A large number of Fernandina locals would like to do today to the four pro-paid parking City Commissioners – Genece Minshew, Tim Poynter, James Antun, and Joyce Tuten – what the U.S. Army did in 1861 to railroader, Southern sympathizer and scam artist David Yulee – run them out of town, or at least out of office.
In his book, “Oh, Florida!,” author Craig Pittman calls Yulee “one of the rogues and rascals who ran the state for his own profit.”
Yulee’s one single accomplishment, says Pittman was “…building Florida’s first cross-state railroad using federal and state money that lined his own pockets.” He also built it using slave labor.
Yulee’s dubious past includes his urging Florida to join the Confederacy advocating its secession while a sitting U.S. Senator, an act that earned him a prison term in Fort Pulaski, GA for treason following the war. I’ve read elsewhere that Yulee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis were the only two key Confederates imprisoned following the war.
Not since Yulee was run out of town on his own railroad by the U.S. military have locals heaped as much scorn on a local figure until the two current carpetbagging City Commissioners Poynter and Minshew, the duo targeted for recall.
If the recall succeeds the other two paid parking advocates – James Antun and Joyce Tuten – will become mute points. Only two recalls are required for this electoral tango to stop the paid parking madness say officials who know about such things.
Poynter and Minshew qualify for the dubious honors of being the two most unpopular public figures hereabouts since 1964’s devastating Hurricane Dora and Scotsman Gregor MacGregor, considered one of history’s most infamous conman, washed ashore.
Dora was the worst storm in more than 100 years to hit the island while MacGregor, who arrived here in 1817 proclaimed a short-lived Republic before he was kicked out by fed up locals less than three months after arriving.
Ironically or appropriately Commissioner and restaurateur Poynter’s downtown miniature golf course and snack bar is named “Gregor MacGregor’s Mini Links & Drinks” after the disreputable and inept MacGregor.
Minshew plays a game of “Guess what party I’m in?” with voters as she switches from Democrat to Republican and back again. She said she registered Republican so she “could serve the residents better.” Nassau County is overwhelming Republican. She then quickly switched back to Democrat after being elected by a slim 19 vote margin.
Prior to running for office she headed up the local Pride organization and publicly said she wanted to make Fernandina a “gay vacation destination:” During the election she refused to acknowledge she ever said that.
The CAPP (Citizens Against Paid Parking) group is asking concerned registered voters to sign recall petitions, which will be submitted to the appropriate election authorities, so a Poynter-Minshew recall can become official.
To ensure that folks have access to petitions CAPP is enabling Fernandina registered voters opportunities to sign them at various downtown businesses starting Saturday, January 31.
The dates, times, and locations are:
1/31 Sat.9a.m-1p.m. Farmer’s Market
2/1 Sun. 1-4p.m. PJD’s, 12 South 2nd Street,
2/2 Mon. 4-6p.m. Isle De Mai – Bailey Rd.
2/3 Tues. 4-7p.m. Boathouse Restaurant, corner of Ash & South 2nd Street.
2/4 Wed. 9a.m.-1p.m. 14th St. Farmer’s Market
2/5 Thurs. 5p.m.-8p.m. Ash Street Cigar
2/6 Fri. 12p.m.-4p.m. PJD’s
CAPP says petition signers should bring photo identification (driver’s license) and a voter registration card if they don’t want to use their date of birth on the petition.
According to CAPP the first injunction request actually stopped paid parking from being implemented months ago. The second request was denied because Separation of State essentially says that a Judge can’t rule on a law until it exists.
CAPP says the Judge ruled that the injunction can be filed after city officials enact paid parking at the second reading. Then a required 14 day notice of intent to file the injunction was provided to the City’s multiple attorneys. That 14 day period ended, and the injunction has been filed, it says.
The no paid parking legal injunction was filed in Court on Friday, January 23rd. According to the group they are putting paid parking on hold until residents vote on it in November. They are also requesting donations to assist in paying for legal expenses.
The injunction kills paid parking CAPP says, adding that the recall keeps it dead.
A spokesperson for CAPP says: “CAPP Parking sponsors the legal campaign against paid parking in Fernandina Beach. Any size donation will help to protect our community, our churches, and our retail businesses from paid parking. The injunction is to allow the people to vote on paid parking in November 2026.”
CAPP is a nonprofit Political Action Committee 501C4. Donations are not tax deductible.
(The top photo of Poynter, left, and Minshew leaving City Hall was taken off the https://www.facebook.com/groups/1560475334972398/ Internet site)
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%&^$# Say Local Protestors: A small crowd of profane, confused, and frenzied anti-ICE protestors, mostly women, publicly displayed their ignorance and pro-illegal immigration credentials during a bizarre exhibit in front of the historic court house in downtown Fernandina Beach, Sunday January 25
Carrying signs and spouting talking points issued by some mysterious central organization the distaff crowd was generally ignored by pedestrians who scurried past without stopping to chat or hear what they were attempting to chant, probably out of fear of some unpredictable violent behavior.
I approached a crowd of these pathetic protestors a few months ago as they were doing their thing near U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean’s local office and discovered that they are very angry but weren’t sure why. None of them could explain in any detail why they were there. They could only spew the few talking points they had memorized but going into any detail stumped them.
