Candidate $ Reports Available

This is a lively political season in St. Johns County, with several hot primaries coming up in August between Republican candidates. Among all the hard-hitting direct-mail pieces you might be receiving from the campaigns, you could be wondering where to find more info on the candidates. 

You can find financial and donor info on each candidate at the county's Election Office web site. You can see their total campaign funds as well as a detailed list of their donors (including their profession/industry). 

Please post a comment if you'd like to share other unbiased sources of reliable candidate info. Thanks!
 

Ancient City Boaters Sponsor Trump Flotilla

Earlier event off Pinellas County, FL. Photo Fox4 KDFW.

Coming up on Saturday, August 1, the Ancient City Boaters for Trump 2020 Flotilla will sail up the Matanzas River in St. Johns County. It will start at the 312 bridge and head north. See the Ancient City Boaters Facebook page for details, either to add your boat to the parade or to cheer it on.

Recap: Sheriff Candidates' Debate

Candidates Chris Strickland (center) and Rob Hardwick (right) await the start of the debate. Moderator Roy Bode in foreground, July 15, 2020, at the St. Augustine Shrine Club.

Our July 15 debate between primary candidates for the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office was unexpectedly brief last night, following what the St. Augustine Record termed a "dust-up" between retiring Sheriff David Shoar and members of candidate Chris Strickland's team. Mr. Strickland and his team left the hall quickly following the incident, which occurred early in the evening's program. Candidate Rob Hardwick remained on stage to answer questions from the moderator and from the audience.

We regret that attendees did not receive the full benefit of a debate, but we appreciate all who made the effort to attend.

Sheriff Candidates Debate Issues at July Meeting

The July meeting of the RCGSA features a moderated debate between candidates Rob Hardwick and Chris Strickland, running in the August primary for the office of St. Johns County Sheriff. 

It all happens Wednesday evening, July 15, 2020. Doors open for socializing at 6:00 p.m., with the meeting & program at 7 p.m. Masks will be required to attend. Rules regarding capacity will be observed at the event, with maximum attendance of 150. Attendees' temperature will be taken at the door, and seating will be arranged to allow for proper social distancing. 

Please join us at the newly renovated Shrine Club, 250 Brainard Road, St. Augustine (off U.S. 1 South, just south of Moultrie Creek). Free parking. 

Note: No food will be served at this event, but the bar will be open for purchase of canned and bottled beverages.

COVID Data for St. Johns County

St. Augustine Beach in St. Johns County. Photo by A. Doyle

The Florida Department of Health web site offers some interesting numbers for the virus activity in our state AND for our county. Click on the "Cases by County" tab on the bottom of that web page for the SJC data. 

As of today (7-7-2020), St. Johns County (population 264,000+) has had 1,409 people test positive for COVID-19. Seventy-eight have been hospitalized for the virus, and only 8 have died. If you click on the "Health Metrics" tab at the bottom of the Department of Health web page, you'll see that emergency room visits in our county for COVID-like illnesses have been flat from 6/21/20 to 6/28/20.

So, while the media continues to paint a very dark picture of the virus situation, especially in Florida, this data helps to put our county's situation in a clearer light.

To your health!

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