- April 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Charles Ericksen Jr. earned 59% in an online survey of Flagler tea party members.
The Flagler County Tea Party announced results Sept. 6 from its online poll, which serves as the first indicator of how some Palm Coast residents may vote in the Sept. 13 primary.
Charles Ericksen Jr., who has no political experience, received 121 votes out of 205 cast by tea partyers. That represents 59.0% of the total.
Jon Netts, who has served as a City Council member since 2001 in Palm Coast and has been mayor since 2007, received 73 votes, for 35.6%.
Joe Cunnane received 11 votes, or 5.4%.
Tea Party Chairman Tom Lawrence said 750 members of the group live in Palm Coast and that the values of the party are probably closer to the majority view than many people think.
“At every level of government, it’s the responsibility of elected officials to provide services at the lowest level possible cost to the taxpayers,” Lawrence said.
In the 2007 primary, the last time Palm Coast residents had a chance to vote for a mayor, 6,509 cards were cast for a turnout of 16.82%. Netts received 63% of the votes.
As of Sept. 6 this year, there are almost 65,000 registered voters.
The party has formed committees to attend public meetings this year. Those committees then report to the rest of the members.
“This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction,” Lawrence said. “The people have done their homework.”
He added: “We’re looking at each elected body and saying, ‘Are you doing the best possible job for the taxpayers?’ That’s what we’re demanding. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
The party plans to hold informal votes before the City Council elections in November, as well.
