Seat 4 on the St. Augustine city commission is open this year, as incumbent commissioner Cynthia Garris ran for the Seat 3/Mayor position, and was automatically elected when nobody else qualified for the race. Three candidates are running for Seat 4 this year: Ashleigh Barnes, Cynthia Golos-Guergawi, and Ko Robins. As this is a non-partisan race, candidates run without party affiliation and the race is open to all voters in the city. If nobody gets more than 50% of the vote in the August 18 primary, then the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November.
News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES |
Ashleigh Barnes
Occupation: Attorney & Small Business Owner
Age: 46
Family: I live in Lincolnville with my husband and three kids.
Education: Stetson University (BA); University of Florida (law - JD); Leiden University (LLM); Australian National University (PhD)
Political experience: I have served on the City’s Planning and Zoning Board for 3.5 years.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Strong Neighborhoods
When neighborhoods and local businesses are thoughtfully compatible, they create a sense of community that makes St. Augustine special.
Accessible Downtown
A downtown that is safe, welcoming, and easy to navigate — works better for residents, workers, local businesses, and visitors alike.
Resilient Infrastructure
Prioritizing flooding, stormwater, drainage, streets, sidewalks, and long-term planning to protect our historic coastal city.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I bring a combination of experience that is different from anyone else running for this office.
As an attorney and former law professor, I am trained to work through complex issues, weigh competing interests, and make decisions grounded in facts, law, and long-term consequences. As a small business owner, I know how to adapt in an ever-changing environment, make practical decisions, and stay focused on what actually works. And as a startup founder, I understand how to build a long-term vision while taking the urgent, concrete steps every day to move toward it.
But one of the most important lessons I have learned is that you cannot solve a problem well unless you listen first. You listen, you create a solution, you test it, you listen again, you adapt, and you keep improving. Listening is not something that happens once at the beginning of a process. It has to happen at every step.
I also bring direct experience serving St. Augustine. For the last 3.5 years, I have served on the City’s Planning & Zoning Board, hearing hundreds of applications from across the city. That work has required me to review staff reports, apply the Comprehensive Plan and City ordinances, listen to residents, applicants, business owners, preservation advocates, engineers, planners, and neighbors, and make decisions that affect the daily life and long-term future of St. Augustine.
That matters because the City Commission is not an entry-level position. Voters deserve someone who can serve on day one with preparation, independence, judgment, and a deep respect for the people who live and work here.
I can help voters by bringing both experience and a fresh approach: strong neighborhoods, an accessible downtown, resilient infrastructure, and a city government that listens carefully, acts thoughtfully, and keeps improving.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I would hope to be remembered for helping St. Augustine become a city that works better for the people who live, work, and build their lives here — while protecting the character that makes it special.
That means stronger neighborhoods where residents, local businesses, and public spaces are thoughtfully compatible. It means a downtown that is safer, more welcoming, and easier to navigate for residents, workers, businesses, and visitors. And it means real progress on resilient infrastructure — flooding, stormwater, drainage, streets, sidewalks, and long-term planning for a historic coastal city.
But I would also hope to be remembered for how I served: by listening carefully, doing the homework, asking better questions, and making decisions with independence, preparation, and judgment.
St. Augustine faces complex challenges. I do not think success will come from one big promise or one simple fix. It will come from steady, thoughtful work: listening to residents and businesses, testing solutions, adapting when needed, and taking the urgent small steps every day that move us toward a stronger future.
If I serve, I hope people will say that I helped bring a fresh approach to City Hall — one rooted in service, focused on results, and committed to helping St. Augustine truly thrive.
Campaign website: www.ashleigh-barnes.com
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram
Cynthia Golos-Guergawi
Occupation: Former national organization executive, I currently operate a travel consultancy and am a community volunteer.
Age: (No answer)
Family: I live in St. Augustine with my husband, Mark, and am privileged to be an aunt to 20 nieces and nephews that keep me busy and grateful.
Education: Excelsior College, Bachelor’s of Science
Political experience: In Washington D.C., my organization was directly involved in passing federal legislation and supporting candidates running for federal and state office. My teams provided strategic services to our federation that operated in each state and territory, and our many coalition partners.
