The residents of Atlantic Beach continue to grapple with the ceaseless complications emanating from their local elections. Almost a year has passed since Election Day, and yet the town has been unable to conduct a runoff to determine the winner between Town Councilman John David and Josephine Isom, who was serving as Mayor Pro Tempore. ‘The notions of foundational democracy are at risk here,’ voiced Karen Bennett, an Atlantic Beach dweller, during a news conference on September 3. ‘This is a town matter, a national matter, and we’re unable to secure justice for voters.’.
It’s notable that last April, the Municipal Election Commission of the town initiated the call to the Town Council asking for a special mayoral election. This action came on the heels of an evaluation of contested ballots, 13 of which were discarded, leading the commission to annul the November results. However, in a shocking twist, Isom lodged an appeal at the county court just days after the meeting. She alleged that she should be declared victor by considering the disqualified votes.
Isom’s appeal in court is the primary reason behind the delay of the special election. The next date for the hearing of her case has been arranged for September 18. Meanwhile, David hasn’t remained silent during the appeal, bringing counter-arguments against Isom’s claim to victory, as reflected in the court documents.
While the legal battle ensues, the residents of the town have expressed their disquietude. Many feel that the leaders are impeding their fundamental right to vote. ‘How can a person with limited financial means ensure his voting rights are respected?’ pondered Knowledge Divine, an invested resident of the town since 2015. He had his vote thrown out during the April meeting. ‘I shouldn’t need to hire a lawyer for my basic right as it should not be about wealth, but about whether I am a citizen of the United States.’
During the same news conference, nearly a dozen perturbed residents implored the population for more accountability from their town leaders. The residents accused the leaders of infringing on the electoral protocol by dismissing votes last April and stalling the special election. ‘We’ve been baffled by the various reasons why votes weren’t counted. We need clarity as we’re approaching a year without any resolution,’ voiced Naim Vaughan, another resident whose daughter’s vote ended up being disqualified, despite being a registered voter.
In response to these accusations, the Town leaders rejected any claims of foul play. They have stated in court documents that they are not authorized to hold the special election until the appeal case for Isom reaches a resolution. It’s noteworthy that the Municipal Election Commission, during the April hearing, discarded 13 of the total 18 disputed votes for the reason that those voters resided outside the town.
Jake Evans, the outgoing Mayor, asserted his authority and surprisingly disbanded the election commission through an emergency meeting. This decision took place soon after Isom contested the aforementioned ballots. However, the election commission was reinstated less than three weeks later, but Joe Montgomery was ousted from his position as the chairman with accusations of violating election laws. There has been vehement denial from Montgomery regarding the allegations.
The sense of frustration among the residents remains palpable. Vaughan expresses his concerns about the inadequacy of local elections oversight, remarking that the grievances of the residents about their votes seem to fall on ‘deaf ears’. ‘The situation is intolerably aggravating, and frankly, we need change. Our votes need to count.’, he insisted.
While the mayoral race hangs in the balance, another council race awaits its fate. Carla Taylor filled one of the two council seats last November. Ironically, she replaced Isom, who relinquished her seat to challenge David for the mayoral post. However, Taylor’s term ends on December 31, 2027. The election results revealed Jacqueline Gore and Taylor as winners, securing 71 and 69 votes respectively. The unsuccessful candidates, Jerry Finney Sr. and Shaun Swinson Sr., obtained 62 and 48 votes.
Taylor sits in limbo as the town leaders deny her the ability to assume her council seat. They justify their position by treating an out-of-time election protest filed by Swinson, who landed last in the council race, as valid. Despite the certification of the results by the election commission and no court involvement from Swinson, the town leaders refuse to acknowledge Taylor’s victory.
Mayor Jake Evans took the unusual step of asking interim Police Chief Carlos Castillo to forcibly remove Taylor from her inaugural meeting on May 9, before the council went into a closed-door session. Taylor sought legal recourse in late April. She petitioned Judge William Seals Jr. to compel town leaders to acknowledge her as a duly elected councilwoman, arguing that without a court order the leaders continued to prevent her from council meetings.
Judge Seals denied Taylor’s request at the end of May, citing that she had not met the necessary stipulations for a court order granting. Even though Taylor has appealed the ruling, the town continues to deny any misconduct. Until the contentious mayoral race concludes, Taylor remains barred from officially taking her seat.
Despite the strife and controversy, the Election Commission continues its work. Dwayne Green, representing the election commission, advised against deciding on Swinson’s belated protest. He attributed this to an active SLED (State Law Enforcement Division) investigation into the alleged illegal voting during an August 16 commission meeting.
An admission of error followed from Atlantic Beach Town Manager Orton Bellamy. Initially, he stated a SLED investigation had begun when in reality, it hadn’t. Bellamy took full responsibility for the misunderstanding, noting that they had officially requested a SLED probe into allegations of illegal voting. The entire situation leaves the residents, the town leaders, the council, and the election commission awaiting the next move.