would see the attached image, my voter registration date is October 25, 2017. Jack of all people would know since he previously supported my election to the commission that I had minimal political inclination until my business was affected by city interference.
Editor’s note: Knocke’s words in his article are: “Antun was an NPA until he ran in 2020 and changed to Republican.” Knocke later told us that Antun’s original registration in 2017 was NPA, but he changed it to Republican in 2020 when he ran for the Commission.
Images Antun provided, which ich we did not publish, at his request, show that he registered in 2017 and that as of 2020 his Registration was Republican. He did not provide documentation on what his 2017 party affiliation was. We called Elections Supervisor Janet Adkins on 10-4-24. She confirmed what Knocke told us, that Antun originally registered as NPA on 10-26-17 and changed it to Republican on 9-28-2020.
As a business owner I have always identified as a fiscal conservative, and by some natural default a center-right Republican. Perhaps it may be even more appropriate to call myself a conservative libertarian. At any rate I find it fascinating that Jack chooses to make political jabs at me when I have yet to receive a phone call from him with an interest to discuss The matter before resorting to the route of the keyboard. Please feel free to reach out to me if you want to discuss this further!
Yours In Health,
James Antun D.C. M.S.
CFSC-L1, TPI-L1, CF-L1
OCB/NGA Pro Bodybuilder
Co-owner: 8 Flags Chiropractic
(904)-775-8949
James Antun, a first term Fernandina Beach City Commissioner, is now running for Mayor and is a local chiropractor and business owner. He has been a resident of the island for the better part of a decade.
Jack Knocke’s Response, 10-4-24 ….
Response to James Antun’s misinformed and inaccurate response.
Commissioner Antun,
It is disappointing that you seek to question my article as misinformation. In fact, it is all accurate, factual and verifiable. I specifically included pictures from the campaigns to ensure that information published was accurate “in your own words”. Calling my words and pictures misinformation is disingenuous.
Because this is a non-partisan race, does not mean that voters should not know “who” they are voting for – especially if those running change their story, their party registration, and their affiliations for an election. Your Minshew ticket team is the one using partisan politics to manipulate a non-partisan election. You are now accusing me of doing what you and your Minshew ticket have and continue to do – sway voters by reinventing yourselves to win an election.
You questioning the facts that I accurately presented regarding your voter registration is consistent with your level of research as a city commissioner. You don’t know or research the facts – even for your own voter registration! The voter registration card that you shared with the Citizens Journal confirms my words are factual. You were likely issued a new voter registration card when you changed parties – from NPA to Republican – right when you were in the middle of running for a city commission in October of 2020 for a non-partisan seat aligning yourself with a Republican (Darron Ayscue) to build republican partisan support.
You are now doing the same as other sitting commissioners have done attempting to call facts a lie in public when in fact YOUR words are the falsehoods. Just because you are a sitting commissioner, you do not have the right to make false accusations.
James Antun Responded to that this evening, 10-4-24:
As a follow-up to my previous response for clarification purposes: I may have inadvertently misspoken – yes it is true as Jack points out my voter registration may have shown as NPA until 2020. I would challenge what merit this bears since most individuals in their mid to late 20’s aren’t politically inclined, unless of course one’s mother or father happens to be involved government. I outlined this point earlier, but maybe it wasn’t articulated in the best manner. I still don’t understand how this became political “ammo” against me when my party declaration took place two years before I ran for election (well before I had any interest in running for city commission). At any rate, I stand by my conservative values, even if it doesn’t fit the definition others choose to impose upon me. God bless you Jack!
Yours In Health,
James Antun D.C. M.S.
The views expressed in these commentaries are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida
