This is Part I of a Three-Part Series on the current conflict in St. Johns County.
This year, St. Johns County holidays are looking more and more like conflict rather than holiday spirit. Why is that? While some may think it is the fault of one or more County Commissioners, it is my opinion that it is directly related to we, the residents. We are willing to believe an outrageous claim because it is easier to do that than it is to learn the facts.
My hope is that most people really would prefer to know the facts and avoid misinformation so I want to lay out the facts as best as I can.
What is the conflict?
In a nutshell, four Commissioners voted on December 5, 2023, to censure the fifth Commissioner. Why?
Well, that depends upon who you listen to. If you follow social media, you will find some photoshopped memes depicting a vendetta against the fifth Commissioner for speaking out against development. Whoever put that together seems so angry that they lost all sense of decorum to make claims that are not substantiated except by their own opinion.
If you listen to the public record from the Commissioners meeting, you will hear Commissioner Dean say, “It is my opinion that that particular political speech made in this auditorium during the county commission meeting violated Florida election law.”
That is certainly a difference of opinion.
What really happened?
On November 21, 2023, Commissioner Joseph used her “commissioners reports” time to make a “Public Service Announcement.” After reading a litany of development-related woes, she said that there was an election in just nine months and was promptly interrupted on Point of Order – an appropriate action to draw attention to a violation of rules. When a point of order is called, the speaker must stop speaking until the point of order is resolved. Commissioner Joseph continued to argue.
During the argument that ensued, the Commissioner mentioned the name of someone running for District 1 Commissioner.
The Censure
Commissioner Dean’s motion on December 5, 2023, to censure Commissioner Joseph for violating the rules of decorum for Board of Commissioner public meetings was in direct response to the political speech of November 21.
His motion also asked to bring in independent counsel to determine if Florida Election Law had been violated.
His motion had nothing to do with development. It was made to protect the Commission and the County from violating state law.
In Part II, I will share the background that looms behind the conflict in the Board of Commissioners.
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