03/23/2024
I am learnin' as I go with this electioneering stuff. When I initially "announced" that I was running, I picked Seat 1, because at the time, no one had yet "announced" for it. Shortly after I announced, the incumbent decided (or let it be known) that he would run again. So I switched to Seat 2. And now, based on "advice from counsel" I will be switching to Seat 3 on Monday. That way, I won't be running against an incumbent.
Here is one thing I don't understand about the process. The Seats in Fernandina Beach are not specific to any part of town. All 5 of the Seats (Seats 4 and 5 don't come up for re-election this year) are "At Large" Seats. There is no differentiation between duties or areas covered for any of the Seats.
So here is a "hypothetical". Candidate A is running for Seat 1 against Candidate B. Candidate C is running against Candidate D for Seat 2 and E is running against F for Seat 3. When the votes are all tallied up, Candidate A gets 1000 votes and Candidate B gets 500. Candidate A wins Seat 1. Seat 2 is hotly contested and Candidate C gets 6000 votes against Candidate D's 5500 votes. C takes Seat 2. Seat 3 is won by Candidate E who garners 1500 votes against F's 500.
Candidate D, with 5500 votes is the "first loser", even though she won more votes than Candidates A, B, E and F COMBINED.
Can someone make that make sense to me?
