Sturges/Bean/Ayscue tied to GOP attack operative in latest smear

The election efforts of Mayor Bradley Bean, Vice Mayor David Sturges and Commissioner Darron Ayscue are being backed by dark money political operative Stafford Jones, the man behind a third 'smear' campaign mailer against Fernandina Beach city commission candidate Genece Minshew.

Fernandina Beach voters received the 'attack' mailer against Minshew Wednesday as early voting began in Nassau County.

Minshew is running for Seat 2 against incumbent Sturges, whose supporters have denied any connection to the mailers.

Sturges has refused to answer questions regarding the previous mailers or denounce the 'dirty tricks' campaign against his opponent. He declined comment again when asked about the latest attack on Minshew.

The PAC behind the mailer, Conservative Leadership for the First Coast, received a $1,000 contribution from Ayscue in March 2024 and $1,500 in 2022, according to state records.

Ayscue received $500 in contributions from a Jones PAC First Coast Conservatives in his 2022 campaign to become city commissioner.

Jones showed up on Ayscue's Facebook page recently commenting on The Observer's first story about the attack mailers against Minshew. Ayscue and Jones are 'friends' on the social media platform. Ayscue has since "washed" his Facebook account of any mention of Jones.

Ayscue is running for mayor against James Antun.

Antun urged voters to focus on each candidate's position on issues facing the city.

"Let me begin by saying I respect all of our constituents' rights and wishes to know what two opposing candidates stand for with regards to positions on policy and city issues. I say this as a conservative candidate who has recently had his party affiliation questioned based on the opinions of those who choose to use social media, and other outlets to express views and motives, rather than use the phone and initiate an honest and civil discussion," he said. "I believe there is a clear distinction between being able to run on positive issues in which one hopes to be a part of forming solutions to problems that face our city, versus having negative things to suggest regarding an opponent's outlook or potential voting choices. I challenge all of our citizens to truly research each candidate, where these mailers come from, and to make an informed decision rather than blindly vote based on a mailer and/or “party line”. 

Two other Jones PACs are helping to fund the re-election campaign of Mayor Bean.

There are three other challengers for city commission -- Joyce Tuten, Tim Poynter and Christy Kelly -- seeking election. None of those candidates have been the target of GOP-backed dirty tricks.

"The people behind these PACs have money on the line, trying to help Sturges win. These PACs surely believe that Sturges will serve the PACs’ interests best. What are their interests? What do they think they're getting from Sturges?" Tuten said. "Political PACs have no place in our small-town elections -- not their campaign donations and not their attack ads. All candidates have a moral obligation to disavow the false and misleading information in the attack ads against Genece Minshew. We owe it to our residents." 

Jones, who lives in Gainsville, is a longtime GOP operative who according to the Florida Division of Elections has created more than 175 Political Action Committees that have often used attack and false information tactics against opponents.

Jones was on the Florida state delegation for the 2020 Republican National Convention and is the former chairman of Alachua County Republican Party.

The latest attack mailer lists a litany of false statements accusing Minshew of "taking dirty Democratic cash" and embracing a LGBTQIA "radical agenda."

"The mailer certainly gives off the vibe of desperation by Genece's opponents given voters received it on the first day of early voting. These are dastardly tactics. A bully mentality," said Jordan Morris, president of Fernandina Beach Pride. "Anyone who has paid attention to Genece's community service knows that these allegations are patently false. These tactics are trying to scare people and demean us. I don't think these tactics will work."

The mailer states it was paid for by Conservative Leadership for the First Coast, a Tallahassee PAC run by Jones. The mailer states it is a "paid electioneering communication."

Electioneering Communications Organizations (ECOs) are groups that engage in communication aimed at influencing voters regarding elections, typically through advertising and other forms of outreach. These organizations can promote or oppose candidates or issues.  They are often involved in political campaigns, especially in the lead-up to elections, and can play a significant role in shaping public opinion and voter turnout.

According to the State Division of Corporations, Electioneering Consulting is a business run by Jones, founded in 2012.

PACS run by Jones have long supported Bean family politics. Jones was involved in the 2012 state senate campaign of Aaron Bean, now a U.S. Congressman.

In addition to helping to fund Bean's current commission re-election campaign, Jones' PACS contributed to Bean's city election campaigns in 2020 and 2022.

"Why is a political action group from Gainesville, that does not disclose their membership or funding source so interested in the outcome of a local city commissioner race?" said Commissioner Chip Ross. "Are they trying to defeat candidate Genece Minshew because she is opposed to the bioethanol plant and opposed to rampant development? Or do they want an incumbent who consistently votes for developer-friendly regulations and supports the bioethanol plant being built? One wonders."

The re-election of Bean and Sturges is vital to local GOP interests since the mayor and vice mayor ally with Ayscue, another local GOP activist, in controlling city issues, such as development projects, often by 3-2 votes.

"Since the 2022 city commission election, the local Republican Party has had complete control of all government in Nassau County. The arrival of a third anti-Minshew mailer is a clear sign that the local Republican Party in Nassau County is terrified of losing their three-vote majority on the Fernandina Beach City Commission," Minshew said.  "But I believe that the voters of this city are ready for a change and want a city commission that is focused on residents and not political agendas.  I stand ready to be a city commissioner that is not bought and controlled by outsiders but speaks for and represents the interests of our local community."

The Observer asked Bean to comment on the latest mailer. He did not answer. Nor did Ayscue.

The three commissioners last year voted to annex property on Southh 14th and 15th streets despite Commissioner Ross warning commissioners that the property owner would use the state's "Live Local" to build massive apartment complex. Just 10 months later, the property is now going to be developed into 80-plus condominium units. The engineering firm on the condo project, Gillette & Associates, has contributed to Bean's commission re-election efforts.

Another Jones PAC, Holding Developers Accountable, had sent Fernandina voters two previous mailers attacking Minshew as "pro development." Those claims were false.

Minshew has an established track record of supporting controlled development in the city as specified in the city's Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan.

Sturges' four-year record on the commission includes voting to circumvent the Land Development Code to allow a developer to build townhouses on the former Tringali property. A judge said that commission vote was invalid.

This year, Sturges voted to have a friend's property annexed into the city in order to clear the way for more houses to be constructed on the land then what was permitted in the county. He also voted against a city consultant's recommendation to raise new residential stormwater/wastewater impact fees that would have raised $1 million for the city. Instead, Sturges voted to lower the fees.

The Observer has repeatedly asked Jones for comment on the PAC attack mailers. He has not responded.