Thursday, November 05, 2015

Questioning Alien Applicant For City Board: Historic Architectural Review Board Vacancy -- 11/9 City Commission Meeting

What do you reckon?

-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
Sent: Thu, Nov 5, 2015 3:14 pm
Subject: U.S. Citizenship Required to Serve on City Boards?: Historic Architectural Review Board Vacancy on 11/9 St. Augustine City Commission Agenda

Dear Mayor Shaver, Vice Mayor Horvath, Commissioners Sikes-Kline, Freeman and Neville, Ms. Galambos and Ms. Lopez:
1.  Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) members and members of other City boards are required to be U.S. citizens, correct?
2.  It has come to my attention that one applicant for the HARB vacancy is a Permanent Resident Alien, not a U.S. citizen.
3.  I hereby respectfully object to this non-citizen's application and hereby ask that he be ruled an ineligible applicant by either staff or Commissioners.
4.  I have informed Mr. Wolfgang Shau, the candidate in quo, of my objection.  He understands.  I have encouraged Wolfgang to apply for citizenship; he will do so.
5.  Without a written opinion signed by our State Attorney General, allowing service by any Alien would be ill-advised.
6.  Meanwhile, it would be wrong to appoint Mr. Wolfgang Schau (or any Alien) to a board position with the City.
7.  Even deputy sheriffs and nurses are required to be U.S. citizens in the State of Florida.
8.  HARB is not exempt from this citizenship requirement.  
9.  Under Article VI of our U.S. Constitution, HARB members and City Commissioners are required to take an oath to support and defend our U.S. Constitution, correct?
10. If you appoint an Alien to HARB on Monday night, can you imagine how this would appear to others in our 24-our news cycle?
Thank you.
WIth kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998

-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Nov 4, 2015 9:06 pm
Subject: HARB Member Selection Procedure: Two Suggestions

Dear Commissioners:
Seven people have applied for the HARB seat vacated by Joseph Cronk:
Walter O'Kon
Susan Messersmith
Catherine Duncan
Robert E. Olsen
James Solana
Barbara Wingo
Wolfgang Schau
Please invite the seven candidates to make three minute statements and interview them at your November 9 meeting.  This is the procedure followed at St. Augustine Beach Commission for board vacancies, and one of the best practices our City should follow.
Thank you.
With kindest regards,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998

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