Spotlight on 2024 Fernandina Beach City Candidates

Opinion/Elections

By Kelley A Yates, October 28, 2024

I would like to thank the following candidates for their trust and for taking the time out of their busy schedules to take part in this interview.

Miss Christy Kelly City Commissioner Seat 3.

Mr. Bradley Bean, City of Fernandina Beach Commissioner Seat 2.

Mr. Darron Ayscue and his opponent, Dr. James Antun, are candidates for City Mayor.

Mr. David Sturges who is running for City of Fernandina Beach Commissioner Seat 1.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sturges and Mr. Bean for the first time in September, at the Federated Republican Women of Nassau meeting. As I walked into the meeting, Mr. Bean headed towards me, he politely introduced himself and welcomed me. I thanked him for serving as City Mayor and then took my seat.

Looking ahead and smiling at the candidates, I spotted Miss Genece Minshew, running for City Commissioner seat 1. Genece was glaring over at me with a scowling face. I was surprised because I had not met her before, and at that point, I had never written about her. And then it dawned on me, she must have been offended by my conservative views on social media. I ignored her and looked away from her stern hollow face to see the other candidates, one of which was heading towards me. A tall, dapper gentleman in a well-tailored suit named Mr. David Sturges.

I was immediately impressed with his first impression because I observed Mr. Sturges was the smartest-dressed gentleman in the room. Even though it is not required for a lady to stand when a gentleman comes over to introduce himself, I felt obliged to do so. Like Mr. Bean, I could sense his polite courtesy, warmth, and enthusiasm. I respectfully stood up and introduced myself. We chatted for a few minutes and exchanged pleasantries.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sturges on another occasion when he came canvassing at my door. Once again, after answering my pertinent questions, I found him to be a professional, charming, and well-qualified candidate who’s a southern gentleman.

At the same event I had the pleasure to meet Miss Christy Kelly. Upon introducing myself, Christie surprised me and spoke. “I know you. You do great work! I want to come to one of your meetings.” Then Christy passed me her card, I was immediately captivated. It read Christy Kelly Christian Conservative Business Owner. Like myself, I could not be prouder to be Christian conservative business owner. This powerful statement says a lot about one’s character. Hence, I immediately felt a deep respect and appreciation for meeting this, Lady.

The following day, Christy even made time in her busy schedule to stop at an event I was hosting for Classy Conservatives to discuss her love for Fernandina beach and objective to lower city taxes. I believe Miss Kelly would be a breath of fresh air as a city representative.

I had met Mr. Darron Ayscue briefly on the island through an acquaintance and spoke to him once on the phone when I had questions regarding public safety. Even though he was heading into a meeting, he answered my questions thoughtfully. I emailed Mr. Ayscue to see if he would participate in the interview and provisionally attached the questions. I was most astonished and impressed to receive an email back within a couple of hours the same day with all the answers. I told my husband there were no flies on him! This was a good sign for a city candidate who clearly loves his job and whole-hearted eager to get the job done.

I have never met Dr. James Antun in person. I have heard that he has a good name as a Chiropractor and is a good family man. I contacted him via email, and he kindly agreed to this interview.

Miss Christy Kelly City Commissioner Seat 3.

Christy Kelly is a Florida native from Jacksonville with deep roots in Fernandina Beach. Christie is a devoted mother to three beautiful daughters. Christy grew up visiting Fernandina with her family, and she has always dreamed of living on the island and finally moved here in 2020. Her youngest child goes to school in Fernandina. Christy fell in love with the small-town charm and particularly enjoys walking along the beach, biking, fishing, and boating. Christy particularly enjoys the abundance of fine dining Fernandina beach offers. Christie is an entrepreneur that has successfully created several businesses. Christy states she understands as a business owner for over 30 years, the island has challenges with heavy regulation and taxation on city taxpayers. Christie believes taxpayers’ money should be physically responsible and prioritized. Christy passionately values preserving the beautiful natural beaches, parks, and waterways with a fresh perspective.

