Ed Slavin, a 69-year-old retiree from St. Augustine, is challenging incumbent Tim Burton for Seat 2 on the Anastasia Mosquito Control District board. The nonpartisan race appears on the Nov. 3 general election ballot alongside candidates Catherine Brandhorst and Sandra Fein, according to the News4JAX voter's guide.

Slavin says he is running to fight corruption, protect public health and the environment, and save taxpayer dollars, according to his candidate responses.

Candidate information

  • Name: Ed Slavin
  • Age: 69
  • Residence: St. Augustine
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Occupation: Retired
  • Education: Bachelor of science in foreign service, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; juris doctor, Memphis State University Law School (now University of Memphis)
  • Previous candidacy: Slavin ran for the same seat in the Nov. 8, 2022, general election, finishing fourth out of four candidates with 15,739 votes (14.07%), according to St. Johns County official results. Martha Gleason won that race with 46,730 votes (41.79%).
  • Campaign account: Slavin declared he would not open a campaign account for the 2026 race, according to his candidate filing with the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections.

Experience and public service

Slavin says he has lived in St. Johns County since November 1999. Before moving to Florida, he says he held several positions in Washington, D.C., according to a candidate questionnaire response he posted on his blog in October 2024. Slavin says he served as an intern or junior staffer in the offices of Senators Ted Kennedy, Gary Hart and Jim Sasser. He says he also worked as a law clerk at the U.S. Department of Labor, first in the Office of Chief Administrative Law Judge under Judge Nahum Litt, then in the Office of Administrative Law Judge under Judge Charles Rippey.

Slavin says he worked as editor of the Appalachian Observer in Clinton, Tennessee.

He says he has been investigating, reporting on and exposing corruption since 1978, according to a post on his blog.

On the issues

Government accountability and scientific integrity: Slavin says his top priorities include fighting corruption, advancing research and education while protecting scientific integrity and free speech, safeguarding the district's independence as a scientific and technical organization, and protecting public health, the environment and public funds, according to his News4JAX candidate response.

Overdevelopment, flooding and mosquito-borne disease: Slavin identifies overdevelopment, flooding and climate change as the biggest issue facing the district, according to a candidate questionnaire response he posted on his blog in October 2024. He says the University of Florida's Institute on Emerging Pathogens identifies development as one of three co-factors in the growth of mosquito-borne diseases in Florida. He says mosquito control issues must be considered in St. Johns County's comprehensive plan and development approvals.

Government spending and fiscal accountability: Slavin says he wants to help save taxpayer dollars and supports wiser spending. He says he opposes wasteful expenditures, according to a post on his blog.

The Ponte Vedra Ledger did not receive a questionnaire response from Slavin. This profile is based on public filings, election data and the candidate's published statements.

Election day is Nov. 3. St. Johns County early voting details are available here.