Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 22 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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City election campaign 2014
goes into last lap with forum
 There are 9,779 voters in the Oldest City. Elections Supervisor Vickie Oakes estimates a 57% voter turnout countywide November 4, "maybe higher in the City," recognizing the campaign activity and forums for mayor and two commission seats.
The elections website is providing real time voter turnout (see it here ), with 943 absentee and 88 early voters already tallied, more than 10% of voter registration.That count is updated every ten minutes, "about as close as you can get to real time voter turnout," says Vicki. Absentee ballots can't be turned in at the polls Election Day, Vicki warns. Look for a red ballot drop-off box at the main library and other county locations.
Early voting continues to November 1 from 8 am to 6 pm at the Elections Office on Avenue A and other county locations.
Voters get a fifth look at city candidates at a League of Women Voters forum tonight, 7-9, at the county auditorium. So far they've presented their cases to voters at two Neighborhood Council forums as well as Flagler College and Young Professionals.
Find videos of previous forums here.
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Haunted
Theatre
Haunted Theatre: the Last Act,a fun-filled, scary night of rollicking Halloween theater.The St. George Players recreate classic St. Augustine ghost stories at the Limelight Theatre Oct. 25, 7:30 and 26, 2 pm. Adults $15, Children $10.
How about the naughty 18th century seamstress Catalina, who stole the hearts of Spanish soldiers with the result murder! Or Henry Flagler's deranged wife Ida Alice, honeymooning in "that bug-infested wilderness of St. Augustine."
The ghostly resplendent Haitian General Jorge Biassou enjoys his tales of vicious battles and fancy dress balls. Poor young Elizabeth at the City Gate, waits to be joined by other victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic.
All woven into tales by writer/actress Dianne Jacoby to put you in the "spirit" of the season.
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The Report endorses
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As a former mayor and commissioner this is the first year since I left office six years ago that I've endorsed city candidates, because it's the first year there's been real opportunity for change and progress.
Mayor - Nancy Shaver
Nancy is the promise of a creative, fresh look at our city's needs and priorities, and full community engagement in finding solutions.
The current mayor has controlled the city's 450th commemoration at the expense of the community. Boles' detachment from the community is glaring, as is his stumbling efforts to discredit his opponent.
Commission - Nancy Sikes-Kline
Nancy has been the only consistently proactive commissioner, using her position on the North Florida Transportation Organization to bring needed traffic studies and street enhancement projects to our city, and championing our archaeology and history.
Commission - John Valdes
With service on city boards for a quarter of a century and contributed time, effort and funding to such projects as the Flagler fountains restoration and War Memorial move, John is best equipped to work with our neighborhoods on much needed zoning code modifications.
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Fence design by architect Don Crichlow
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New look for Tolomato
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The Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association (TCPA) has unveiled its plan for new fencing and gate for the historic cemetery on Cordova Street, surrounded for years by chain link fencing.
"We're working on a campaign" to raise funds for the project, says TCPA President Elizabeth Duran Gessner.
"At the moment we have our Fence by the Foot campaign which gives everybody a chance to participate, since they can sponsor an inch of fence for $10 or a foot for $100, etc.
"All names will be recorded on a scroll to be placed in a time capsule in the restored wall. They can pay with PayPal through our special website, www.tolomatofence.com, and of course there's more information about the project on the website."
Gessner anticipates a major donor campaign, with opportunities like donors of $5,000 or more being commemorated with individual bronze memorial plaques, which they may dedicate to ancestors buried there, or just family, an individual, etc.
"We hope to begin work on the (concrete) wall by the beginning of next year," Gessner says, (then) move on to the fence. The goal is to have it all done by the 450th anniversary."
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Visioneers steer to Traffic Committee
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The city's visioning steering committee meets in joint session with the Parking and Traffic Committee tomorrow at 8:30 am in the Alcazar Room at City Hall to compare notes on high priorities for each - traffic congestion and parking availability.
The meeting will be available on live streaming here.
The agenda is posted here.
