Congressman Bean goes all out on Bradley Bean's commission re-election campaign

With just days remaining before the general election, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean is rallying support for his son, Mayor Bradley Bean, in his re-election campaign for city commission. A flyer, distributed across the city on Thursday, features father and son together under the slogan “Fernandina First,” signaling a shared commitment to the city’s future.

The flyer comes on the heels of a video endorsement by Congressman Bean that was posted to Mayor Bradley Bean's Facebook page two weeks ago, further promoted on local Facebook pages, which emphasizes the congressman’s support in his son's campaign. Congressman Bean, a conservative GOP lawmaker who also served in the Florida Legislature, has a deep-rooted connection with Fernandina Beach’s political landscape, lending substantial weight to Bradley’s campaign.

The flyer was paid for "Aaron Bean for Congress." Political flyers typical ly cost $5,000 to $10,000 for printing and postage.

Bradley Bean faces off against Joyce Tuten, a retired science teacher and community advocate running on a platform of making Fernandina “better, not bigger.” Tuten’s emphasis on measured growth has resonated with many voters, presenting a strong challenge to Bean's incumbency.

In this nonpartisan race, local Republican support has been mounting to preserve a three-seat majority on the city commission, currently held by Bean, Vice Mayor David Sturges, and Commissioner Darron Ayscue. This conservative bloc recently voted to appoint Sarah Campbell, the wife of Congressman Bean’s district director, as Fernandina Beach’s city manager. The 3-2 decision, with Bradley Bean casting the deciding vote, stirred debate about Bean family influence and GOP strategy in Fernandina Beach politics.

Complicating the race is the involvement of GOP political operative Stafford Jones. Known for running over 175 Political Action Committees (PACs) influencing local races statewide, Jones has contributed to both Bradley Bean and Ayscue through his PACs, fueling campaign flyers, mailers, and digital outreach. Jones contributed to Aaron Bean's run for state senate.

Jones, the former chair of the Alachua County Republican Party, has supported numerous campaigns through PACs that have poured substantial funds into Fernandina Beach races. His PAC, True Conservatives, spent over $230,000 with On Target Messaging, while campaign finance records reveal that Sturges spent $2,000 with the Jones-linked consulting firm. Sturges also appeared in local TV ads in the Jacksonville market, including slots on ESPN and Fox News, estimated to cost between $200 and $1,500 for 30-second prime-time spots.

However, not all of Jones’ support has been positive; residents have received attack flyers targeting candidates opposed to the GOP bloc, including Tuten, Genece Minshew, and Tim Poynter. These flyers, reported to have cost upwards of $50,000, were allegedly intended to influence undecided voters and solidify support for the GOP-aligned candidates.

Neither Bradley Bean nor Congressman Aaron Bean has commented on the critical Jones PAC ads. Mayor Bean has previously dismissed all coverage by The Observer as "fake news."