This crowd appeared no different, as when one brave gal, who identifies as “Classy Conservative”, stopped to question them they retorted with streams of profanity. Not very lady like or classy on their part, and after listening to their responses it was obvious there were no ladies in their crowd.
These are protestors local parents can point to and warn their children about saying: “See what happens if you don’t study and do well in school.”
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One More Thing: An escapee from a mental asylum or a crazed visitor from Minneapolis is urging locals on a local online site called “Nextdoor” not to go to school, work or spend money today, January 30…in solidarity to Minnesota and basic human rights.” People such as this are the reason there are directions on shampoo bottles.
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George Orwell Said: “It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the stalwarts of slogans, the amateur spies and nosers-out of unorthodoxy.” — Nineteen Eighty-four”
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Local Lass Leaps Upward: Nassau County’s former head of the Economic Development Group, Laura DiBella, has had quite a upward jump in her career since leaving here just a few years ago to join the DeSantis crowd in Tallahassee.
This past Wednesday, January 28, President Trump designated the ebullient and attractive DiBella to serve as Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
Chairman DiBella was sworn in as a Commissioner on January 6, 2026. She was nominated by President Trump on September 3, 2025, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 2025, to serve a term that expires on June 30, 2028.
“It was a true honor to simply be nominated as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission, and to now be tapped as Chairman is nothing short of a privilege,” Chairman DiBella remarked.
“I am humbled and grateful for the faith that President Trump has demonstrated in me with this designation, and the gravity and responsibility of the role is not lost on me. I look forward to leading the incredible and hardworking FMC team in its integral function in carrying out President Trump’s mandate of ‘Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance’.”
The Chairman serves as the Chief Executive and Chief Administrative Officer of the FMC.
In the past Miss DiBella made frequent trips to visit friends hereabouts. If her new position permits let’s hope we see her again soon.
Hello Dave, the CAPP Political Action Committee is NOT involved with the Recall Political Action Committee. They are two different teams.
CAPP, Citizens Against Paid Parking, is a fundraising and educational PAC to support the no paid parking legal actions and to educate the public on ballot issues in August and November 2026.
Recall FB 2026 is the Political Action Committee that is collecting signed petitions for the recall of two City Commissioners.
Yes, it can be confusing. None of the volunteers of any of these local grassroots Political Action Committees want to do this. This community feels like there is no other option based on the harm 4 out of 5 City Commissioners are inflicting on our City.
Is there a link to make donations to CAPP?
Please confirm for your readers that only city residents can sign, not just county residents
As far as the blue haired , hmmm wonder how they’d feel if one if their family members was attacked by an illegal; like tens of thousands( if not more ) have been
Great column, Dave. I’m astonished (shocked!) that Poynter and Minshew haven’t listened to the great majority of angry petition-signing tax paying voters about paid parking and ended this foolishness. Both Poynter and Minshew have bigger agendas (development on the waterfront and an alternative national lifestyle destination). Enough is enough.
And, kudos for letting us know about Ms DeBella’s new post. She’s a sharp gal and will do well in her new role.
No paid parking in City limits except by City voter approval!!! Please donate to support the legal campaign.
https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/Qmk3km
All donations go into a secure account with PNC Bank. Donations are not tax-deductible.
Three agencies require extremely accurate records of every penny.
100% is going towards winning the legal campaign against and education about paid parking. We have one of the best legal firms in Northeast Florida representing us.
Great article Dave a refreshing change from lapdog lendovichs articles. Keep posting keep writing and keep our community informed
Always LOVE everything you say, Dave, and the WAY you say it. No soft talk – just raw truth! Thank you for being our spokesperson!
Can people (like myself!) , who live on Amelia Island, vote with the CAPP, or ONLY residents of Fernandina??? ALL of us, here, use and consider Fernandina OUR town, and we are probably the largest investors in the town, money-wise, with our shopping, and dining . Maybe someone could show a “monetary chart” of some sort , so that everyone can see where Fernandina’s major income comes from?? Everthing that Fernandina does has a ripple effect on the population living immediately adjacent to it, and therefore, we should be shown the importance of that when Fernandina is affected by any major changes, such as parking meters!! Esp since I, personally, have never heard ONE person I know, say they were in favor of the new meters!
MacGregor was the first fake land Seller ever. He sold the equivalent of 40 million dollars of land to Europeans in a country that did not exist in South America.
Aww, thanks for the love, Dave!!! Miss my Nassau County friends and will most certainly be back that way soon enough. Save a seat for me at PJD’s and big hug!!
Sorry Dave’
Comparing our town’s founder to current commissioners is insulting to Yulee. He pulled a small starving town out of poverty and into a growth boom that was unparalleled anywhere in the South until that time.
Yulee was silver-tongued, yes, but his foresight and hard work changed not just the financial success of this town, but the very location as well.
While you might not honor the memory of such a powerful man, we locals do. Your references to his character are unwelcomed. Denigrating his legacy is beneath your level. Please stop.
Robert – is silver tongued a euphemism for corrupt ?