- December 16, 2025
Four Flagler Beach candidates took the stage Jan. 19, to discuss the biggest issues facing the beach.
**EDITOR'S NOTE: The pictures of Sandra Mason and Joy McGrew were swapped on Page 10A in the Jan. 26 print edition of the Palm Coast Observer. We regret the error. They are correctly identified with their pictures here, online.**
Crowds gathered in the Disabled American Veterans Hall Thursday, Jan. 19, for a Flagler Beach political-candidate forum, hosted by the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates.
With WNZF’s David Ayers emceeing the event, four candidates — two for mayor and two for City Commission — were given time to respond to 19 resident-submitted questions.
On some issues, such as whether Flagler Beach’s mayor should be given a vote on the commission as well as veto power, or whether a marina would be good for the city, the panel was unanimous: no, and yes, respectively. But not all questions were so uniform.
Below is a sampling of questions and answers from the night, in no particular order.
Regarding beach erosion, what nourishment option do you prefer?
Joy McGrew (City Commission)
“I do not think there’s a simple solution … Do you want to pay more in taxes to fund experimental innovation processes?” she said, adding that she was open to suggestions.
Sandra Mason (City Commission)
“(The Army Corps study) is the first step. It possibly has to be followed by (a beach management plan). …
I think it will require building a coalition between state and private funding sources,” she said, adding that she’s “still investigating” which individual plan is best.
What role should the city play in beautifying the beach?
Linda Provencher (mayor)
“I would like to see more community involvement, beach cleanup ... more than just once a year.”
J. NeJame (mayor)
“The beach is the responsibility of a lot of our citizens.”
Bonfires during turtle nesting season: yes or no?
Sandra Mason
“It seems to me a little bit hard to explain to require lighting to be dimmed … yet we turn around and say a fire is OK. ... (We) should address this by following federal, state and our own ordinances.”
Joy McGrew
“I think they should be allowed,” she said, adding that permits, with deposits, should be required.
How would you make empty storefronts more appealing?
J. NeJame
“By filling them,” he said, adding that you attract business by attracting residents. “We’ve got to promote our city. Promote, promote, promote.”
Linda Provencher
“As people come into our area … they’ll see what we have a need for and open some of those stores.”
How can we improve the city’s appearance, and what role should the city play in maintaining abandoned/foreclosed homes?
Joy McGrew
“I’d like to see our streets a little bit cleaner … (but) we’re stretched real thin,” she said. As for empty homes: “I think we do have to step in,” she said, by writing letters to property owners.
Sandra Mason
“Funding for that kind of thing is not what it used to be,” she said.
Should the city consolidate fire/police with the county?
Linda Provencher
“As soon as we begin to give up our city services, we begin to give up a part of what Flagler Beach is.”
J. NeJame
“I don’t have an opinion on that, because I don’t have all the stats.”
Should the city allow free-standing bars and saloons?
Linda Provencher
“Before we start changing ordinances, we need to have a lot more discussion over this. … Once you open up those floodgates, how you’re going to regulate it is going to be hard. … Do we want to be Daytona Beach?”
J. NeJame
“I am a proponent of free business enterprise, but we have a duty to our city to not go overboard.”
Would you add a budget item to expand city marketing?
Joy McGrew
“I would support marketing. … Then again, the money to make that happen comes from you as taxpayers. … The feedback is what I need to hear.”
Sandra Mason
“The one thing we can do,” she said, is “improve the website”
What would be your top priority if elected?
Joy McGrew
“I feel like we have kind of come to a place where we are not moving forward. … Keep making progress.”
Sandra Mason
“Use the city’s vision statement for everything we build on in the future. … Move the beach and A1A project further along. … Make sure we keep the very core of what this city is about.”
Linda Provencher
“Move forward with the beach project. … Also, finish the downtown area. … (And) instead of waiting for businesses to come to us, go to the businesses and ask, ‘What can we do for you?’”
J. NeJame
“Set up a website for citizens who can’t make all the meetings,” he said, adding that he’d take comments from the site and bring them before the commission.
Early voting for the Flagler Beach elections runs through Jan. 28, at the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections office. Election day is Jan. 31.
ON THE AIR
The candidates will also be featured on WNZF’s Free for All Friday 9 a.m. Jan. 27, FM 106.3/ AM 1550.
J. NEJAME
Eight-year city resident
Occupation: Retired Marine / yacht broker
Experience: Former board member for the Flagler Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Flagler Beach Economic Development Task Force; various federal positions.
Why I am running: “I want the citizens of Flagler Beach to be heard and respected, and to reduce cronyism and special interests.”
LINDA PROVENCHER
24-year city resident
Occupation: Golden Lion Café assistant manager
Experience: Former two-term Flagler Beach commissioner
Why I’m running: “I feel becoming mayor would be the next step in continuing my service to the city. I would like the opportunity to represent the residents of our city and be a voice in the community for them.”
SANDRA MASON
Eight-year city resident
Occupation: Retired museum director/educator
Experience: Service on the Flagler County Contractor Review Board
Why I am running: “I would use my skills to preserve our beautiful environment and enhance our quality of life.”
JOY MCGREW
28-year city resident
Occupation: Semi-retired pharmacy technician; former entrepreneur
Experience: City Commissioner from 2006 to 2010
Why I’m running: “I want to be a part of where Flagler Beach is going in the future; therefore, I choose to be involved in the process which makes those decisions.
