The term of office for elected officers is three (3) years, with a two-term limit.
A candidate seeking to qualify for a City Commission seat must:
- Be a qualified, registered voter in the City of Fernandina Beach;
- File his/her qualification papers during the Qualifying Period;
- Pay the Election Assessment Fee in an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought (See FS 99.093(1);
- And qualify by one (1) of the following methods for their name to appear on the ballot:
1.
Qualifying Fee Method: Pay the Qualifying filing fee in a sum equal to three
percent (3%) of the annual salary ($9,600) paid to a member of the City
Commission of the fiscal year preceding the notice of filing for candidacy in the
amount of $288.00 (See City Code
Section 34-3 and
FS 99.092) or
2.
Petition Method: Obtain signatures of one percent (1%) of the total number of
registered voters (8,493) in the last City General Election which would be 85 valid
petition signatures. If you meet these requirements and obtain the signatures of one
percent (1%) of registered voters, you will not be required to pay the qualifying fee
in the amount of $96.00. See the City Clerk for further instructions.
IMPORTANT: The deadline for 85 candidate petitions with valid City
of Fernandina Beach registered voters' signatures to be submitted
to the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections is Thursday, July 26th,
12:00 p.m. (noon).
Newly elected officers shall be sworn in and assume the duties of office at the Organizational Meeting of the City Commission held on the third Tuesday of December, unless the election results are not certified. In that event, the officers will be sworn in and assume the duties of their offices at the next regular City Commission meeting following certification.