To read more about her, visit her official website: https://christykellycampaign.com

As a new candidate, why did you decided to run for position? I see room for improvement in a few areas of our small town, so I decided it’s time to give back and apply my business skills to our government.
Are infrastructure upgrades, including road repairs, drainage improvements and utilities enhancement part of your plan? What are your top three priorities as a commissioner? New revenue streams that don’t involve the taxpayers. Listening to the taxpayers and business owners that I serve. Keep our small-town family friendly lifestyle that attracted all of us to the City of Fernandina Beach.
Do you think it is important for our city to attract new businesses to help diversify the economy and reduce the tax burden on residents? Yes!
Do you have a strategic plan that will help streamline the permitting process for developers and residents? No. I don’t have a plan but it’s very high on my to do list.
Amelia Island was recently voted one of the top five islands by Conte Nest Magazine which will potentially bring more tourists. Therefore, are there any plans to designate parking areas so this will not be a burden on our beautiful downtown residential areas? Also, very high on the list of things that the commission will work on.
How do you see future growth with regards to multifamily development and smart business developments? That’s such hard question. We want to respect the rights of property owners; however, these big developments will severely congest our roadways and infrastructure.
Who is your greatest cheerleader? My daughters.
How would you like to see your contribution to our community to be remembered? I would like to be remembered as honest, fair, and impactful.

Mayor of Fernandina Beach Bradley Bean for City Commission, Seat One.

Bradley Bean goes back many generations of leaders who protected our beautiful island. Bradley attended Fernandina Beach High School and the University of Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Impressively, Bradley became the youngest Mayor in Fernandina Beach history in 2022, serving until now and serving as Fernandina Beach City Commission since 2020. Bradley has pleaded to keep taxes low and the people of Fernandina first. Bradley is married to the First Lady of Fernandina Alexia, and they’re expecting their first baby in December. Bradley strives to preserve our beautiful environment, has added eight new acres to our conservation land here, and advocated for the Heritage Tree program. Bradley believes that Jobs are what make a diverse economy. Bradley strives to make Fernandina a clean, safe place to raise a family.

To read more about him, visit his official website: https://bradleybean.com

• Do you think it is important for our city to attract new businesses to help diversify the economy and reduce the tax burden on residents? Absolutely, a diversified economy is what makes Fernandina a real community to live in. Without jobs, families like mine would not be able to live on our beautiful island.

• Do you have a strategic plan that will help streamline the permitting process for developers and residents? Yes, we have been working on the building department process for some time and have made real improvements in permit processing time. There is always more to improve, and we will continue to work on making things better.

• Amelia Island was recently voted one of the top five islands by Conte Nest Magazine which will potentially bring more tourists. Therefore, are there any plans to designate parking areas so this will not be a burden on our beautiful downtown residential areas? We have added many new parking spots downtown. During my term as mayor, we have added nearly 60 new parking spots in our downtown core. These will enable residents and tourists alike to access our beautiful downtown.

• How do you see future growth with regards to multifamily development and smart business developments?

We have a strong comprehensive plan and building codes in the city that I support. We must maintain a balance between property rights and protecting the character of our neighborhoods.

• Who is your greatest cheerleader?

My wife Alexia, who happens to be the First Lady of Fernandina! She really helps me through everything as an elected official, while working her own full-time job and expecting our first baby this December!

• How do you see local social issues impacting the community?

I believe it’s best to keep national social issues out of City Hall. Locally, we all agree on nice sidewalks, parks and a family-oriented community, so let’s keep the conversation there.

• How would you like to see your contribution to our community to be remembered?

Sadly, I never met my grandfather as he passed away before I was born, but he served on the Fernandina City Commission and helped build a community that I am now proud to live in. My hope is that my contribution to my community will be felt by my kids and grandkids the same way.

Mr. Darron Ayscue, candidate for City Mayor.

Darron Ayscue was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Michelle. After starting a career as a firefighter in Nassau County, he relocated to the area to be close to his work. Darron has lived in Nassau County/Fernandina for the last 22 years and worked for Nassau County for 25 years. Darron has two children who graduated from Fernandina. Raising children motivated Darron to devote countless hours volunteering at church groups, coaching football and baseball, including Mrs. Bean’s dance studio. Darron continues to commit his time and passion to serving the community. Darron is proud of the City Commission’s work and wishes to continue the strong leadership. Darron believes it is essential to leave the citizens of the future something to be proud of and never forget our rich history. Fernandina and Northeast Florida are home he wishes to make life long.

