>
Minshew Enters Fernandina mayor’s race following failed recall tied to paid parking vote
FERNANDINA BEACH - Fresh off surviving a recall effort tied to Fernandina Beach’s controversial paid parking program, Commissioner Genece Minshew is now aiming higher — filing to run for mayor in the 2026 election.
As previously reported by the Fernandina Observer, that effort was ultimately blocked in court, with a judge ruling that policy disagreements over paid parking were not sufficient grounds for removal from office.
Under Fernandina Beach’s charter, the mayor is elected by voters from among eligible sitting commissioners, provided they are not also up for reelection to their commission seats. In the 2026 cycle, Minshew, Commissioner Tim Poynter, and Commissioner Joyce Tuten are eligible to run.
The mayoral race will be decided by plurality vote during the city’s general election, with the top vote-getter becoming mayor. The candidate finishing second is appointed vice mayor under the city charter.
The mayor and vice mayor serve two-year terms aligned with the municipal election cycle, with current officeholders remaining in place until the post-election organizational meeting.
Comments
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
jhorn71
So, let me get this straight. Minshew and Poynter have already said that they do not care about the voters of Fernandina in regards to the overwhelming dislike of their paid parking fiasco, yet she is going to run for mayor to have even MORE power to ruin Fernandina. I lived there for 15 years and I have never been more saddened by what I see there as of the past few years. The businesses are dying a slow death by a thousand paper cuts and yet they press forward. I truly hope the citizens wake up and see what these greed filled Commissioners are doing to a once great city.
Thursday, April 30 Report this
DaveLott
Thorn, the only “power” the Mayor has is the position gets to vote last on voting matters and chairs the commission meetings. As to the “overwhelming dislike of paid parking” I guess we will have to wait until after the referendum vote to see if that statement is true or not.
Thursday, April 30 Report this
AcurtNA63
I have lived here for over 40 years and this is the worst electoral lineup I have ever seen. Worse even than the days of A.J.Smith and John Glenn!
Friday, May 1 Report this
SandyKerry
When Mayor Antun steps down you will still have 3 commissioners in favor of paid parking - Minshew, Poynter & Tuten - and 1 against - Ayscue (Seat 5) who is currently unopposed in upcoming city election. So whoever wins seat 4 - which currently has only 2 declared candidates - Len Kreger & Scott Inglis - will be the deciding vote on whether paid parking remains in place should the referendum pass to stop paid parking as expected. So the question is: where do these 2 candidates stand on paid parking? Because if either is in favor, the new commission would have a supermajority (4 of 5 votes) to overrule the paid parking referendum. Also because there are only 2 or less candidates currently for either seat, if no one else declares by the qualifying deadline of May 15 there will be no city commission race per the City Charter which requires 3 or more candidates for either Seat. The city commission race will simply advance to November election. So right now it looks like the only thing to be considered on the August city ballot is paid parking. NO voting for city commissioners;, UNlESS a 3rd candidate for either seat declares
Saturday, May 2 Report this
Mingnmilo
The money it's generating is huge and can benefit the community. The referendum will tell the story of having less CITY property tax by distributing the load using paid parking as with every other coastal city. Conversely, city residents/business property owners consent to continue to carry the load for the rest of the world who come here year-round with higher property taxes.
With either option, additional parking space for everyone is not going to materialize in the area that now has paid parking. This is entirely up to the City residents of FB with the referendum. The current paid parking program illustrates the alternative which was but previously speculative. In all fairness, it allows for weighing all options objectively.
Saturday, May 2 Report this