Florida's tepid financial interest reporting requirements reveal very little about the financial income or obligations of the five city commissioners holding office. They aren't required to report home ownership or mortgage debt and they don't have to report their yearly income. Commissioners only have to report the source of their income and any major liabilities.
More stringent reporting requirements kick in next July when the state will require office holders to report their next worth, assets over $1,000, liabilities over $1,000, and all sources and amounts of income over $1,000.
Here are the state required disclosures of each city commissioner filed last July:
James Antun - his primary source of income is from 8 Flags Chirorpractic Inc. in Fernandina Beach. He lists a savings account associated with the business. He did not report his $12,000 annual City Commissioner salary.
He reported no liabilities.
According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, Antun pays taxes on a house at 704 S. 12th Street, Fernandina Beach. The listed market value is $358, 408.
Darron Ayscue - lists his primary source of income as Nassau County Fire and Rescue as a firefighter. He did not report his $12,000 annual City Commissioner salary.
He listed no secondary income. No interests in other businesses. No liabilities and no ownership of other properties.
According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, Ayscue pays taxes on a house at 814 N. 14th St., Fernandina Beach. The listed market value is $526,871.
Bradley Bean - lists the RYAM mill as his primary souce of income. He also reported income from High Energy Auctions and his $12,000 annual City Commissioner salary. He reported a 401(k) at RYAM as intangible personal property. He listed his property at 1512 Inverness Road, Fernandina Beach. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $338.735.
Bean reported no major liabilities and no specified interests in other businesses.
Chip Ross - lists his primary source of income as Social Security, as an emergency room doctor (he has since retired), his $12,000 annual City Commissioner salary and his company PCare as an expert medical witness for various law firms.
Ross lists his house at 210 N. 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $617,732.
He listed stocks in a 401(k) with Vanguard, stocks with T. Rowe Price and cash assets at Bank of America.
Ross listed no major liabilities.
David Sturges - listed Sturges & Sturges Construction Inc., as his primary source of income. A secondary source listed is Park Bench Investments, which is a property investment company. He did not report his $12,000 annual City Commissioner salary.
He reported owning stock in PNC Bank and ML Bank.
Sturges reported a major liability of $2, 215,697 with a monthly payment of $15,923 to five different banks. The liability list is posted below.
Sturges has numerous properties in Nassau County including a home at 319 Benjamin, Fernandina Beach. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $485,650.
He owns an office building under the company Pirates Booty at 1214 Beech Street, Fernandina Beach with a mortgage balance of $327,130. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $246,462.
Sturges reported ownership of properties under Park Bench Investments including:
631 Tarpon Avenue unit 6381 market value $310,000
631 Tarpon Avenue unit 6391 market value $310,000
2811 Atlantic Avenue unit 101 market value $685,000
2626 Gregor McGregor Blvd market value $736,161
3473 S. Fletcher market value $1,274,713
1429 Atlantic Ave. market value $522,245
3480 1st Avenue market value $1,274,713
3482 1st Avenue
3484 1st Avenue
Lot 1 Faith Ave. Yulee market value $105,199
Lot 2 Williams Ave. Yulee market value $118,806
Other properties listed include:
397 NW Hamilton St., Lake City
447 NW Hamilton St., Lake City
427 NW Hamilton St., Lake City
620 NW Florida Ave., Lake City
771 NW Georgia Ave., Lake City
1510 Ricardo St., Valdosta GA
211 W Dillingham St., St Marys, GA
877 Mlssion Trace Dr., St Mary’s GA
277 W. Fulford Street, Kingsland, GA
d. The home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs of current or former firefighters certified in compliance with s. 633.408; the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, photographs, dates of birth, and places of employment of the spouses and children of such firefighters; and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such firefighters are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I o
I really wish you would respect the Florida Constitution or at least have the common decency to respect our first responders and their families. There is a reason these laws exist but you certainly seem to not care about it as long as you get your clicks.
Looking at Sturgis's assets and liabilities, I wouldn't let him near any decision involving changes to Fernandina Beach's Development Code. Perhaps he should disqualify himself here.