The incumbent District 4 commissioner, Larry Harvey, is seeking re-election, and faces one challenger in the Republican primary. The winner of the primary will face a Democratic candidate and another candidate running without party affiliation in 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 by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE |
Joshua Florence
Occupation: Pediatric Medical Assistant
Age: 31
Family: Wife and Three toddlers
Education: A.S. Emergency Medical Services- Saint Johns River State College
B.A.S Organizational Management, Healthcare Administration - Saint Johns River State College
Masters in Executive Healthcare Administration - University of Central Florida (Current)
Political experience: None
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
The top three issues in this race are engagement with constituents, accountability to residents rather than party lines, and staying deeply informed of constituent needs. Putnam County deserves a commissioner who shows up and makes decisions based on what residents actually need, not what’s politically convenient. I have already started, showing up at dining room tables, parking lots, and fish fries, rather than waiting for residents to come to me. I plan to stay deeply informed by treating every conversation in this district as research, not just a campaign stop, and by following up on what I hear with real answers, not vague promises.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I can help voters in a way the others in this race cannot because I am actually present. I am the only candidate showing up at the places that aren’t comfortable or convenient. That means I am hearing directly from residents who do not normally get a knock on their door from someone running for office, and I am building real relationships before I ever ask for a vote. I am one of the few candidates in this race who has looked closely at how state legislation impacts home rule, rather than relying on talking points, which means I can have an honest conversation with voters about what county government can and cannot actually do for them, and why. Most importantly, I am not running to protect a seat or a party. I am running because this community deserves a commissioner who answers to them first.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Florence Nightingale once said, ‘I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.’ That is what I hope to be remembered for. Not a single big accomplishment, but a record of follow through. I want residents to remember that when they brought a problem to me, I did not make excuses for why it could not be fixed. I found a way to get it done, or I told them honestly why I could not, and kept working until I could. If I am remembered for anything, I hope it is that this community always knew exactly where I stood and that I never stopped showing up for them.
Campaign website: www.gowithflorence.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES |
Joseph Agner
Occupation: Public Safety, Prior US Army
Age: 46
Family: Wife Katrina and 4 boys
Education: Currently getting my 1st bachelors in political science
Political experience: No political background
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. Taxes, spending, and accountability of how our taxes are spent
2. Roads. We have a real problem with our dirt roads and drainage in Putnam county. Instead of paving all dirt roads at the time of $1,000,000 a mile we can’t revamp them and keep them as well maintained dirt roads for much less.
3. We have a real problem with our animal control. Putnam county decided years ago to strip animal control of their constitutional duties and it has led to poor enforcement
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Educate them on all issues. Don’t hide anything or allow their tax dollars to get a rubber stamp every time the budget is signed. The public should be very well educated in everything their local government does.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
That I put the citizens first. Politicians have seemed to forget over the years that they work for the voters, both the other way around
Campaign website: jagner4putnamcc.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Larry Harvey
Campaign website: None found
Campaign social media: None found
The Republican incumbent has not responded to email and telephone invitations to complete the News4JAX candidate questionnaire. If responses are received, they will be promptly posted in this space.
| NO PARTY AFFILIATION CANDIDATE |
Ronald Burckhard
Campaign website: None found
Campaign social media: None found
This candidate has not responded to email and telephone invitations to complete the News4JAX candidate questionnaire. If responses are received, they will be promptly posted in this space.