St. Johns Commissioner Christian Whitehurst says 'my record speaks for itself'
Christian Whitehurst, a lifelong Floridian, has lived in Northwest St. Johns County for more than 20 years.
The husband, father of two and business owner has served in the Florida Association of Counties Institute for County Government as a certified county commissioner; the United Way of St. Johns County Campaign Cabinet; as a board member of the Early Learning Coalition; the North Florida Planning and Transportation Organization; the Northeast Florida Regional Council; as chair of the Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board and as a volunteer with the United Way of St. Johns County, Daniel Kids, March of Dimes and the Special Olympics of Florida.
Whitehurst's platform emphasizes economic development, infrastructure and community services while supporting youth, veterans, law enforcement and first responders.
The St. Augustine Record: County growth is a hot button topic in St. Augustine. What can you say to allay the fears that America’s oldest city is growing too quickly.
Whitehurst: Florida’s growing rapidly and for some, growth represents a personal attack on the character of the community. Lifelong Floridians – like me – remember a Saturday morning at Mickler’s Landing with no crowds and easy parking. That doesn’t happen today. Growth is here. Real conversations surrounding the county’s growth shouldn’t stifle the facts, and frustration can’t overshadow abiding by property rights laws and development application regulations like the Brevard vs. Snyder decision and the Bert J. Harris Jr. Act. These laws have legal consequences. County commissioners make decisions for PUDs signed years ago, underscored by these laws; a fact that gets lost in the noise.
The St. Augustine Record: Please explain Brevard vs. Snyder.
Whitehurst: Brevard v. Snyder states that the clamor of the crowd doesn’t count. A crowded auditorium can’t state a case for or against a proposition. When considering a development application or a signed PUD, if the property is deemed compatible, commissioners must consider the case law. If there’s sufficient evidence against the compatibility, that is, the property will adversely affect the community, that evidence is also considered. But to deny a compatible application simply because the public demands it with undertones of “we elected you, therefore you must deny it” is strictly prohibited.
Deliberation and process align every decision I make. I – we – welcome public comment. I will openly explain the why behind my vote with reasoning that doesn’t always lead to an approval. I attend community meetings with residents and developers to listen to the competent substantial evidence. But our decisions are made on the day of the hearing and only then. Decisions made prior to a public hearing can be legally challenged and overturned in a court of law.
Stop and slow the growth are campaign slogans. Catchy media headlines say residents are discontent with the county’s development and commissioners vote against the will of the people. But not a single headline discusses the law. So, as I campaign, I educate the public on the importance of respecting the law or suggest initiating the process to change the law.
The St. Augustine Record: Please address those who accuse you of taking bribes from developers.
Whitehurst: I encourage everyone to investigate my record through the FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement]. Commissioners are accountable to the law. To stand accused of landing in a developer’s back pocket because I’ve raised more in campaign funds is prejudicial and incendiary. How does raising campaign funds make me less honest? It’s not illegal, immoral or unethical.
The accusations don’t hurt my feelings. Voters have every right to demand transparency and I’m willing to work for their interests. Instead of crying foul, I’m engaging, answering emails and phone calls to give everyone the opportunity to know who I am and why I’m here. I uphold the utmost integrity for my reputation and that of my family.
The St. Augustine Record: Talk to me about workforce housing.
Whitehurst: We support private-sector, compatible affordable housing. We’ve worked with the St. Johns County Housing Partnership and have approved every Habitat for Humanity housing development. It’s just not happening fast enough. Affordable housing units approved today take three years to build. Therein lies the frustration. And that’s not a county problem or even a statewide issue; it’s an issue nationwide.
The St. Augustine Record: Please explain why work force housing for new construction was recently lowered from 40% to 30%.
Whitehurst: In 2019, everything, including construction, was less expensive. In 2021, work force housing costs increased from $190,000 to $267,000. What was approved three years ago is no longer affordable at the quoted price. Are we – the commissioners – happy about lowering the percentage? No. But we will not lose the program because of it either. Accommodations are made based on costs.
The St. Augustine Record: Talk to me about the mud slinging between you and your opponent Ann-Marie Evans.
Whitehurst: I can’t control campaign slogans, social media posts or a biased press branding a win at all costs mentality – regardless of the truth. My record speaks for itself.
My opponent’s campaign team is inexperienced with the county’s governing process. Our work with local and state legislators upholds steep learning curves for positive collaboration. We have that. A new team can’t walk in and stop processes already in place. The ripple effect will be unmanageable.
My opponent campaigns with the idea that provisions within the law can stop building approved PUDs. That’s incorrect and alarming. My record reflects that I – we – follow the law and are willing to work in good faith for the residents of St. Johns County.
In the past four years, we’ve established over a billion dollars of transportation emphasis for federal, state, and local projects. We initiated a conservation program that lay dormant for 15 years. We’ve travelled to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., to receive record funding from the state and federal government. The county continues making decisions that puts the needs of the community first including addressing first responders, EMT paramedics, fire and rescue and the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. The county commissioners did their best to secure The Black History Museum in West Augustine and move the Canright House to West Augustine. We continue to work with the City of St. Augustine and the City of St. Augustine Beach on beach renourishment projects. We continue to work with and for our veterans and homeless populations.
Many of our accomplishments have gotten buried by noise of the county's growth. But St. Johns County’s been on a rapid growth trajectory for years. Keeping up with the process and progress includes approving projects with supporting infrastructure and denying projects that are incompatible because of a lack of infrastructure. Soliciting votes through campaign promises that violate laws for political gain places the county in a difficult position.
The St. Augustine Record: How do you deal with the slurs of social media?
Whitehurst: Social media was designed to keep us together. But like any tool, it can be abused. Does it bother me to see people speak about issues they know little about with great confidence? Yes. But I trust that people know when someone’s credible and when they’re not. I trust residents believe that the commissioners continue to diligently address what needs to be addressed in a timely and lawful manner. I trust that residents know the difference between the broad strokes of promises that are nothing but campaign slogans.
I encourage conversations with my critics. I’m not here to discredit anyone. I’m here to share what I know to be true, not a social media soundbite that's used to rile a crowd.
The St. Augustine Record: What do you say to voters who are steered by national politics as opposed to understanding the inner workings of the county.
Whitehurst: National talking points are labels. Devotion to a party has no impact on local issues. I think our residents are smart enough to base their decisions on relevant information.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Johns Commissioner Christian Whitehurst talks about law vs. noise
