Melissa Ross
The operatives on the ground in tax-averse St. Johns County are celebrating sweet, sweet victory.
For the first time in 40 years, the residents of this upscale area have approved a tax increase.
Voting 61 percent to 39 percent, voters approved a 10-year, half-cent sales tax to pay for new and improved school construction. With the school district bursting at the seams with thousands of new students, backers said the yes vote was not a moment too soon.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Patrick Canan, vice chairman of the St. Johns County School Board.
“The community stepped up and did something good for children. This was important because we’re growing so rapidly, so many people are moving to be in our school system, and we’ve been challenged by the numbers. It’s a big step forward.”
The school board and superintendent were assisted by a PAC that’s been organizing on the ground since June, A Better St. Johns.
“I’m a big believer in the ground game and field wins elections,” field director Kevin Sweeny told FloridaPolitics.com.
“It manifested itself tonight when the votes come in. We got our list and knocked on doors two or three times within the last couple of months. We had so many volunteers. They never hesitated to get outside and do the hard work to win an election like this.”
Sweeny and team are saving their victory, which is literally a long time coming.
“A tax referendum like this hasn’t passed in St. Johns County in 40 years. That says a lot about our volunteers, our board members and our superintendent Dr. Joyner. That hard work is what wins elections, and that’s what we saw tonight.”
