Latest news with #District2
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Pierce City Commission seat vacated by James Taylor may sit empty until 2026
FORT PIERCE — The city plans to hold a special election Nov. 4 to replace City Commissioner James Taylor, who resigned just hours before a special meeting July 28. As the meeting to plan his replacement was called to order, Taylor sat in the St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $360,000 bond, charged with 24 felony counts related to an alleged explicit internet relationship with a teenage girl. If a runoff is needed after the November election, residents of District 2 could go until early next year without full representation on the City Commission. According to a preliminary plan, which commissioners will have to approve at their Aug. 4 regular meeting, candidate qualifying would run from noon Aug. 15 to noon Aug. 22. The Nov. 4 special election would be followed by a Jan. 20 runoff only if there are more than two candidates and no one receives a majority of the vote. What will a tie vote mean? In the meantime, with a four-member commission, any votes that split 2-2 will fail. The election will be open only to registered voters in District 2, and candidates must have lived in District 2 for at least two years in order to qualify, City Clerk Linda Cox said. By the time they vote Aug. 4, commissioners will have to decide how they want to run the election, which Cox estimated would cost the city about $60,000. At first, commissioners said they would like to see the election run the same as a normal election. However, they later expressed openness to not opening the two precincts with the smallest numbers of registered voters and to opening a precinct for early voting, as both the normal early-voting locations are in District 1. Cox said she would work with Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker between now and Aug. 4 to see how those changes would impact the cost. After Commissioner Arnold Gaines asked where the money for the election would come from, saying the City Commission has "fought over every penny" during the ongoing budget process, Cox said that has yet to be determined. City Manager Richard Chess said the cost may be able to be split over multiple fiscal years, while Commissioner Michael Broderick suggested using emergency funds, likening the situation to a natural disaster. "This is a disaster," Broderick said. Presenting a united front Commissioners presented a united front, saying the city will continue to conduct its business. "We love this city and this city will not be defined by the actions of one person," Mayor Linda Hudson said. More: James Taylor, from jail, resigns ahead of Fort Pierce City Commission meeting about him More: What to know about City Commissioner James Taylor, his arrest, Fort Pierce city reaction Taylor, whose resignation is effective Aug. 2, is accused of conducting a years-long relationship with a 14-year-old girl from Evanston, Illinois, over the private messaging app Snapchat. That relationship, which local sheriff's investigators believe began when the girl was 12, included Taylor sending and asking for nude images, according to investigators. Police in Evanston were first tipped off to the alleged relationship by the girl's mother in August 2024, while Taylor was in the midst of his campaign for City Commission. Taylor — who won that race with nearly 62% of the vote — was first on St. Lucie County investigators' radar in May, when they were contacted by Evanston police. Taylor faces six counts of transmission of materials harmful to minors by electronic equipment; six counts of transfer or display of obscenity to a minor; six counts of harmful communication to a minor and lewd computer solicitation; four counts of lewd computer solicitation of a child; and two counts of solicitation of transmission of child pornography by electronic device or equipment. His arraignment — when he would enter a plea on those charges — is not yet scheduled. Minutes after the meeting ended — as attendees, staff and the remaining four commissioners filed into the City Hall parking garage — the nameplate marking Taylor's assigned parking spot was being taken down with a drill. Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: James Taylor special election in Fort Pierce planned for November Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Miami Herald
City commissioner in Florida asked 12-year-old Illinois girl for nudes, cops say
An elected official in Florida is facing two dozen felony charges after a mom in Illinois reported he had been sexting her 12-year-old daughter over Snapchat, authorities said. St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro Jr. announced July 24 that law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Fort Pierce City Commissioner James Taylor, 38, and took him into custody. His arrest marks the culmination of a nearly yearlong investigation that began in August 2024 when the victim's mom filed a report with the Evanston Police Department, the sheriff said in a news conference. The mom of the now-13-year-old girl said a man had been inappropriately contacting her daughter over Snapchat beginning when she was 12, according to investigators. He sent her nude images of himself and asked her to do the same, Del Toro said. This went on for a couple months, investigators said. Detectives in Illinois traced the messages to a person in St. Lucie County and contacted the sheriff's office, which confirmed the suspect's IP address belonged to Taylor, the sheriff said. Investigators don't believe Taylor and the girl ever met in person. Taylor was pulled over during a traffic stop involving a 'ruse,' and was cooperating with detectives, according to the sheriff. 'I would say that he admitted his role in these and was very remorseful, obviously, I think mainly because he was caught,' Del Toro said. Taylor was elected Fort Pierce's District 2 commissioner in 2024 after serving on the county's planning and zoning commission for nearly a decade, according to his commissioner biography. He's involved in several local organizations, including the county's education board and theater advisory board. 'The City of Fort Pierce is aware of the recent arrest of Commissioner James Taylor,' a spokesperson for the city told McClatchy News in an email. 'We understand that this development may raise concerns within our community, and we want to reassure our residents that we remain committed to serving the public with integrity, transparency and accountability.' The 24 charges against Taylor include: transmission of materials harmful to minors by electronic equipmenttransfer or display of obscenity to a minorharmful communication to a minorlewd computer solicitationlewd computer solicitation of a child solicitation of transmission of child pornography by electronic device or equipment. Law enforcement officers are investigating whether there could be additional victims and ask anyone with information to come forward. Fort Pierce is about a 65-mile drive north from West Palm Beach.
