St. Johns County Group Backs Charter

Members of the St. Johns County Civic Association Roundtable voted Monday to support the charter form of government option that will appear on the general election ballot Nov. 4.

The county commissioners voted to put the item back on the ballot after it was defeated in the primary election Aug. 26.

The association previously supported the charter option when it was on the primary ballot and there was some debate among the members about whether they needed to take a stand on the issue again.

Association President Henry Warner said the vote was pretty clear with 60 percent of the voters voting against the charter in the primary election.

But other members of the association said an attack campaign led by opponents of the charter unfairly skewed people's opinions days before the election.

As evidence of the voters' confusion, charter proponents cite the fact that even though the charter was defeated, voters passed three amendments that are associated with it - non-partisan elections, term limits for county commissioners and a "super majority" vote of at least four of the five commissioners to change the height restrictions for construction projects in the coastal high-hazard zone. The amendments would only be implemented if the charter were approved.

On the general election ballot, the charter option will be presented with the three amendments included, rather than as separate ballot questions.

If passed, the charter will implement those three items, as well as establish campaign finance limits and recall provisions for commissioners. Currently, under the county's general law form of government, campaign finance and term limits are set by the state and a commissioner can only be recalled if the governor chooses.

Roundtable members discussed Monday whether it's appropriate for the association to take a vote for or against the charter issue without first consulting all of the members. But the executive board decided to go ahead with a vote, saying waiting until the association's October meeting wouldn't allow enough time to get the word out about their support before the November election.

"We must take a position, we can't just sit on our hands," said association member Mary Kohnke.