CLAY COUNTY – Voters in Green Cove Springs made it clear they thought more about spending than possible infrastructure issues by voting Tom Centracchio into Ed Gaw’s Seat 1 spot on the City Council during the Municipal Super Tuesday election.

In Orange Park, voters returned Doug Benefield to Seat 1 in a heated contest against Chuck Lindholm by 42 votes.

The Green Cove Springs contest wasn’t close. Centracchio won, 559-332. Gaw pushed for updating older equipment at the city’s electrical department, while Centracchio said he wanted to be a “steward” of the residents' money.

Voters also voted on three charter amendments that may have a significant impact on the search for a new city manager.

They approved a measure to allow a notary to swear in a city council member if justice member isn’t available, but they denied an amendment to allow the city council to pass a waiver for the city manager to live outside the city’s utility border or the city attorney to live or maintain an office within the city limit.

The vote against the city manager was 578-332, while the vote against the city attorney was 506-406.

Mike Null was the assistant city manager for the past 11 years before being selected as the interim city manager in November following the retirement of Steve Kennedy, who strongly endorsed Null as his replacement.

Null, however, lives just outside the city’s utility border.

City Attorney Jim Arnold has been in his post since 1977.

Clay Today will have a follow up on the election results.