In the 460 years since it was established, the city of St. Augustine has had just a handful of Black lawmakers. Before Commissioner Cynthia Garris took office in 2022, there were just three: Commissioner and Vice Mayor Errol Jones (who served from 2002-’12), Commissioner and Vice Mayor Henry Twine (who served from 1983-’92) and Alderman John Papino (who served during Reconstruction before being shot in the face by a white marshal in 1902). Coupled with the city’s tortured civil rights protest era, during which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called the city the “most lawless” he’d encountered, the historic paucity of Black leadership makes the recent election of a Black woman mayor a momentous occasion in the Ancient City. We sit down with the mayor-elect to discuss its significance, as well as what mark she hopes to leave during her term in office.
Guest: Cynthia Garris, mayor-elect, city of St. Augustine
Gubernatorial candidate Dayna Marie Foster
Seventeen names will appear on primary ballots for governor this August, making the selection process as potentially confusing for voters as it is competitive for the contenders. As part of our ongoing election coverage, we sit down with political newcomer Dayna Marie Foster to talk about why she’s chosen to throw her hat into the ring and how she plans to distinguish herself in a broad and well-funded field. First Coast Connect will be covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your specific district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website Vote411.org. The deadline to register to vote in or change your party affiliation ahead of the August primaries is July 20.
Guest: Dayna Marie Foster, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
River City Chorus
For more than a decade, the River City Chorus has performed uplifting, spiritual and patriotic tunes at churches around the First Coast. During their summer performance series, they typically donate ticket proceeds to a local charity. We ask the chorus director about the charity selection process and what’s included in their summer songbook. River City Chorus has three upcoming performances: July 17 at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, July 18 at Arlington Presbyterian Church and July 19 at Riverside Park Methodist Church.
Guests:
- Dale Choate, director, River City Chorus
- Chelsea Weise, Young Lives director, River City Chorus
- Mark Scott, member, River City Chorus
Topics and guests subject to change.