Minshew Defeats Poynter in Fernandina Beach Mayoral Election

By Mike Lednovich/Editor

FERNANDINA BEACH - City Commissioner Genece Minshew defeated fellow Commissioner Tim Poynter in Tuesday's mayoral election, winning 56% of the vote in a contest between two officials whose support for downtown paid parking sparked months of public opposition and an attempted recall.

Minshew received 3,736 votes, or 56.07%, compared with 2,927 votes, or 43.93%, for Poynter, according to the final election returns. Her margin of victory was 809 votes.

"I am deeply honored and grateful for the confidence the citizens of Fernandina Beach have placed in me. Thank you to everyone who supported me and participated in this election," Minshew said. "Serving our community is a privilege and a responsibility I take seriously. As Mayor, I will continue to focus on thoughtful leadership, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and working together to protect what makes Fernandina Beach such a special place to live. Regardless of how you voted, I look forward to representing all our citizens and working with my fellow commissioners to move our city forward."

The election followed months of public anger over paid parking, a program both commissioners championed as a way to generate revenue for waterfront improvements and other infrastructure needs without relying entirely on property taxes.

Their support made both commissioners targets of an unsuccessful citizen recall effort earlier this year. Organizers collected more than 1,400 signatures on petitions seeking their removal, but a Nassau County circuit judge blocked the effort in April, ruling that political disagreements over commission decisions did not constitute legal grounds for recall.

The depth of opposition to paid parking became apparent in the Aug. 18 primary election, when approximately 75% of voters approved a citizen-initiated ordinance requiring voter approval before the city could implement paid parking.

The following day, Poynter moved to terminate the city's contract with parking operator One Parking. The commission approved the motion 4-1.

Two weeks later, Poynter reversed course, calling his termination motion a "knee-jerk reaction" and asking commissioners to reconsider. He argued that eliminating parking revenue would leave taxpayers responsible for millions of dollars in infrastructure costs.

Minshew, who had also been a strong supporter of paid parking, refused to reopen the debate.

"For me, paid parking is a done issue because the community has spoken," Minshew said during the Sept. 1 commission meeting.

Her vote helped defeat Poynter's reconsideration effort on a 2-2 tie, leaving the contract termination in place.

The episode exposed a disagreement between the two commissioners who had been closely aligned in defending paid parking against months of public criticism.

The city implemented paid parking in February, charging $2 an hour in designated downtown areas. The program is scheduled to end Nov. 18.

Despite the political backlash, both commissioners entered Tuesday's mayoral election seeking to lead the same City Commission that had approved the controversial program.

Under Fernandina Beach's election system, voters select the mayor from among eligible sitting commissioners. The candidate receiving the most votes becomes mayor, while the runner-up becomes vice mayor. Both serve two-year terms.