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Residents call for suspension or resignation of two indicted St. Johns County commissioners
Summary
Multiple residents urged the immediate suspension or resignation of two commissioners who are facing criminal charges, saying their continued participation undermines public trust; speakers urged the board to consider external counsel and other remedies.
Several residents used the public-comment period at the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners meeting to demand the removal or suspension of two commissioners who have been criminally charged in an election-related case. A speaker identifying themselves as a St. Johns County Republican official said the presence of those commissioners "is actively destroying the bond between this government and its people" and urged them to resign immediately.
Other commenters echoed the call. Jerry Buchanan said the commissioners "do not represent we, the people" and asked the board to hire outside counsel to review state bill SB 686; Sean Carpenter, chairman of the St. Johns County Republican Liberty Caucus, called for suspension pending resolution of the charges, saying it would "protect the integrity of county government and restore the public's trust." Several speakers referenced a prior vote of no confidence by a majority of the board and asked the commission to follow up with concrete steps.
The meeting record shows repeated public appeals to remove or suspend the indicted commissioners, with speakers stressing that resignation would not be a declaration of guilt but a measure to preserve institutional trust. No commissioner action to suspend or remove either official was taken during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript.
