I have been your St. Johns County commissioner from District 4 for the past eight years, so I believe I know as well as anyone what the job entails and what background is needed to accomplish it effectively.
Since I believe in term limits, I’m not running for a third term. However, I want to give you my input on the background and qualities needed to represent us effectively over the next four years.
First, you have to elect a leader who will represent your interest on a full-time basis. I would never have run for commissioner having a full-time job (obligation) somewhere else. When there’s a conflict, which job do you think would take precedence?
Second, having a strong business and financial background and having actually run an operation in order to oversee a county with a $700 million budget should be a major consideration in casting your vote. Dick Williams is the only candidate in this race who can bring to the commission three decades of top business and financial leadership and a full-time commitment to the job. During my career as a corporate executive, I would never have hired anyone to oversee a business with a $700 million budget and 1,200 employees who did not have the background and was only committed to a part-time involvement. Yet, those are your other choices for St. Johns County commissioner, District 4 in this Republican primary.
Dick Williams is a long-time St. Johns County resident and homeowner whom I’ve known for over a decade. Dick is committed to serving us full-time. Our county is facing some very difficult, financial challenges. We can’t afford to elect someone to the commission who may be qualified as a lawyer, but does not have the business/financial background, experience or time to run an enterprise the size and scope of our county government. The stakes for all of us are much too high!
I’ve been honored to serve as your elected commissioner for the past eight years. Today, I am proud to join Sheriff David Shoar with my support and endorsement of Dick Williams to succeed me as your St. Johns County Commissioner, District 4. The choice is clear: The right kind of experience matters!
