Nassau County commissioners direct manager to draft response to Chamber editorial

Commissioner Martin asked the Nassau County manager on June 18 to draft a response to a June 13 editorial by Regina Duncan, president of the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, saying the piece unfairly characterized the county as "not business friendly."

Martin said the editorial began by focusing on the City of Fernandina Beach but "segued into the rest of the Nassau County," and he called parts of the editorial "inappropriate" and "unprofessional." He told colleagues he had been contacted by multiple members of the Chamber board who said they had reviewed a position paper but did not expect the editorial's broader criticisms of the county.

"I believe that Miss Duncan needs to retract, regroup, or, release meaningful data," Commissioner Martin said. He and other commissioners cited a county-prepared packet of factual information and asked that the manager use that material in a written response to the chamber board.

Commissioner Gray, Commissioner Farmer and Commissioner Greer voiced support for directing the county manager to prepare a response. County Manager Pope confirmed the county would proceed, and Chair Huttman noted consensus. There was no formal roll-call vote recorded; the board indicated agreement to move forward.

The exchange cited a 2021 internal survey referenced in the editorial and several speakers said the survey's timing during the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of disclosed methodology weaken its reliability. Commissioners urged the chamber to release comparable data or clarify its methodology before making countywide generalizations.

The county's requested response will be drafted for transmission to the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, per Commissioner Martin's request.