Traditionally during midterm elections two things take place nationally:
- Voter turnout is normally low because it isn’t a presidential election.
- The party that holds the presidency, the senate and the house loses seats.
Fernandina’s incumbents would face the same fate, but none are on the ballot this November 3 except the somewhat harmless job of mayor.
Since the mayor’s job is purely ceremonial with no more authority than a sitting commissioner and poses as the face of the city during public events it really doesn’t matter. It’s a “beauty” contest. Current Mayor James Antun is not running for office again. He usually voted with the money spenders on every issue and did little harm as mayor.
This year the race is between Genece Minshew and Tim Poynter, two Commissioners who have never asked how the city can reduce spending but instead how can they generate more revenue to pay for all the goodies they insist the city needs and they want.
I’m voting for the lesser of the two evils….Ms. Minshew. At least she halfheartedly accepted the fact that voters overwhelmingly rejected paid parking, while Poynter still holds out hope that it will rise from the dead.
In other races here’s how I’m voting.
For U.S Senator, incumbent Ashley Moody.
Fernandina native Congressman Aaron Bean once again gets my nod for District 4 Congressman.
Byron Donalds will make a terrific governor succeeding Ron DeSantis who is term limited.
Jamesa Uthmeler, a fierce law and order guy, for Attorney General
Blaise Ingoglia, Chief Financial Officer.
Wilton Simpson, Commissioner of Agriculture.
Dean Black, District 15 State Representative.
Retain Justice of the Florida Supreme Court and the three other Judicial positions, Yes.
Denece Minshew, City of Fernandina Mayor, the lesser of the two evils running.
I’m not really sure what the Amelia Island Mosquito Control representative of District Group 2 does but I assume that person attempts to rid us of mosquitos so, take your pick between Todd Nuckols and Debby Portier. Hand whoever wins a can of “off” and wish them well. Other than progressive Democrats mosquitos may be the only living parasite whose only purpose on this planet is to annoy and infuriate humans.
Constitutional Amendments: Yes on all of them particularly No. 3 which increases homestead exemption and lowers the cap on Non-Homestead property assessments. This helps put the brakes on out-of-control local commissions that spend like drunken sailors and gives many home owners and renters a tax break.
Nassau County School District Ad Valorem Milage Election: Yes. I hate tax increases, but this increase of 1 mil goes to teachers who work harder than almost any other government employee and many times dip into their own pockets for school supplies and other expenses for which they are not reimbursed. My wife is a retired Georgia and Texas teacher, so I have empathy for these educators. They have made Nassau’s schools the second-best in the state. Excellent schools not only produce well-erducated children but increase the value of our properties.
Remind your friends and neighbors that this election is important and to stifle their lethargy, get off the couch and go vote.
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Things I’ve Wondered About: During a conversation when someone says, “Gen Z or “Generation X,” do you ever interrupt and ask what age group they’re talking about.
Yeh, me either. I just sit and listen like everyone else without interrupting so I don’t appear to be an ignorant doofuss.
Well, I looked it all up and here’s what I discovered courtesy of Jean Twenge, PhD., professor of psychology at San Diego State University, who authored a book on the topic.
Haere’s how Professor Twenge breaks the various groups down:
- Silent Generation: 1925-1945, 81 years old to over 100.
- Baby Boomers: 1946-1964, 62 to 80 years old.
- Generation X: 1965-1979. 47-61 years old.
- Millennials: 1980-1984, 32-46 years old.
- Generation Z: 1995-2009, 17-to 31 years old.
- Alphas: 2010-2024: 2 to 16 years old.
- Bettas: Beginning in 2025, currently under the age of 2
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Stealing From Taxpayers Is Easy: If a government program spends money, then someone somewhere will figure out a way to steal it.
Nick Shirley a 23-year-old freelance conservative reporter was one of the first to draw national attention to the rampant and brazen fraud by filming Minneapolis Somali daycare centers without kids. When he tried to ask questions, he was rudely told through closed doors to “go away.”
Shirley was so successful in those and future efforts that this week he appeared in the oval Office standing next to President Trump, who congratulated him on his work while detailing how he was going to offer financial rewards for turning fraudsters in.
How brazen are some of these crooks?
Well, in California fraudsters extracted tens of billions of dollars from the system after the state removed a safeguard preventing payment to individuals who had unconfirmed identities.
How easy is it? One of the recipients included an applicant named: “Poopy Pants.”
To say the system is broken is an understatement.
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Florida’s finest At Work: According to the Wall Stret Journal, the Florida Highway Patrol took more than 8,300 illegal immigrants into custody since August 2025, the largest number of any single agency in the U.S. As a result the agency was eligible for nearly $20 million from April through June.