To read more about him, visit his official website: https://www.darronayscue.com/

• As the incumbent, what would you like to continue to build on? Part of my original campaign message was to improve relationships with our counterparts in the County and State. I hope to continue to build on the great relationships this commission has established so that we can all work together for our community.

• Are infrastructure upgrades, including road repairs, drainage improvements and utilities enhancement part of your plan? The City of Fernandina Beach has an amazing staff. By working with the stormwater/wastewater and public works staff, making improvements to the infrastructure is a high priority of this commission and I expect that to continue.

• What are your top three priorities as a commissioner? Taxes, government efficiency and smart growth. As a conservative we should always strive to keep taxes low. In my two years on the commission, there has not been a single increase in taxes. Government efficiency is another priority. We must continue to streamline our processes for a more efficient government. Lastly, promoting smart growth. By working with builders and developers we can achieve the balance of private property rights and preserving Fernandina Beach’s unique character and charm.

• Do you think it is important for our city to attract new businesses to help diversify the economy and reduce the tax burden on residents? Commercial re-development should be at the forefront of discussions for our City. By enticing our current commercial footprint to re-develop we increase our tax base along with bringing in new businesses and jobs that benefit our entire community.

• Do you have a strategic plan that will help streamline the permitting process for developers and residents? This commission has taken streamlining the building process to a new level. By identifying the struggles of the previous administration to address the permitting process, the City of Fernandina Beach has become a model for working with our citizens to achieve a painless process.

• Amelia Island was recently voted one of the top five islands by Conte Nest Magazine which will potentially bring more tourists. Therefore, are there any plans to designate parking areas so this will not be a burden on our beautiful downtown residential areas? Parking continues to improve in the downtown area. Recently this commission has designated N. 7th Street a one-way street which has increased the amount of parking downtown. I will continue to look to improve downtown parking not for tourists but for the citizens that deserve a vibrant downtown.

• How do you see future growth with regards to multifamily development and smart business developments? Multifamily development will mostly be limited to “Live Local” developments. There are a few projects that will be assets to our community. Smart business developments will arise from the re-development of our current commercial infrastructure. This will allow new anchor tenants to establish which will feed smaller local businesses.

• Who is your greatest cheerleader? My family. Specifically, my wife, Michelle. While I have many people who encourage me every day, my wife is my rock, who also attends every City commission meeting. We are a team, and it is proven everyday with our commitment to this community.

• How do you see local social issues impacting the community? Fernandina Beach is and will continue to be a conservative community. I will always champion conservative values, both socially and fiscally.

• Unfortunately, your opponent Dr. James Antun did not disclose with Classy Conservatives how he would vote on the Florida State amendments. Are you willing to share with voters your position on these important issues facing our state? Yes, I am happy to share my views. Amendment One partisan election, members of a district, school boards. Yes. Amendment 2. Rights to fish and hunt. Yes. Amendment 3 Adult use of personal marijuana. Near children’s parks and public spaces. No. Amendment 4. which would allow for full term babies to have abortion when they can feel pain and take the rights away from the parents so minors can have abortion without the parents’ knowledge. No. Amendment 5. Annual adjustments to the value of certain homestead exemptions. Yes. Amendment 6. Repeal public campaign financing requirements. Yes.

• How would you like to see your contribution to our community to be remembered? I hope I can inspire the next generation of conservative leadership. I truly strive to be a role model for conservative leadership in our community and I am dedicated to fostering the next leaders of conservative values in our youth.

Dr. James Antun, candidate for City Mayor.

James Antun and his wife Jayde, have one little girl, and have lived on the island for six years. James previously ran for seat 4 and is now running for city Mayor. James is an accomplished athlete competing as a bodybuilder. James is the owner of Eight Flags Chiropractic. His passion is to help people heal with holistic and alternative healthcare methods that do not use drugs or surgery. James became a chiropractor because he was inspired by the relief that he received. James believes combining chiropractic and rehabilitative care is essential to a successful outcome. James is a certified functional strength coach, and Titleist Performance Institute certified coach for Level 1, and currently working towards a more medical specialty in that field. James looks forward to being able to serve the community of Fernandina Beach with the detail and dedication he puts into his work as a chiropractor.

