The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 19 elected Krista Joseph, District 4, as chair, and Clay Murphy, District 3, as vice chair.
Both Republican commissioners will serve one-year terms.
“I’m going to be listening, and I would like to have a positive golden era of St. Johns County for this next year,” Joseph said in a news release.
The vote was 3-to-2, with Commissioners Joseph, Murphy and Ann Taylor voting yes and Commissioners Sara Arnold and Christian Whitehurst voting no.
Arnold is the immediate past chair. Roy Alaimo, who did not get re-elected Aug. 20 to the commission, was vice chair.
According to the county’s website, Joseph has lived in Florida since 2007, including 10 years as a county resident. Her first job in the public service sector was a governor-appointed position on the Citrus County Hospital Board; she was confirmed by the Senate.
She is a mother of five, including two U.S. Navy SEALs.
A freshman Commissioner, Murphy has lived in the county for more than 33 years. He grew up in Palatka and served as a Florida State Trooper for 26 years. After retirement he became an owner and operator of a Sonny’s BBQ in St. Augustine.
He is a board member of nonprofit Alpha Omega Miracle Homer, a center for newly homeless women, and is a Flagler College Saints athletic sponsor and board member.