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Saturday starts recall petition drive of Fernandina Beach commissioners Poynter/Minshew

Posted
By Mike Lednovich

A citizen-led effort to recall Fernandina Beach City Commissioners Tim Poynter and Genece Minshew will begin collecting signatures this week, with organizers scheduling multiple public signing events starting Saturday at the downtown farmers market.

 
The recall effort follows the City Commission’s recent approval of a paid parking program for downtown Fernandina Beach, which is set to begin Feb. 16. The recall effort is being organized by opponents of the measure who say commissioners ignored public opposition.
 

Roger Martin, a local real estate agent on the Facebook group Recall FB 2026, announced the effort in a post last Saturday, describing the recall as a last resort.

“This is the last thing we want to do. Let me repeat that: THIS IS THE LAST THING we want to do!” Martin wrote. “But we feel we have no choice.”
 

According to a flyer circulated by the group, the petition signing will begin Saturday at the downtown Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by additional events through Feb. 7 at locations including The Boathouse, Ash Street Cigar, PJD’s, and the 14th & Lime Street farmers market.

Martin said the recall is motivated in part by statements from commissioners suggesting they could override a future voter-approved ban on paid parking if such a referendum passes in November.
 

“Commissioners have stated they will override the vote if it passes in November to ban public parking, so much for the idea of representative government,” he wrote.

Martin said the recall effort is focused on only two commissioners in order to break what he described as a supermajority supporting paid parking.
 

“Our mission is to break the supermajority when the measure passes to ban paid parking on the November ballot, so we only need two to do that,” Martin wrote.

He said cost and complexity were also factors.

“This process, governed by Florida law, is difficult (as it should be) to navigate for one commissioner; we need to do it for two, making it twice as hard,” he wrote. “Yes, all four deserve to be recalled, but we want to be successful, so we will begin with two.”

The paid parking initiative was also approved by Mayor James Antun and Commissioner Joyce Tuten. Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue voted in opposition.
 

Municipal recalls in Florida are governed by Florida Statutes §100.361, which establishes a two-stage petition process.

Only registered voters who live within the City of Fernandina Beach are eligible to sign the recall petitions.
 

The first step requires organizers to collect signatures within a 30-day window. Martin said the group will need approximately 1,600 valid signatures for each commissioner during this initial round, meaning each participating voter must sign two separate petitions.

Once collected, the petitions are filed with Fernandina Beach City Clerk Caroline Best, who forwards them to the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections for verification. Neither the clerk nor the supervisor evaluates the truth or merit of the stated recall reasons; their role is limited to verifying signatures and procedural compliance.
 
If the initial petitions are certified, the targeted commissioners are served with the recall language and given an opportunity to submit a 200-word written defense. They can also challenge the legality of the recall as stated on the petition in Nassau County Circuit Court. A judge would then rule on whether the petition language meets the state requirements.
 
If the process advances, organizers must conduct a second petition round, known as the “Recall Petition and Defense,” which includes both the recall grounds and the commissioner’s response.
 

“In this round, we will need about 2,000 signatures and must complete it within 45 days,” Martin wrote.

State law requires signatures from 15 percent of the city’s registered voters during this second phase.
 
If that threshold is met and certified, the commissioner has five days to resign.
 
If no resignation is submitted, a recall election is scheduled by the circuit court.

Petition signing schedule

According to the group’s flyer, petition signing events are scheduled as follows:
 

  • Saturday, Jan. 31 – Downtown Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 3 – The Boathouse, 4–7 p.m., 305 S. Second St.

  • Wednesday, Feb. 4 – 14th & Lime Street Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

  • Thursday, Feb. 5 – Ash Street Cigar, 5–8 p.m., 406 Ash St.

  • Friday, Feb. 6 – PJD’s, Noon–4 p.m., 12 S. Second St.

  • Saturday, Feb. 7 – Downtown Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Comments

7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • PaulaM

    This has a lot of hurdles to jump…time will tell….

    Monday, January 26 Report this

  • CarolC33

    Such a good idea! I'm not a resident, but in recent years a VERY frequent visitor to Fernandina Beach--something that unfortunately I will be changing once paid parking goes into effect, due to my very strong feelings about the paid-parking issue. I plan to be there--for the last time in a good while--in early February, and only wish I had legal standing to sign this petition...

    Monday, January 26 Report this

  • Mingnmilo

    The opposition was talking recall when this controversy was initially broached. Recall is not the "last thing they wanted to do." Now they are demanding select scapegoats.

    Everyone may park free on the side streets "outside the zone" as we always have, carpool, ride a bicycle, or walk in. Parking space on Centre is rarely available from10AM until after the bars close. Some spaces remain occupied by the same vehicles every day during business hours.

    Recall process is a steep and lengthy uphill climb. Finding free parking space off Centre with or without paid parking is situation normal.

    Tuesday, January 27 Report this

  • FunnyGirl4615

    I have questions. First is - why is it only 2 commissioners when 4 voted for paid parking? There have been a lot of accusations thrown around in "social" media - none of which have been substantiated in any way shape or form. That only 2 commissioners are being recalled is very curious and deserving of an explanation. Second question is - since when is our downtown Farmer's Market a place for circulating petitions? I am not in favor of paid parking but also, I am not in favor of being approached on political matters when I am shopping for fresh veggies, baked goods and other goodies.

    Tuesday, January 27 Report this

  • gatorman

    We finally get a commission that wants to finally improve the waterfront and NOT raise taxes to do it and people want them recalled. Well 2 of them. Weird.

    Tuesday, January 27 Report this

  • Cmoss56

    Mike, as a former Mayor, suprised that you would be so biased in your reporting on this issue - effecitivley SPONSORING this trumped up recall effort that is nothing but blind political maneuvering by the GOP -

    And there is not a SINGLE WORD in this main article about the REQUIRED GROUNDS for recalling a Commissioner (you buried it in a sidebar....)

    The seven allowable grounds , according to FL 100.361 are and there descriptions are:

    7 Allowed Grounds for recall Description

    Malfeasance

    An act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law

    Misfeasance

    The wrongful performance of a normally lawful act; the wrongful and injurious exercise of lawful authority

    Neglect of duty

    To fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.).

    Drunkenness

    Self-explanatory

    Incompetence

    Not competent, lacking qualification or ability

    Permanent inability to perform official duties

    Self-explanatory

    Conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude …

    Tuesday, January 27 Report this

  • DouglasM

    Two is a good strategic number and that is all you need. Gutting the Commission to less than 3 prohibits any business being accomplished (3 are needed for a quorum). So you target the two (obvious) ringleaders and leave the rest alone.

    BTW, did anybody see Poynter's surprised frustration during the City Manager report at the last meeting regarding the public lots getting 8 hours of parking vs 4 on the streets? There are only 5 public lots within the zone and 2 of them bracket his establishments on N 3rd. He wasn't expecting that! Sarah gave a good reason for it (you all should take 3 minutes to watch it). It gave me a good laugh.

    I expect he might try to change that......watch for it!

    Wednesday, January 28 Report this

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