Jason France is a Republican candidate for the Flagler County Commission in District 3. He faces Dave Sullivan in the Aug. 30 Republican primary. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Barbara Revels, who faces no primary opposition, in November. France filed to run for the county commission within minutes of the deadline on June 24.
He has not conducted a very visible campaign. His campaign’s Facebook page has not been updated since a Happy July 4 wish. The post before that dates back to March 23. In fact, the only recent activity there was a plea from fellow-Republicans: “Mr. France,” someone from the Republican Party headquarters wrote him on July 30, “your campaign literature and signs are not in our Victory Headquarters. You are missing the opportunity to meet 100’s of voters each week.”
Three seats are up on the commission in this election cycle, and a fourth seat, that of the late Frank Meeker, will be filled by governor appointment. That means that potentially, all but one seat on the commission–the one currently held by Nate McLaughlin–could turn over.
This is partisan election. That means only registered Republican voters in Flagler County, regardless of address or district, may cast a ballot in the Aug. 30 primary. The two incumbent Democrats have drawn no opponents in their primaries, so they do not appear on the primary ballot.
Flagler County Commission members serve four years. They’re paid $50,900 a year.
FlaglerLive submitted identical questions to all candidates, with the understanding that additional questions might be tailored to candidates individually and some follow-up questions may be asked, with all exchanges on the record. The Live Interview’s aim is to elicit as much candor and transparency as possible. We have asked candidates to refrain from making campaign speeches or make lists of accomplishments. We have also asked candidates to reasonably document any claim or accusation. Undocumented claims are edited out. Answers are also edited for length, redundancy, relevance and, where possible, accuracy. If a candidate does not answer a question or appears to be evading a question, that’s noted.
But it’s ultimately up to the reader to judge the quality and sincerity of a candidate’s answers.
The Questions in Summary: Quick Links
- Basics
- Qualifications
- Character
- Critical issues
- Good and bad of county government
- EMS and fire services
- Emergency communications
- County v. Palm Coast
- Civil citations
- Economic development
- Major projects
- Craig Coffey
- Incumbency v. change
- Models
- Background check
- Seriousness
Place and Date of Birth: February 23, 1983.
Current job: Not disclosed.
Party Affiliation: Republican
Net Worth: (See the financial disclosure): Not disclosed.
Resume: Not disclosed.
Website: Not disclosed.
1. What qualifies you to be a county commissioner?
Jason France did not answer the question.
2. Tell us who you are as a person—what human qualities and shortcomings you’ll bring to the board, what your temperament is like: what would your enemies say is your best quality, and what would your friends say is your worst fault? Give is real-life examples to illustrate your answer.
Jason France did not answer the question.
3. What are the three most critical issues facing the county, and where do you stand on each?
Jason France did not answer the question.
4. What do you think county government is doing well, and how will you build on that? What do you think county government is doing poorly, and what will you do to improve matters?
Jason France did not answer the question.
5. What would you change about the EMS, or ambulance, system in the county and in Palm Coast, if anything? Where do you stand on consolidation of fire services with cities, understanding that cities would be resistant: would consolidation save money? To what extent do you think turf and pride as opposed to bottom lines prevent consolidation?
Jason France did not answer the question.
6. Explain where we are as a county with our 800 mhz emergency communications system and evaluate the county’s approach in updating the system, explaining where you see flaws or strengths in that approach. Palm Coast and the sheriff consider the county’s approach to be laggard. Do you agree?
Jason France did not answer the question.
7. Palm Coast and the county have a sniping, at times competitive, at times antagonistic relationship, as if between fiefs. To what extent are the two elected bodies responsible? To what extent are the two government’s managers responsible? How will you help foster a less medieval relationship?
Jason France did not answer the question.
8. Where do you stand on a civil citation program for first-time offenders caught with small amounts of pot, and other minor crimes?
Jason France did not answer the question.
9. Between March 2010 and March 2016, Flagler County residents holding jobs increased by 52 percent (or by 15,000). Only a few dozen of those jobs can be attributed to the county’s $500,000-a-year economic development department, keeping in mind that the department’s most touted job coup—the 300-job promise of Aveo Engineering at the airport—was a bust. Is that department still necessary? Can you point to substantial reasons and examples that make its expense worth the price to taxpayers?
Jason France did not answer the question.
10. The past four years were dominated by major capital projects: a new sheriff’s operations center, an expanded jail, the taxpayer-subsidized transformation of the old courthouse into a parochial school, and the acquisition of the Plantation bay utility. What, on your watch, will be the next batch of major projects? Rate, in order of importance, the following projects: a senior center, a new library, a west-side fire station.
Jason France did not answer the question.
11. Evaluate the performance of County Administrator Craig Coffee, listing strengths, weaknesses and areas of concern.
Jason France did not answer the question.
12. In this election, all three county commissioners are facing challengers. If you’re one of those challengers, and understanding there is inherent value in the experience of an incumbent and the institutional continuity, history and understanding that the incumbent represents, what are three reasons that justify removing him or her? If you are the incumbent, what are three reasons that justify keeping you beyond institutional advantages?
Jason France did not answer the question.
13. Who, on the current commission, would you most closely model yourself after and why? If you’re an incumbent, please choose from the remaining four commissioners.
Jason France did not answer the question.
14. Have you ever been charged with a felony or a misdemeanor anywhere in Flagler, Florida or the United States (other than a speeding ticket), or faced a civil action other than a divorce, but including bankruptcies? If so, please explain, including cases where charges did not lead to conviction.
Jason France did not answer the question.
15. Question customized for Jason France: Who encouraged you to run? With even your fellow-Republicans pleading with you to make your campaign more visible, why should voters take your campaign seriously?
Jason France did not answer the question.
Wishful Thinking says
What an immature waste of time for everyone…….Insult to us voters – thank you Flaglerlive for exposing these ‘children’
Flatsflyer says
Donald Trump Junior, can’t or won’t answer any question.
Anonymous says
Smart man to avoid the spinning machine of the media.