Zimmerman named to school board

Fernandina Beach business owner and political activist Joe Zimmerman has been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Nassau County School Board, filling the District 3 seat vacated by Curtis Gaus.

Gaus resigned his seat to run for school superintendent but lost to incumbent Kathy Burns this past August.

Zimmerman, a Yulee resident, is the owner of The Zimmerman Group, LLC, which engages in media and consulting for economic, social and political issues.  On his LinkedIn profile, Zimmerman said The Zimmerman Group also owns a stake in Buzz Town Media Group, operator of the weekly paper The Yulee News, and managed the Zimmerman Hospitality Group, operating multiple Philly Boyz restaurant franchises.

Zimmerman has also served on the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Citizen's Advisory Board.

In 2020, Zimmerman unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Ocean Highway and Port Authority commission. In 2018, he made an unsuccessful bid for the state legislature.

He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor's degree in international relations.