Locals seek to replace Manuel
By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 11/12/08
Seven St. Johns County residents have sent their names to Gov. Charlie Crist in order to be considered as a replacement for suspended Commission Chairman Tom Manuel.
Some are already snuggling closer to the county's Republican Party leadership.
But all candidates must wait until Manuel's bribery trial, scheduled to begin in early January, is over.
According to Sterling Ivey of Crist's press office, the governor has not begun the selection process.
"There is not a vacancy in the elected office," Ivey said. "Should the governor decide to appoint someone on a temporary basis to the St. Johns (County) Commission, or should Mr. Manuel resign, (there) are individuals who have indicated an interest in serving."
The names so far include Harlon Westover of Nocatee; Terry Flesher of St. Johns; Cheryl Robitzsch and Richard Lewis of St. Augustine; and Bruce Maguire, Mark Middlebrook and David Mariotti, all of Ponte Vedra Beach.
The suspended Manuel represented District 4, which is Ponte Vedra Beach. Candidates living outside that district must move into its boundaries if appointed.
Jon Woodard, state committeeman for the St. Johns County Republican Party, said the governor's office will talk to the local party leadership before making an appointment.
"We're not exactly sure when they are going to make a decision," Woodard said. "We'll be taking the time to interview people. Some have already come and said, 'I'm interested.' But there have been no interviews yet."
County Commission Chairwoman Cyndi Stevenson said choosing a new commissioner is a deliberate process.
"I think it's interesting that many more people are willing to serve rather than go through the rigors of a campaign," she said. "It'll be good for St. Johns County when more people put their hat in the ring during the election cycle."
Some applicants are already known to the public, such as former District 4 Commissioner Bruce Maguire.
That also applies to Robitzsch, an engineer who ran and lost the District 1 primary race against Stevenson in 2004, then served two years on the PZA.
She said the bribery case against Manuel has given St. Johns County "a black eye in the state."
"We need to bring integrity, stability and character back to the commission," she said. "This candidate should know the county. I feel that I could do that job."
Five candidates on the list -- Lewis, Maguire, Middlebrook, Mariotti and Flesher -- could not be contacted, were not home or did not return calls Tuesday night.
The candidate with the fewest number -- actually, zero -- political connections is Westover, a retired battalion chief who formerly served with the West Dallas Fire Department in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Westover came here in May.
But Westover doesn't think his lack of time in St. Johns County will hurt him.
"I've spent 31 years in local government," he said Tuesday. "I have no doubt I can do the job. It's just whether or not the governor wants to appoint me.
"If they want a fresh face, I've got one."
Applicants
* Harlon Westover of Nocatee
* Terry Flesher of St. Johns
* Cheryl Robitzsch of St. Augustine
* Richard Lewis of St. Augustine
* Bruce Maguire of Ponte Vedra Beach
* Mark Middlebrook of Ponte Vedra Beach
* David Mariotti of Ponte Vedra Beach
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