Commission Financial Reports Reveal Just a Little

Florida's tepid financial interest reporting requirements reveal very little about the financial income or obligations of the five city commissioners holding office. They aren't required to report home ownership or mortgage debt and they don't have to report their yearly income. Commissioners only have to report the source of their income and any major liabilities.

More stringent reporting requirements kick in next July when the state will require officeholders to report their net worth, assets over $1,000, liabilities over $1,000, and all sources and amounts of income over $1,000.

Here are the state-required disclosures of each city commissioner filed last July:

James Antun - his primary source of income is from 8 Flags Chiropractic Inc. in Fernandina Beach. He lists a savings account associated with the business. He did not report his $12,000 annual city commissioner salary.

He reported no liabilities.

According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, Antun pays taxes on a house at 704 S. 12th Street, Fernandina Beach. The listed market value is $358,408.

Darron Ayscue - lists his primary source of income as Nassau County Fire and Rescue as a firefighter. He did not report his $12,000 annual city commissioner salary.

He listed no secondary income. No interests in other businesses. No liabilities and no ownership of other properties.

According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, Ayscue pays taxes on a house at 814 N. 14th St., Fernandina Beach. The listed market value is $526,871.

Bradley Bean - lists the RYAM mill as his primary source of income. He also reported income from High Energy Auctions and his $12,000 annual city commissioner salary. He reported a 401(k) at RYAM as intangible personal property. He listed his property at 1512 Inverness Road, Fernandina Beach. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $338,735.

Bean reported no major liabilities and no specified interests in other businesses.

Chip Ross - lists his primary source of income as Social Security, as an emergency room doctor (he has since retired), his $12,000 annual city commissioner salary and his company PCare as an expert medical witness for various law firms.

Ross lists his house at 210 N. 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $617,732.

He listed stocks in a 401(k) with Vanguard, stocks with T. Rowe Price and cash assets at Bank of America.

Ross listed no major liabilities.

David Sturges - listed Sturges & Sturges Construction Inc., as his primary source of income. A secondary source listed is Park Bench Investments, which is a property investment company. He did not report his $12,000 annual city commissioner salary.

He reported owning stock in PNC Bank and ML Bank.

Sturges reported a major liability of $2,215,697 with a monthly payment of $15,923 to five different banks. The liability list is posted below.

Commissioner Sturges' financial liabilities as filed with the Statement of Financial Interests as of July 2023.

Sturges has numerous properties in Nassau County including a home at 319 Benjamin, Fernandina Beach. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $485,650.

He owns an office building under the company Pirates Booty at 1214 Beech St., Fernandina Beach with a mortgage balance of $327,130. According to the Nassau County Property Appraiser's public records, the listed market value is $246,462.

Sturges reported ownership of properties under Park Bench Investments including:

631 Tarpon Ave. unit 6381 market value $310,000

631 Tarpon Ave. unit 6391 market value $310,000

2811 Atlantic Ave. unit 101 market value $685,000

2626 Gregor McGregor Blvd market value $736,161

3473 S. Fletcher market value $1,274,713

1429 Atlantic Ave. market value $522,245

3480 First Ave, market value $1,274,713

3482 First Ave.

3484 First Ave.

Lot 1 Faith Ave., Yulee market value $105,199

Lot 2 Williams Ave., Yulee market value $118,806

Other properties listed include:

397 NW. Hamilton St., Lake City

447 NW. Hamilton St., Lake City

427 NW. Hamilton St., Lake City

620 NW. Florida Ave., Lake City

771 NW. Georgia Ave., Lake City

1510 Ricardo St., Valdosta GA

211 W. Dillingham St., St Marys, GA

877 Mlssion Trace Dr., St Marys, GA

277 W. Fulford Street, Kingsland, GA