Childers wins seat on Fernandina Beach City Commission

by KEVIN TURNER

kevin.turner@mynassausun.com

Eric Childers won a seat on the City Commission in Tuesday's city election. Commissioner Bruce Malcolm was chosen mayor in a straw poll vote.

Childers received 472 votes to Lynn Williams' 395 for the Group 3 seat being vacated by Mayor Bill Leeper.

Malcolm got 481 votes to become the next mayor while Commissioner Ken Walker, who received 347. City commissioners, who traditionally follow the results of the straw poll vote, will choose the mayor.

Voters also overwhelmingly approved a change to the city's charter that will allow the staffs of the city attorney and city clerk to report directly to them instead of the city manager.

City Clerk Mary Mercer said the voter turnout was 11.7 percent, possibly a record low.

For more on this story, see Saturday's My Nassau Sun.