Fernandina Recall Showdown: Poynter, Minshew File Ballot Defense as Court Decision Nears

By Mike Lednovich/editor

Fernandina Beach Commissioners Genece Minshew and Tim Poynter have formally defended their actions in response to recall efforts, arguing in newly submitted statements that the recall campaign is rooted in policy disagreements rather than misconduct.

The statements, filed Friday with City Clerk Caroline Best, represent the next procedural step under Florida’s recall statute and will be included on the recall ballots if the process moves forward.

“This recall effort arises from a policy disagreement, not from misfeasance or neglect of duty,” Minshew wrote in her response, adding that she and fellow commissioners acted “in good faith, in compliance with the City Charter and Florida law.”

Minshew emphasized that the decisions cited in the recall petitions were made during “duly noticed public meetings” and through lawful votes, arguing that disagreement with those outcomes “does not constitute misconduct.”

Poynter struck a similar tone in his statement, directly addressing one of the central issues driving the recall effort — the commission’s approval of a paid parking program in Fernandina Beach’s historic downtown.

“I respect that reasonable people can disagree on public policy, including the decision on paid parking,” Poynter wrote. “What I do not accept is the claim that my vote represented misfeasance, neglect of duty, or any violation of the public trust. It did not.”

He added that his vote, along with three other commissioners, was made “openly, lawfully, and after reviewing the facts, financial impacts, and long-term needs of our community.”

Both commissioners argue that the recall process is being misapplied.

“Recalls are intended to address serious wrongdoing, not to overturn policy outcomes through extraordinary means,” Minshew wrote, urging voters to reject the effort.

Poynter echoed that position, stating that recalls are meant for “corruption or clear abuse of power, not to relitigate a single vote simply because some dislike the outcome.”

According to City Clerk Best, the submission of the defensive statements triggers the next recall phase outlined in Florida Statute 100.361.

The law required the commissioners to submit their responses within five business days of certification of the recall petitions by Nassau County Supervisor of Elections Janet Adkins. That certification was received March 20, setting a March 27 deadline for the statements.

With the responses now filed, the Supervisor of Elections will prepare ballots that include both the recall allegations and the commissioners’ defenses, unless the process is halted by the courts.

That legal question is expected to take center stage next Tuesday.

A hearing is scheduled before Nassau County Judge Marianne Aho on an injunction sought by Minshew and Poynter to stop the recall from proceeding. The commissioners have argued in court filings that the recall petitions are legally insufficient, while organizers with Recall FB 2026 contend the process complies with state law.

The outcome of that hearing could determine whether the recall advances to a vote or is blocked before ballots are finalized.

The recall campaign against Minshew and Poynter has been building for weeks, gaining visibility as organizers of Recall FB 2026 collected signatures at the Fernandina Beach Farmers Market and other locations.

At the center of the dispute is the City Commission’s approval of the downtown paid parking program which went into effect Feb. 16, along with broader disagreements over governance and policy direction.

Supporters of the recall argue the commissioners’ actions warrant removal from office. Minshew and Poynter, however, maintain that their decisions were lawful, transparent, and made in the best interest of the city.

“I will continue to listen, engage, and explain my decisions honestly,” Poynter wrote, pledging to weigh “competing interests and making informed decisions in the best interest of the entire community.”

As the legal challenge unfolds, the recall process remains in a critical phase, with both the courts and election officials playing key roles in determining whether Fernandina Beach voters will ultimately decide the fate of the two commissioners.