To read more about him, visit his official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.JamesAntunFernandinaBeachCityCommission/

As a new candidate, why did you decide to run for Mayor position? I ran for city commission based on seeing flaws and experiencing excessive staff interference in the process of my business being allowed permits and a local business tax receipt back in 2019-2020. These efforts of interference were based on what seemed to be speculation at best and were driven by a personal agenda by a neighboring tenant in the commercial property where we currently do business. My hope was, and still is to instruct our city manager and charter officers to hold each department director accountable to objective annual review procedures, and to reflect this process consistently across all departments to ensure that all staff members are performing their role adequately. I believe this process will expose any potential inefficient methodology and execution, which provides a critical starting point to begin making improvements at every level of city policy, procedure, and operations.
Are infrastructure upgrades, including road repairs, drainage improvements and utilities enhancement part of your plan? These are all part of our 5-year capital improvements plan, which is driven by the available funding each year in the budget. I aim to rely on our department directors as subject matter experts to present the plans for these improvements at the direction of us commissioners, which is driven by the needs and input from our citizens. If I can gain more momentum in conversations with fellow commissioners as to how we can create new revenue streams without increasing millage to pay for these projects we would be able to utilize these funds for future capital improvements.
· What are your top three priorities as a commissioner? public safety, preserving our city and its assets, improving policies and procedures to optimize performance and management at all levels of city staff functions. In other words, run this city more like a business!
Do you think it is important for our city to attract new businesses to help diversify the economy and reduce the tax burden on residents? I think the city does not have a burden to attract more businesses so much as it has a burden to maintain the environment that sustains what we have. New business development is a private risk individuals choose to take in exchange for reaping a future benefit based on the creation of jobs and offering services that enrich the community. The reward to the individual is to have an opportunity to make a living on one’s own terms. The obligation of the city government is to provide an unbiased, fair and adequate level of customer service to its existing and prospective business owners.
Do you have a strategic plan that will help streamline the permitting process for developers and residents? given the timing and current situation our city has been in this plan is largely contingent on how we can collaborate with our new city manager to develop an effective strategy.
Amelia Island was recently voted one of the top five islands by Conte Nest Magazine which will potentially bring more tourists. Therefore, are there any plans to designate parking areas so this will not be a burden on our beautiful downtown residential areas? see prior discussions about suggestions for all potential versions of downtown and/or on-beach paid parking.
How do you see future growth with regards to multifamily development and smart business developments? this question seems rather vague and difficult to provide a concise answer rather than have an open discussion.
Who is your greatest cheerleader? my wife, my parents, and my friends.
How do you see local social issues impacting the community? I think social issues absolutely impact our community, and depending on which issues we discuss this conversation would need to be rather expansive.
Are you willing to share with voters your position on Florida State Amendments which can significantly impact our culture? Dr. Antun would not disclose his viewpoint on these amendments.
How would you like to see your contribution to our community to be remembered? my goal is to do my job as well as I can, and for citizens to know their local government is paying attention to the needs of the community.

Mr. David Sturges who is running for City of Fernandina Beach Commissioner Seat 1.

Mr. David Sturges is running for commissioner seat 2, is opponent Genece Minshew, leader of Fernandina Beach LGBTQ. Miss Minshew is a well-known trans activist in the area who was instrumental in bringing the demonic drag queen Festival to Fernandina Beach. To read more about Minshew’s disingenuous campaign, click here.

David Sturges stated, “Six generations of my family have cherished and protected our city and Amelia Island since 1710.” David graduated from Fernandina Beach High School in 1991 and attended ITT Technical Institute, where he graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering in 1993. David is a Certified Building Contractor licensed in 2002, proudly serving Fernandina Beach for over 22 years. David believes in effective communication with citizens to achieve the goal of a well-run city. David is married to Kelly, and they have five wonderful children together. David dedicates his life passionately to God, his family, and the community he holds dear. David wishes to continue working on preserving and protecting Fernandina Beach’s vibrant and charming way of life by providing robust, thoughtful, and business-minded leadership to the City of Fernandina Beach.

