Opinion
By Steve Nicklas
09-23-24
Everyone likes a winning team. In Fernandina Beach, and throughout Nassau County, the Republican party is that team – as dominant as the Georgia Bulldogs football program, especially in elections.
Candidates religiously align themselves with the Republican party here, even in non-partisan races. Even when they don’t believe the conservative scripture. These are faux Republicans.
For instance, city commissioner Chip Ross registered as a Republican when he moved here from Maryland. A big-spending, high-taxing, heavy-regulating proponent, Ross is as close to being a true Republican as Gov. Ron DeSantis is a Democrat.
Recently, two Fernandina Beach city commission candidates have adjusted their party affiliations – away from Democrat. Genece Minshew has lost twice as a Democrat candidate in city races. She is now registered as a Republican.
“It knocked me off my feet – there is no way she’s a Republican,” said David Sturges, her incumbent opponent. “She’s tried everything. Now she’s trying to run as a Republican. Trying to win an election.”
Minshew’s associate, Joyce Tuten, is running against Bradley Bean for another city seat. Tuten used to be a Democrat but has switched to independent. “She went halfway,” Sturges cracked.
In past experiences here, new residents who register as independents are usually closet Democrats, opting to remain unaffiliated. For example, former Fernandina Beach mayor Mike Lednovich ran as an independent after arriving here from California. He was a mirror image of Ross in governing by a spending/taxing/regulating discipline.
During his term in office, Lednovich was the only non-Republican on the commission. Even city manager Dale Martin was registered as a (faux) Republican. Lednovich has converted to Republican in recent years.
So the Republican-leaning parade is real here. It extends into other races, for school board, county commission, etc. Just about all candidates register as Republicans in those races.
Minshew initially joined the campaign of Tim Poynter, who is running for the city commission seat being vacated by Ross. Minshew abruptly changed parties on April 23 while launching her own campaign. “That’s because Chip Ross begged her to,” Sturges said.
Tuten switched parties a week before Minshew did. Sturges maintains Ross is also backing Tuten’s candidacy. “This is all coming from Chip Ross,” he said.
If Minshew is a Republican, she is unconventional. She has flown Pride banners from the back of pickup trucks in parades down Centre Street. She has also donated to Democrats in the past, according to Sturges.
Meanwhile, Sturges and Ross get along like a feral cat and a rabid dog. As the two became more estranged, Ross’ wife anonymously filed ethics complaints against Sturges. All these fabricated, unsubstantiated complaints have been dismissed.
Ross also drummed up frivolous lawsuits against the Port of Fernandina and Brett’s Waterway Café. The city lost multiple legal challenges against Brett’s, a flagship business here. The curmudgeonly Ross even voted against renaming the Fernandina Beach skate park after local Olympian skateboarder Poe Pinson, who trains there.
Still, there is more evidence of the preponderance of Republicans here. A report from the Property Club, a New York City-based real estate firm, named Fernandina Beach the most conservative city in Florida. In the county, close to 70 percent of voters are Republicans.
Maybe the flip-flops by Minshew and Tuten are out of the Kamala Harris playbook. Liberal loon Bernie Sanders defended the reversals by anointed presidential candidate Harris as being “pragmatic.”
Maybe Minshew and Tuten are being pragmatic. Either way, their party changes should be transparent. Any Kamala-like flipflops deserve scrutiny.
Ironically, some Democrats complained when political parties were brought into past city elections, despite the races being non-partisan. However, this sure sounds like a political-party tune, from behind the scenes.
In a video posted on YouTube, Minshew touted her credentials and convictions. “I promise to be fair, honest and ethical in every action and decision that I make as a city commissioner,” she said, promising “a city that is transparent.”
“She’s not being transparent,” Sturges said, “and that’s an understatement.”
(Steve Nicklas is a financial advisor on Amelia Island and an award-winning columnist. His columns appear in weekly newspapers in Northeast Florida. He has published a book of his favorite columns, “All About Money.” He has also done financial reports for area radio stations. He can be reached at 904-753-0236 at [email protected].)
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida
