Clay Today staff
ORANGE PARK – Former Town Mayor William Eugene Nix won’t face charges after he was caught on video surveillance stealing campaign for incumbent Town Council candidate Doug Benefield and replacing them with signs supporting his challenger, Chuck Lindholm.
According to the Orange Park Police Department, the incident happened at a wedding venue, Azalea Manor.
Benefield called the police department on March 25 to report the swap. He said he called Lindholm and was told Eugene Nix was responsible for the theft.
Information captured by body-worn cameras showed Nix telling an officer he didn’t take the sign. But when confronted with the video from a home across the street from Azalea Manor, Nix finally admitted adding a sign for Lindholm and taking Benefield’s.
After denying he took the sign, a second OPPD officer said:
“We’re not here on a fact-finding mission. What I’m saying: we already know what happened. Just, do you have the sign with you?”
Nix said he threw away with his trash,
Benefield told OPPD he won’t press charges against Nix, who left the council in 2018.
Benefield and Lindholm are in a contemptuous battle for Seat 1. That election will be settled with Municipal Super Tuesday on April 14. Registered voters who live within the town limits can vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Incumbent Ed Gaw is being challenged by Thomas Centracchio for Seat 1 in Green Cove Springs. Residents there can vote to settle that contest, as well as three charter amendments on Tuesday at City Hall.