Scott Hanna
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
I’m Scott Hanna. I live with my beautiful wife Kari of 20 years. I have a son, Xavier who is 15, and a daughter, Amaya who just began her first semester at Florida State University on a scholarship.
How long have you lived in Nassau County?
I first made Nassau County my home in 2012
What is your career?
I am a small business owner of SOS Electric. I’m an electrician by trade and have done this for decades. I love this because being a small business owner gives me a unique aspect when looking at situations that arise at the Port.
Have you ran for/held office before?
I have one once for the Port.
What made you want to run for OHPA?
I wanted an opportunity to give back to the community and become involved. Politics has never been a career aspiration of mine and still isn’t. I do it because I enjoy the opportunity to be involved in the future of my community,
What work/life experience could be applied to OHPA?
As a tradesman, I believe I have an understanding of the needs of working-class Port employees and staff. I also believe that being a small business owner makes you view things from a different perspective than those who don’t have that experience.
What could be done to attract more business to the port?
I think attracting new business to the Port involves working to repair the relationship with the City. When people see perpetual disagreements between the Port and the City of certain commissioners, it is bad for the County, bad for the City’s reputation, and bad for the Port. I’d like to see the City and the Port fix that.
Do you feel the recent sale of Worldwide Terminals is a positive move for the port? Do you think it will lead to better communication and transparency?
The sale of Worldwide Terminals has an opportunity to be good for the Port. The organization that purchased the Port I believe has the financial ability to be creative with the Port in a way that the vanilla team couldn’t. It is my hope that the City approaches them with a willing mind and is welcoming. If that is done, maybe there is an opportunity for the Port Operator and the City to work together in a more amicable fashion.
What do you think could be done to improve OHPA’s relationship with the City of Fernandina Beach?
I think that is won’t improve until certain members of the City Commission tone down their adversarial rhetoric, and until the community feels like the Port Commissioners are hearing their concerns. At the end of the day, while the local bill was going through the legislature, it was only when cooler heads prevailed that the City and the Authority were able to make some progress. I’m hopeful in the next four years that the rhetoric can slow down and well-intentioned dialogue can evolve.
Do you think the port should keep development to its current footprint in the City of Fernandina Beach?
Yes. I think the Port Authority has many other opportunities to expand revenue outside of the seaport.
What plans, if any, should be made for off-port facilities?
The Port should begin investment in warehouse space located in other parts of the county. This would help alleviate the storage footprint in the City. I also would like to see the new operator consider revisiting the conversation regarding rail transport to ease truck traffic.
Do you believe OHPA commissioners are overpaid, as they used the Authority’s reserve fund to give themselves a raises?
Yes. I believe OHPA board members are overpaid, and I have voted repeatedly AGAINST pay increases. If given the opportunity to vote on this again, I will vote again to lower commission salaries.