To read more about him, visit his official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DavidSturgesforGroup2/

and website: https://www.davidsturges.net/

As the incumbent, what would you like to continue to build on? We have worked hard to make the city live within its means. We have lowered taxes multiple times during my time in office. We also decreased density and added additional conservation land to the City’s. These are all things I’d like to continue as your City Commissioner.
Are infrastructure upgrades, including road repairs, drainage improvements, and utility enhancements part of your plan? Of course. A city as old as Fernandina needs continual maintenance. We also have a seawall in the works for downtown, along with planned improvements for sewage, drainage, and roads.
What are your top three priorities as a commissioner? This is easy. Protecting people’s freedom is my top priority. What I mean by that, in terms of the City, is to make sure that:
1. Keep Taxes Low: We are keeping taxes as low as possible. People who have money, spend money. People who spend money create jobs. Jobs put more money back into the community. Inflation is through the roof. People should keep their money. They deserve to keep their money.
2. Conservation: Our island is a beautiful place. We have been fortunate as a city to have the opportunity to buy conservation land. It preserves the quality of life for our residents, and we need to keep doing it. Conservation safeguards our natural spaces, giving residents the freedom to enjoy and preserve the island’s beauty for generations to come.
3. Infrastructure: We must maintain and improve our infrastructure and recreation. However, this doesn’t mean we always have to increase fees on everyone, every year. We live within our means and do it the right way—the same way families and households have to. This removes barriers movement, opportunity, and economic activity.
Do you think it is important for our city to attract new businesses to help diversify the economy and reduce the tax burden on residents? I do think a diverse economy is good for a community. Do I believe we need to expand tourism to be as large and as great as possible? No. We have service and tourism industries. We’re also lucky to have manufacturing businesses here to provide local residents with jobs, even in the winter months. Those residents continue to support our restaurants and boutique shops. We need to preserve the mix.
Amelia Island was recently voted one of the top five islands by Conde Nast Magazine, which will potentially bring more tourists. Are there any plans to designate parking areas so this will not be a burden on our beautiful downtown residential areas? Dealing with parking remains an issue. We have worked closely with City staff to optimize parking. I will continue to listen to staff and resident recommendations on parking. One thing I know, though, is that we don’t need paid parking on Amelia Island.
How do you see future growth with regards to multifamily development and smart business developments? I have to evaluate the merits of each project individually. Future growth will have to align with the existing comprehensive plan, as well as state and local laws and ordinances. I don’t believe the future of Amelia Island should have a large number of multifamily residences. On the island, balance is everything. We must prepare for what’s coming tomorrow but also preserve the uniqueness of our island. I imagine most large multifamily development will be off the island.
Who is your greatest cheerleader? My wife and my children, unquestionably. I’m very blessed to have them, and without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
How do you see local social issues impacting the community? I believe we have some extremist elements in our community who want to change the fabric of our community and reorient Fernandina away from the family dynamic we’ve always been known for. I believe Fernandina is great just the way it is.
How would you like your contribution to our community to be remembered? I’d like it to be remembered that I loved my community, was available when needed, and left it a little better than the way I found it.

Dear readers, I trust you found these interviews insightful and helpful in selecting your candidates or perhaps getting to know your chosen candidate better. If you would like to read more interviews like this, please let me know and leave a comment and kindly share this article. Or even better, attend one of our monthly meetings to discuss more Ideas on investigative journalism. I do feel there is a missing market in Nassau County for conservative news that is not clearly biased towards outstanding conservative leaders and stands up for truth, family, and tradition.

To conclude, I wish to thank David Sturges, Bradley Bean, Christy Kelly, Darron Ayscue, and James Antun for dedicating their time and talents to public service. It was a pleasure and a privilege to interview each of you. I wish you all the best of luck. Now, keep making a difference in the world for the common good.

Republished with author’s permission, from Classy Conservatives original article

Kelley Ann Yates, aka Lady Etiquette, is the author, founder, and director of Lady Etiquette LLC, Swan Swimwear, and Classy Conservatives. She has been featured on First Coast Living, Newsmax, conservative radio shows, and various conservative podcasts, including The Washington Times.

Kelley Yates has over 25 years of International public relations experience on a global VIP level; Kelley developed unique insight and skills in cross-cultural communications, protocol, and cultural sensitivity. She specializes in bespoke and comprehensive programs for clients who wish to expand their social behavior and cultural awareness. Kelley has been featured on First Coast Living, Newsmax, conservative radio shows, and various conservative podcasts. MORE

The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.