The Beacon, a Clay News & Views Podcast

Season 2, Episode 10 features Ted Clark, who is on and will be re-elected to the Clay County Soil and Water Conservation District.  In our chat, Ted talks about why he believes the soil and water conservation district is important and what impacts it will have on the future of the county. 

For more info about the Soil and Water Conservation District, you can visit their website here: 

https://district.afcd.us/claysoilandwater/#:~:...

The summer of 2022 is heating up and so are the local races here in Clay County. Our latest episode brings you a conversation Leroy Edwards, who is running for the District 2 seat on the Clay County Board of County Commissioners.  In our conversation, you will hear Mr. Edwards discuss what motivates him to run, what he loves about living in Clay County, and what an ideal future for our area looks like. 

As always, this interview i...

Season two, episode eight of the Clay County Beacon podcast features a conversation with Connie Thomas. The former Mayor of Orange Park and long-time community advocate stops by to detail her latest effort to improve Clay County, the College Drive Initiative. 

The project seeks to beautify and improve the College Drive area using a variety of approaches. The College Drive Initiative is set to have its first community event on April...

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Kelley who is running for re-election to the Green cove Springs City Council. Steven describes how running the most famous business in town, Spring Park Coffee, lead to him getting involved in local politics. 

This interview is not an endorsement of any candidate. For more information on Steven you can visit his campaign Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/stevenkelleyforgcs

For more gr...

Episode 6 of Season 2 showcases Darren Stutts, a long-time business owner and resident of Green Cove Springs. Dareen is running for a seat on the Green Cove City Council. 

During our conversation, Darren outlines his motivations for jumping into local politics and his vision for an ideal future for the city of Green Cove Springs. 

This interview is not an endorsement of any candidate. For more information on Darren you can visit hi...

Alexandra Compere joins the podcast for episode 5 of season 2! In our conversation, Alexandra outlines her roots in the Clay County community and her motivation for running for the Board of County Commissioners! 

This interview is not an endorsement of any candidate. For more information on Alexandra, check out her campaign Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/Compere4Commissioner

For more great coverage of news, people, and ev...

This episode of the Clay County Beacon brings you, Ken Mudge. Ken is a long-time resident and business owner in Green Cove Springs who is running for a seat on the city council. 

In our conversation, Ken outlines how running for office fulfills a promise he made years ago and what he hopes to accomplish if elected. 

This interview is not an endorsement of any candidate. For more info on Ken Mudge and his campaign, please visit his ...

This episode of the Clay County Beacon podcast features a conversation with Michael Thomas Smith. Michael is running for Seat 4 on the Green Cove Springs City Council. 

Michael outlines what drives his desire to serve on the city council and what he hopes to accomplish if elected. 

This interview is not an endorsement of any candidate. For more information about John Hauber, please visit his campaign Facebook page at the link below...

Just in time for Christmas, episode 2 of the Clay County Beacon Podcast season 2 is here! 

In this episode we hear from Charles 'Chuck' Kirk, who recently filed for the District 1 seat of the Clay County School Board. Chuck, a former minor league baseball player, outlines his experiences with government schools and his motivations to seek public office. 

For more information about Charles Kirk, please visit his campaign info page o...

The Clay County Beacon Podcast is back for season two! 

The first episode of this newly minted season brings you a conversation with Derek Chipoletti. Derek is a parent, educator and athletics coach with a passion for the public school system and opportunities it provides students and the community. 

This interview is not an endorsement of any candidate. For more information on Derek Chipoletti, please visit the links...

Episode 35 of the Clay County Beacon features highlights the current push by progressive folks in Clay County to pressure the Clay County School Board. The progressives want the School Board to require all students and staff in county schools to wear a mask.  The hysteria surrounding the recent COVID surge in Clay County and beyond is setting up a potential battle over the rights of students in the county.  Clay County School Dis...

Episode 34 of the Clay County Beacon Podcast features a conversation with Luis Miguel. Luis is a native of St Johns County who has recently launched a bid to oust Marco Rubio from the US Congress. 

Luis has an extensive history working and covering the happenings in Washington. In this interview, he outlines his vision for serving in Congress and what he plans to accomplish if elected. 

Episode 33 of the Clay County Beacon podcast features David Theus, former Congressional Candidate and founder of PromoteClay.  David outlines what he learned during his run for Congress and how that experience overlaps with his passion for promoting local businesses via his successful PromoteClay, ClayEats, and EmployClay social media pages.  Mr. Theus also discusses his latest podcast project, Free Coffee PromoteClay:  https://...

Episode 32 of the Clay County Beacon Podcast brings Roland Mastandrea, a current member of the Orange Park town council. Roland joins the podcast to discuss his re-election campaign and his time on the town council. 

The conversation touched on many things, including: 

• Why Roland is running for re-election
• What motivates him to be part of the slog that is small-town government 
• What makes Orange Park a great place to live 
• How ...

Episode 31 of the Clay County Beacon podcast feature Steve Hart, a Midwest native turned long-time Keystone Heights Resident and candidate for City Council. 

In our discussion, Steve covers a wide range of topics about his candidacy including: 

• Smart Growth Management
• Reinvigorating the tourism industry in Keystone
• How to be business-friendly while keeping a sense of small-town community

This interview is not an endorseme...

Episode 30 of the Clay County Beacon podcast feature John Hauber, Orange Park native turned candidate for Orange Park Town Council. 

In our discussion, John covers a wide range of topics about his candidacy and the town of Orange Park including: 

• John Hauber's history of service to his community and country
• Hauber's ideas on how to smartly manage growth while maintaining a small-town feel
• Ways Orange Park can best serve all of ...

*Warning: This episode contains subjects of a mature nature that may not be suitable for younger listeners* 

Episode 29 of the Clay County Beacon podcast brings you a conversation with Zane Waits, founder of Wait's List. Via his organization Zane hunts and documents child predators, working with law enforcement to get them off of the street and behind bars. 

Waits recently made headlines in Clay County when he confronted a local po...

After a hiatus, the Clay County Beacon podcast is back! 

In Episode 28, David Coughlin returns to the show to discuss the debacle that surrounds red light cameras in the state of Florida. 

In this episode, we discuss the problematic nature of the use of red-light cameras, how they are used to fleece commuters and residents of Clay County, and the political obstacles that stand in the way of their removal. 

For more great coverage o...

Episode 27 of the Clay County Beacon podcast brings you a conversation with Ken Willey, a Libertarian candidate for District 18 of the Florida State Senate. 

This interview covers a wide range of topics, including: 

• What is a Libertarian, exactly? 
• How does Libertarian political philosophy differ Republicans and Democrats
• Ken's legislative priorities 
• The proper role of government
• Gun laws as infringements on individual liberty...