UPDATE AUGUST 20, 2024: Commissioners agreed with public comment speakers and withdrew from, the Consent Agenda three (3) en banc proposed hiring decisionss on three Special Magistrates, including JAMES EDWIN BEDSOLE (Florida Bar No. 500194): Conflicted former St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District's Attorney, up for $270/hour County Contract as Special Magistrate! Are you kidding me?
https://stjohnsclerk.com/minrec/agendas/2024/082024cd/08-20-24CON13.pdf
On Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 12:54:18 PM EDT, Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com> wrote:
Dear Commissioners Dean, Joseph, Arnold, Whitehurst and Alaimo:
1. Conflicted former St. Augustine Port, Waterrway and Beach District Attorney, JAMES BEDSOLE, is up for a $270/hour County Contract as Special Magistrate.
2. Are you kidding me?
3. ON CONSENT AGENDA FOR AUGUST 20, 2024 St. Johns County Commission meeting --- please remove from consent agenda
https://stjohnsclerk.com/minrec/agendas/2024/082024cd/08-20-24CON13.pdf
Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-______ , appointing James E. Bedsole, Patrick Kennedy, and Derri Kay Lassiter Young as Special Magistrates for a two-year term expiring on September 5, 2026; setting the amount of compensation for Special Magistrate at $270 per hour; approving the terms, conditions, provisions, and requirements of an agreement for special magistrate services with the Law Offices of James E. Bedsole, Charles T. Douglas, Jr. P.A., and The Lassiter Law Firm, P.A.; and authorizing the County Administrator, or designee, to execute the agreements on behalf of the County.
JAMES EDWIN BEDSOLE RESIGNS AS ST. AUGUSTINE PORT, WATERWAY AND BEACH DISTRICT ATTORNEY
| | JAMES EDWIN BEDSOLE RESIGNS AS ST. AUGUSTINE PORT, WATERWAY AND BEACH DI...By August 24, 2020 letter, attorney JAMES EDWIN BEDSOLE quit as counsel for the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and... |
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| | BARRY MARK BENJAMIN, illegal, non-resident St. Augustine Port, Waterway ...BARRY MARK BENJAMIN, illegally-serving, illegally-voting non-resident Chair of the St. Augustine Port, Waterway ... |
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5. The three complaints alleged Mr. BENJAMIN was not a resident of the Port District in St. Johns County. The complaints were dismissed.
6. In truth and in fact, Mr. BARRY MARK BENJAMIN was not a resident of the District.
7. The last time Mr. BENJAMIN signed up to run for office, in 2020, he did not qualify. Owners of the marina where he claimed to be a life-aboard informed the Supervisor of Elections that BENJAMIN did not live on his boat.
8. For some 20 years, 2000-2020, BARRY MARK BENJAMIN encumbered a seat on the Port District. BENJAMIN claimed to vote from a boat. He was not a resident. Mr. BENJAMIN lived with his wife and mother in Jacksonville. As the Port's attorney, JAMES BEDSOLE should not have represented the Port Chairman in three administrative law complaints before the State Elections Commission. This was a conflict of interest.
9. Mr. JAMES BEDSOLE should not be hired by our County as a Special Magistrate, especially without a background investigation and hearing.
10. Please feel free to call me to discuss
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
www.edslavin.com
Ed, Jeremy Blocker works for Douglas Law Firm. His bio doesn't say anything about being SJC commissioner.
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