Incumbent Undine George, Challenger Jacob Dascomb Address Key St. Augustine Beach Issues

St. Augustine Social asked both candidates to answer a few questions about the issues, priorities and vision—here’s what they had to say. Undine George is not only your current Commissioner, former Mayor and former Planning/Zoning Board Chair, she is also an attorney (estate planning and probate/trust administration), small business owner of Anastasia Law, P.L. (located in St. Augustine Beach), board member of the Council on Aging and Friends of the GTM NERR, with an artist background and creative mind for problem solving, who makes active contributions to various community groups to stay in touch with the needs of her neighbors, and who has the most experience of any candidate and a proven track record of genuinely caring for our community. Jacob Dascomb is a patent professional and 16-year federal civil servant raising three sons in St. Augustine Beach with his wife.

Why are you running for the St. Augustine Beach City Commission, and what are your top priorities if elected?

Undine: Our neighbors asked me to seek re-election for one more term as our City faces significant changes coming next year. I said yes because I love St. Augustine Beach; it’s the most desirable place to live and that didn’t happen by accident. I’m proud that my 16 years of hard work on the Commission helped shape the quality of life we now enjoy! If elected, my focus will be: protecting what residents value most (I stay engaged and connected with residents by actively participating in numerous community groups/nonprofits); keeping the City financially responsible; and moving smart redevelopment forward without losing our identity. 

Jacob: I’m running to give residents a real choice. There has only been one contested commission election in more than eight years, and Seat 3 has been held by the same person for about 15 years. My wife and I are raising our three sons here. I work in intellectual property (patents and inventions) with no ties to real estate, development, or tourism. My only interest is making this the best city for residents and for raising a family. My top priorities are preserving our beach-town character, controlling taxes and spending so families can afford to stay, and keeping St. Augustine Beach safe and family-friendly.

How should the city balance new development with preserving the community’s small-town, beach-town character?

Undine: St. Augustine Beach is only about 2.5 square miles and is largely built-out so, unlike the county, we have less threats of “big change” growth. Therefore, our focus is on polished redevelopment that fits the community’s small beach-town character, like the gorgeous renovation of the Publix plaza. My record reflects that commitment: helping add a 35-foot building height limit into the City Charter; stopping the waterslide project at Embassy Suites; and closing loopholes that would otherwise allow developers to avoid community standards. I will continue to enforce clear rules and advocate for thoughtful design, scale, and planning so we preserve our small beach-town character, our property values and our quality of life!

Jacob: The city should stop reckless development and protect what makes St. Augustine Beach special. Too much has been approved that never should have been, and a lot of people I talk to feel the commission is too influenced by developers. Growth that fits our scale and height limits can work; projects that turn us into another overbuilt tourist corridor should not. I will read the land-use rules carefully and put neighborhoods and long-term character ahead of short-term development pressure.

Beach erosion, flooding and hurricane resilience are always concerns. What specific projects or policies would you prioritize to protect the city’s coastline, infrastructure and neighborhoods?

Undine: Beach erosion, flooding, and hurricane resilience must stay at the top of our agenda. Dunes are our first line of defense against storm surge, and a strong storm water management system helps keep our streets and homes dry. I’ve supported beach sand renourishment and sea oats planting to stabilize dunes, and I’ve backed modernization of our stormwater management system. If re-elected, I will continue pushing for projects and policies that reduce flooding, strengthen coastal protection, and protect neighborhoods and critical infrastructure because resilience is not optional.

Jacob: Neighborhood flooding and stormwater are everyday problems here, not just hurricane headlines. I would prioritize practical drainage fixes where residents actually flood, finish the city’s resilience and adaptation work into real capital projects, and pursue grant funding before asking taxpayers for more. Beach renourishment and coastal protection need steady partnership with the county and state. I will also push for common-sense engineering (least intrusive solutions first) so we protect homes without wasteful or overly destructive projects.

What role should the city play in supporting local businesses while managing tourism and maintaining residents’ quality of life?

Undine: Local businesses are essential to our quality of life,and the City should support them in a way that benefits residents. At the same time, we must manage tourism thoughtfully. City ordinances should be crafted and enforced to maintain neighborhood livability: addressing parking, trash, noise, signage, and other impacts of commerce so business activity enhances the community rather than spilling into residential areas.

Jacob: Local businesses matter, but residents should not carry the full cost of tourism. Visitors use police, roads, and public spaces; they should pay their fair share. I support a healthy small-business climate while managing parking, traffic, and short-term rental impacts on neighborhoods. I will press the county to return more bed-tax revenue to cover services tourists consume, so quality of life for people who live here year-round comes first.

What do you believe are the biggest issues facing St. Augustine Beach and what will you do to address them?

Undine: The biggest issues facing St. Augustine Beach are maintaining public safety and flood prevention while managing tourism impacts, all while protecting a low tax base. We also face uncertainty tied to the City Manager’s retirement and possible loss of homestead revenues, which could threaten continuity of services and strain budgets. My experience will help ensure we use resources wisely, protect core services, and avoid disruption. 

Jacob: The biggest issues are taxes and spending that keep rising while our population stays roughly the same, development that chips away at our character, and leadership that too often rubber-stamps staff recommendations without enough scrutiny. I will do the homework. I will read the packets, follow the money, and ask hard questions. Every vote should answer one simple test: does this put residents first?

If the city has to make budget cuts, what are the first things you’ll eliminate and what programs are non-negotiable? 

Undine: If we must cut spending, public safety and basic trash services are non-negotiable; life and safety come first. Everything else must be examined carefully. A hiring freeze and cutting positions might make sense, but we should not compromise essential services. In 2012, I successfully fought the Commission’s decision to terminate most of our police department, and I would do it again because protecting residents is the foundation of good government. 

Jacob: If we have to cut, I start with unnecessary spending: consultant-heavy processes that do not deliver, low-priority programs that do not serve residents, and bureaucracy that has grown faster than the city itself. Non-negotiable are core public safety and system-wide stormwater and drainage infrastructure. That means citywide improvements a dedicated non-ad valorem stormwater assessment is supposed to fund, not just a block of houses here and there. Tax dollars and fee dollars should go where they clearly benefit the people who live here.