Tom Rivers seeks port district board Group 5 seat

Incumbent commissioner Tom Rivers is running for the Group 5 seat on the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District Board. Rivers faces challenger Clay M. Hansen in the nonpartisan race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the News4JAX voter's guide.

Rivers is the incumbent.

He is certified for the ballot and is listed on the port authority's current board page as a sitting commissioner. Rivers was first elected to the port commission in November 2004, when he won the Group 2 seat, according to Historic City News. He is now seeking the Group 5 seat.

Candidate information

Office sought: St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District Board, Group 5
Party: Nonpartisan
Education: bachelor of fine arts, University of Florida
Foreign exchange hosting: Has hosted foreign exchange students from South American and European countries for 18 years, according to the port authority website
Church role: Music director and organist at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Elkton, according to the port authority website
Fraternal membership: Third-degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, according to Historic City News

Experience and public service

Rivers began his career as a high school teacher in public schools in Clay and St. Johns counties from 1969 to 1978, according to Historic City News. He then moved into real estate, working as a broker associate at Florida Homes Realty and Mortgage since 1978, according to the port authority website.

He also served as president of the St. Johns County Multiple Listing Service, a role that placed him at the center of the local real estate industry, according to the port authority website.

Beyond the port commission, Rivers has held several other elected and appointed positions in St. Johns County:

St. Johns County School Board member (1980–1984), serving as school board chairman in 1983 and 1984
Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council representative (1995, 2001)
St. Johns County Property Adjustment Board member
State committeeman, Republican Party of Florida, St. Johns County
Treasurer, Greater St. Augustine Republican Club