Where is the Crawford plan? - An opinion

Submitted by Mike Boyle

August 25, 2016

I was just about to conclude that at my senior age, and with years of experience as an elected official at both the municipal and county levels, I had “seen it all.” But then Nassau County Politics reared its ugly head, and I was forced to realize that in Nassau County there is no absolute maximum for hypocrisy.

The most recent example involves Clerk of Court John Crawford and his merry band of obstructionists, Commissioners Steve Kelley and George Spicer. For years Crawford has been a thorn in the side of the BOCC by using every opportunity to promote himself to the voters and taxpayers as the county’s only honest official. All of us have seen his self-serving articles (masquerading as news) wherein he questions the accuracy of the financial figures supplied by the Office of Management and Budget, and assures citizens and taxpayers that he alone has the only plan that has no tax increases, but still balances the budget and addresses crumbling infrastructure.

In an effort to actually see the Crawford Plan, Commissioner Junior Boatright extended an invitation to Crawford and his followers to attend a Budget Workshop following the regular August 17, 2016 BOCC meeting. The invitation was extended to anyone who had expressed an opinion on the budget, and who would like to come and be heard. This would be real transparency.

When the Workshop convened, there was no one in the audience to discuss the budget or the overall financial condition of the county. No one! Not John Crawford, not Deputy Clerk Jerry, Greeson, not News Leader Columnist Steve Nicklas, not anyone who has spent the last few years lurking in the shadows sniping at the commissioners who are doing their best to serve our citizens and taxpayers...Also conspicuous by their absence were the surrogates Crawford and Kelley actively recruited to run against sitting commissioners (a strategy frowned upon even in Nassau political circles).

But when Crawford’s bluff was called, he was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he has finally learned it’s easy to stand on the sidelines lobbing grenades at those who are actually “in the fight,” rather than actually joining the fight.

Editor's Note:  Mike Boyle served as Chair for the Nassau County Board of County Commission, and was the former President of the N E Florida Regional Council.