Similar to municipal governance, I’ve had oversight of an annual budget equal to St. Augustine’s. I led a strategic plan that modernized our infrastructure, created new policies, and delivered improved service quality across the board. Representing my department, I had a vote in all significant capital and operational investments.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. Better mobility for residents, visitors, workers and students.
We need an enhanced, multi-modal transit system that provides a real alternative for driving in the greater St. Augustine area. Land and water options. Connected bike lanes. Additional non-urban parking, and extended routes to historic points of interest, retail, and for air travel. Evening hours of operation.
I will work collectively with the city, county and funders to make this a reality.
2. Helping local businesses flourish.
Healthy businesses that experience real collaboration with their city have a positive effect on everyone.
I will advocate for a permitting process that adopts an 80/20 time-bound structure, with permit queue transparency. We’ll create pathways for young professionals using non-traditional methods and business spaces. I will take a ‘least amount necessary’ approach to restrictions and ordinances that balance safety and business creativity.
3. Financial management in times of change.
Leveraging my budget planning and forecasting experience, I will work with the City Commission and City Manager to plan effectively for risks such as potential revenue shortfalls, safeguarding our critical infrastructure projects and personnel, while actively pursuing opportunities for new funding streams.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I have many years of experience managing a large workforce and an annual operating budget the same size as St. Augustine’s.
Governing a business with equivalent operational complexities, competing priorities and market pressures is something I can uniquely bring to the office.
My track record for fostering national, regional and local partnerships with mutually-beneficial outcomes differentiates me from others running for my seat.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
A leader that helped St. Augustine grow and preserve in a thoughtful way with long-term strategy, and a person that others would say she was really great to work with and I’d do it again.
Campaign website: www.cindyforstaugustine.com
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram
Ko Robins
Occupation: Small business owner of 30 years with my husband, consultant and FEMA flood adjuster
Age: 55
Family: I have been married to my husband for over 29 years, and together we have raised three successful children, all of whom earned college degrees from FSU. Two of our children proudly serve as first responders, dedicating their lives to helping others. Family has always been the foundation of my life, teaching me the values of service, responsibility, hard work, and compassion that guide me in both my personal life and my commitment to public service.
Education: Attended college; completed extensive professional training through FEMA and continuing education in disaster recovery, flood mitigation, and claims management.
Political experience: Former State Committeewoman; Vice Chair and Legislative Chair of the St. Johns County Executive Committee; the only delegate that represented St. Johns County in Congressional District 5; worked with county, state, and federal officials to advocate for legislation, appropriations, and policies benefiting St. Johns County and the City of St. Augustine.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
The top three issues are fiscal responsibility, infrastructure and parks, and flooding. First, I will work to ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely by increasing transparency, eliminating waste, and protecting essential services. Second, we must invest in infrastructure and parks, so roads, public spaces, and public safety keep pace with our community’s needs while preserving St. Augustine’s historic character. Third, we must reduce flooding by improving stormwater systems, strengthening infrastructure, protecting our waterways, and aggressively pursuing county, state and federal funding. My focus will always be practical solutions that put residents first and protect our city’s future.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I offer a unique combination of real-world business experience, disaster recovery expertise, legislative advocacy, and decades of community service. As a FEMA flood adjuster, I understand the challenges our residents face and how to secure resources for recovery and resilience. As a small business owner, I know the importance of responsible budgeting and accountability. Having worked with local, state, and federal leaders, I know how to build relationships that bring funding and solutions home. Now that my children are grown and successful, I have the time to devote my full attention and energy to serving St. Augustine. This is more than a part-time commitment for me—it’s an opportunity to give back to the local community I love. I will be an accessible, independent voice who listens, leads with integrity, and always puts St. Augustine city residents first.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope to be remembered for leaving St. Augustine stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for future generations. I want residents to know I was a commissioner who listened, led with integrity, protected taxpayer dollars, and made decisions based on facts, not politics. I hope my service results in improved infrastructure, reduced flooding, greater government transparency, and responsible growth that preserves our historic character and natural resources. Most importantly, I want people to remember that I always put the interests of our residents and our community first.
Campaign website: www.korobins.com