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Fear begets negativity
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Commission candidate Todd Neville mailer with selective quote. Valdes' complete quote in the Record: "I haven't really done a lot, to be honest," Valdes said of his primary campaign. "We will be running a much more serious campaign (for the general election). What you see today is (the result of) basically doing the right thing in this town for 28 years."
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Mayor Joe Boles in letter to nonprofits, misinterpreting candidate Nancy Shaver's comments that a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) could be negotiated with Flagler College for its extensive property which is off the tax rolls.
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Commentary
Of kings and public servants
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There is an unhealthy fear of change in our oldest city.
Newcomer is a dangerous word to the good old boys - most of them newcomers themselves at some point.
Yet the last time a newcomer took the mayor's seat a decade ago, the sky didn't fall. In fact a neighborhood associations program was created, a world class visitor parking facility and welcome center built, entry corridor guidelines were voted into the city code.
There were fresh ideas, many brought forth by residents and merchants, explored and developed as a community effort.
Maybe it was the part about a neighborhood associations program giving more power to the people that alarmed the good old boys.
Now another newcomer challenges a good old boy for the mayor's seat, and the distinction couldn't be more vivid.
This newcomer hasn't ridden down St. George Street in costume on a horse, but brings 30 years of successful people leadership built on listening, sharing facts and delivering practical solutions.
Her good old boy opponent says all is well, we're a top ten city, and the king of Spain may come to call next year.
Business as usual, enthuses his Record endorsement.
Beneath St. Augustine's attraction to visitors is the challenge of maintaining and improving the everyday expectations of its residents and merchants.
There are those who just want to hobnob with kings, and those who just want to serve this magical place we call St. Augustine.
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Quotable
Mayor's job is to set an agenda, not a dynasty.... George Gardner has been as active a mayor as we've had in many years. He must be given credit for promising to lead the city in a different direction and working hard for two years to do it. ...We simply believe that the mayor's position is one that should be shared. ... It's time for another new voice to take on that challenge. Two years from now it will be time for another. The mayor's post is a perk, not a coronation.
St. Augustine Record endorsement of Errol Jones for mayor as Gardner sought a second term, November 1, 2004; Jim Sutton, Opinion Editor
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As we near the end the campaign, I would like to encourage my supporters to donate to some favorite local charities. Enough money has been squandered on politics, and I would like to see some additional good come of this campaign.
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History's Highlight
Escape from the Castillo
322 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Maintenance of the three century old Castillo de San Marcos is careful to leave intact original features, like the musket slits along its bastions.
It was through one of these narrow slits, in the southwest corner facing Avenida Menendez, that 18 Seminole men and two women made the only recorded escape from the Castillo November 29, 1837.
Leading this seemingly impossible escape was Coacoochee, a warrior chief under the legendary Osceola. He was already imprisoned in the Castillo when Osceola, drawn to Moultrie Creek to parley with the American commander under a flag of truce, was captured.
War-weary and suffering from quinzy - a throat infection - Osceola was not interested in the escape plan.
The southwest area of the fort was thought so escape-proof it was not even guarded. One would have to reach a slit in the fortress wall 15 feet above the floor - a slit five feet long, just eight inches wide, through six feet of coquina wall. On the other side was a 21-foot drop to the moat below. The slit was also blocked by two iron rods.
Given time, Coacoochee and his followers were able to pry one rod from the relatively soft coquina. The other, left in place, became a tie-off for a line which they dropped outside, then climbed down, leaping the final distance to the dry ditch below.
The escape prompted the military to hastily move Osceola and his party to Fort Moultrie in Charleston.
Coacoochee, an effective leader, continued battling the American forces for three and a half more years until, on June 4, 1841, he finally capitulated and was moved to a reservation in Oklahoma.
A Board of Inquiry could find no fault or evidence of assistance from the fort commander in the miraculous escape, and questions continue to this day how it was possible.
From Escape in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Dramatic accounts of famous people and events in St. Augustine history. Details here.
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com
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