- May 2, 2024
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The following is adapted from a press release from the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates:
At its Sept. 22 meeting, the board of directors of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates reaffirmed its 2008 policy that does not allow individual political candidates to rent booths at events organized by the chamber.
The policy was disputed by City Council candidates Dennis Cross and Bill McGuire at a recent meeting of the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. Cross and McGuire said the policy was unfair to nonpartisan candidates. Click here to read the full story.
According to the chamber, the policy is designed to ensure that special events like the Creekside Festival remain family-friendly and community-oriented in nature.
Since 2008, the chamber has limited booth space rentals at the annual Potato Festival, Fabulous Fourth Festivities and Creekside Festival to nonprofit organizations, arts and crafts vendors and those serving food. This policy was established to keep political activity at special events to a minimum, especially during busy election years.
“To encourage voter turnout and education, the chamber has hosted and will continue to host political candidate forums that give all candidates opportunities to speak to voters and share their platforms,” said chairman Lea Stokes. “ … By contrast, Creekside is a festival for families, not politics, and we have heard from past attendees that campaign activities there detract from the overall experience.”
The local Republican and Democratic clubs, as nonprofit organizations, have a history of attending and hosting booths at these events to promote their organizations, boost membership and encourage voter turnout. These two organizations will be back at Creekside this year, along with the Flagler County Tea Party. In line with the board’s decision to uphold the candidate-related policy, clubs will be asked to promote their organizations at booths, not individual candidates.
“All candidates running for City Council are invited to attend Creekside Festival and to bring their friends and families,” Stokes added. “However, we ask them to leave campaign signs, literature and canvassing behind so they, like all our guests, can enjoy what makes the Creekside Festival one of Flagler County’s most popular traditions.”