Daily Record
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Motherwell and Wishaw Inner Wheel Club member takes up new role within organisation
Carluke woman Nancy Ralston is poised to lead Inner Wheel District 2 as its chairman for 2025-26 and brings a wealth of experience to her new role. A member of Motherwell and Wishaw Inner Wheel Club has given me a new role in the organisation. Carluke woman Nancy Ralston is poised to lead Inner Wheel District 2 as its chairman for 2025-26 and brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Though officially retired from her career in the Insurance Industry, Nancy remains actively engaged in the business world, still co-owner of an Instrumentation and Calibration laboratory in Falkirk. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys a rich and varied personal life. An avid reader, Nancy is the co-founder of a book club that was started during the COVID-19 lockdown. She also maintains an active lifestyle as a member of a walking group. Nancy's commitment to Inner Wheel extends beyond her club duties; she has served as the District 2 editor in the past and has been involved in editorial work throughout her life. This experience will undoubtedly be invaluable in her new role. District 2 is geographically diverse, encompassing 18 clubs spread from Campbeltown and Oban to Ayr and Newton Stewart, which will involve considerable travel on her visits throughout her year. As District 2 Chairman, Nancy has chosen CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland) as her charity for this year and feels it is important to support this vital Scottish organisation and has several personal connections with the charity. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
San Francisco Chronicle
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F.'s Fillmore Jazz Festival draws thousands after financial rescue, but uncertainty remains
Thousands carted around lawn chairs and squatted down on curbs for the first day of the Fillmore Jazz Festival on Saturday — a feat possible only due to an emergency funding rescue three months ago. The San Francisco festival, founded in 1986, was nearly canceled this year due to insurmountable operating costs. Each year it takes about $400,000 to put on the two-day free event, and by this April, the Fillmore Merchants Association was still in debt from last year, according to President Tim Omi. That month, the association announced it would be canceling this year's festival due to lack of funding. But just a few days later, Omi received a call from Avenue Greenlight, a nonprofit founded by crypto billionaire Chris Larsen that funds free community events in San Francisco. An undisclosed grant from Avenue Greenlight, plus support from District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill and District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, made it possible to hold this year's event, Omi said. The festival filled 10 blocks of Fillmore Street, from Jackson Street south to Eddy Street, with dozens of vendors and live music stretching from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. 'It's great, except that the street is angled, so it's a challenge dancing,' Hong said. The two experienced dancers, both in their 70s, researched each of the festivals' acts ahead of time to decide which would have the best music to dance to. Before Saturday, Hong had not heard about the festival's funding challenges. But he said he believes more money should be put into arts events, such as the festival, to bring people together at a time when many feel divided. Alma Love, 79, said she has come to the jazz festival for the past 20 years both to enjoy the music and to meet new people. Between acts, she browsed the variety of vendors, her attention catching on a booth selling purses shaped like clocks and jars of peanut butter. Love said she was glad the festival found a way to secure funding without charging attendees, keeping it accessible to all. The festival continues Sunday with Kenny Washington, Zepparella, the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble and the Caribbean All-Stars. Omi is planning for the festival to return in 2026, but it will require a renewed search for financial support because the funding from Avenue Greenlight was only a one-time grant. The merchants association is soliciting corporate sponsors for next year and collecting money through GoFundMe, he said. Omi is also hoping that the city will consider changing its fees and requirements to make it less burdensome for community groups to host free events in the city. For example, it cost the festival around $23,000 to comply with a city requirement to have separate cans for trash, recycling and compost — more than the fine it would pay if it just didn't comply, Omi said. There are also costs to reroute Muni bus routes around the street closures, he added. These events attract crowds that patronize both the booths set up along the street and the existing brick and mortar retail and restaurants. 'I think all street fairs in San Francisco, in order to continue, we need to come together as a city and identify that this adds value,' Omi said. 'We're bringing in close to 30,000 on the commercial corridor a day on a weekend that normally everyone leaves.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election Day in Georgia: See results for Public Service Commission primary races
Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols convincingly won his primary election Tuesday night, setting himself up to run against Democrat Alicia Johnson for another term. The Republican energy service regulator who presides over District 2 defeated Lee Muns, GOP challenger. With only two counties left to report Tuesday night, Echols held more than 76% of the vote. Johnson, who will be Echols' challenger in November, ran unopposed. While Echols won decisively, a three-candidate Democratic field in District 3 failed to yield a clear winner. Keisha Sean Waites, Peter Hubbard and Robert Jones all ran with the goal of securing the nomination and facing off against incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson in November. Waites led the field with more than 47% of the vote Tuesday night with 157 of 159 counties reporting, but with no candidate grabbing 50% of the ballots cast, the race appeared set for a runoff. Hubbard, who was second in the vote with 32%, also would make it into the runoff if results held. Daniel Blackman, a former EPA Region 4 administrator and previous PSC candidate, was also running in this district but was disqualified after a judge ruled he did not provide enough evidence that he lived in District 3 for at least 12 months, as required by commission rules. The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member panel of energy regulators which reviews proposals from electric companies such as Georgia Power. These proposals outline how much the company plans to charge customers for electricity and where the company will get its energy — whether from solar, natural gas, coal, batteries, hydropower, or other sources. Find results from the two contested PSC races below.
