Candidate for Board of County Commission, District 4: Cheryl Plaugher
The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce recently asked each candidate running for the Board of County Commission to answer a candidate questionnaire that we could share with members and the community. Answers to each question have been copied and pasted exactly as they were submitted.
For additional information or questions, please contact the Chamber at (904) 261-3248
2026 Board of County Commission Candidate Forum
EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP
1. Why are you seeking election to the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners?
I decided to run because I became frustrated with the direction of our local government and realized that if I wanted to see change, I needed to be willing to step forward and be part of it. Too many residents feel their voices are not being heard, particularly on issues that directly afect their neighborhoods, taxes, and quality of life.
I believe county government should be transparent, fiscally responsible, and focused on serving the people, not special interests. My goal is to restore public trust by listening to residents, protecting taxpayers, and ensuring every major decision is made with the long-term interests of Nassau County in mind.
2. What experiences best prepare you to serve the residents and businesses of Nassau County?
My professional background is in the private sector, where success depends on strategic planning, accountability, budgeting, and measuring results. I also hold an economics degree. I have learned how to analyze complex information, solve problems, and make decisions based on facts rather than politics.
As the wife of a law enforcement officer for more than 20 years, I also understand public service, sacrifice, and the importance of supporting first responders. Those experiences have shaped my belief that government should operate efficiently, communicate openly, and remember that it exists to serve the people.
3. What do you believe are the three most important issues facing Nassau County today?
- Responsible growth that ensures growth pays for growth rather than shifting infrastructure costs onto existing taxpayers.
- Fiscal responsibility and transparency, including an independent third-party analysis of the county budget before asking residents to pay higher taxes or fees.
- Protecting the character, environment, and quality of life that make Nassau County a desirable place to live while maintaining excellent public safety and essential services.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS
4. How should Nassau County balance economic growth with preserving the character of its communities?
Economic growth should be encouraged when it benefits existing residents and respects the communities where it occurs. Development should be compatible with surrounding land uses, supported by adequate infrastructure, and designed so taxpayers are not left paying for roads, utilities, schools, or emergency services needed to support new projects.
We should prioritize businesses that complement Nassau County’s strengths while preserving our rural communities, natural resources, and small-town character.
5. What policies would you support to strengthen small businesses, attract quality employers, and create high-paying jobs?
Small businesses are the backbone of Nassau County’s economy and should receive the same attention often given to large corporations. I support reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, improving permitting eficiency, investing in transportation infrastructure, and creating a predictable regulatory environment that allows local businesses to grow and succeed.
Nassau County is primarily a residential community, which naturally presents challenges when competing with larger metropolitan areas for major corporate headquarters and large-scale employers. Rather than pursuing industries that would fundamentally change the character of our county, I believe we should focus on recruiting employers that align with our strengths.
One area with tremendous opportunity is healthcare. North Florida and South Georgia continue to experience population growth, and there is an increasing need for additional hospitals, specialty medical facilities, and healthcare providers. Recruiting investment in the medical industry would create high-paying professional jobs, expand access to healthcare for our residents, and support economic growth in a way that is compatible with the communities we have worked so hard to build.
Economic development should strengthen Nassau County’s existing economy, improve our quality of life, and create opportunities for residents without placing unnecessary burdens on our infrastructure or natural resources.
6. How should the County prioritize investments in roads, utilities, broadband, and other infrastructure needed to support continued growth?
Infrastructure should be planned before growth, not after. New development should contribute its fair share toward the infrastructure it requires. Existing taxpayers should not subsidize private development. That principle should guide every major development decision.
The County should use long-range planning, independent financial analysis, and careful capital improvement planning to ensure investments are made where they provide the greatest long-term benefit.
7. In 2022, nearly 68% of Nassau County voters approved up to $30 million in bonds for the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program. What role do you believe the CLAM Program should play in Nassau County's future, and how would you balance land conservation, private property rights, economic development, and the needs of the business community?
The CLAM Program is an important tool for preserving environmentally sensitive lands and protecting the natural resources that make Nassau County unique. At the same time, private property rights must always be respected.
The County can support conservation while allowing responsible economic development by using thoughtful planning, voluntary conservation strategies, and transparent decision-making that balances environmental stewardship with economic opportunity.
8. Nassau County recently adopted a temporary moratorium on data center development and established a fact-finding process to evaluate the potential community impacts of these facilities. What factors should guide the County’s final policy on data centers, and how would you balance potential investment and tax revenue with demands on utilities, neighboring properties, and the needs of existing businesses and residents?
Every proposed industry should be evaluated based on whether it is a good long-term fit for Nassau County. In the case of hyper-scale data centers, the County should carefully evaluate impacts on water resources, electrical demand, emergency services, transportation infrastructure, surrounding property owners, and long-term land use compatibility.
Economic development should improve our community, not create costs or risks that outweigh its benefits. My priority is ensuring any project supports responsible growth, protects existing residents and businesses, and does not shift infrastructure or environmental costs onto taxpayers.
I have spent considerable time researching communities across the country that have allowed hyper-scale data center development. While many projects are promoted based on the promise of investment and tax revenue, I have yet to see a community point to a hyper-scale data center as having been a net positive for residents when the long-term impacts are considered. That experience has reinforced my belief that Nassau County should be extremely cautious before allowing this type of development.
HOUSING & WORKFORCE
9. Workforce housing continues to be one of Nassau County's greatest challenges. What role should County government play in expanding housing opportunities while maintaining responsible growth?
County government should encourage attainable housing while ensuring responsible growth. One proposal I support is exploring ways to reduce or waive impact fees for families building a primary residence on family-owned land without shifting those costs onto existing taxpayers.
10. How can the County better support workforce development and strengthen partnerships with schools, colleges, and employers?
I think the county does as good as a job as they can for a county our size. The County should work closely with Nassau County schools, Colleges, local employers, apprenticeship programs, and workforce organizations to prepare residents for careers in skilled trades, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and public safety.
GOVERNMENT & LEADERSHIP
11. How will you ensure transparency and public trust in County government?
I believe people deserve to understand how and why decisions are made. I will fully comply with Florida’s Sunshine Law, communicate major issues before votes occur, encourage public participation, and support independent reviews of county spending. Residents deserve to understand how decisions are made and how their tax dollars are being spent before, not after, those decisions are finalized.
12. Describe your leadership style and how you approach differing viewpoints when making decisions.
I believe in servant leadership. I listen first, ask questions, evaluate the facts, and respect differing opinions. The people who live closest to an issue often have valuable knowledge that government should not ignore.
Even when opinions differ, I believe respectful dialogue leads to better decisions than political division.
13. What role should regional partnerships play in addressing countywide challenges?
Regional partnerships are essential because transportation, emergency services, workforce development, environmental protection, and economic development often extend beyond county boundaries.
Nassau County should collaborate with neighboring counties, municipalities, state agencies, educational institutions, and the private sector while ensuring local priorities remain the driving force behind every partnership.
14. Florida voters will consider significant property-tax reform on the November ballot that could provide additional relief to homesteaded property owners while reducing revenue available to counties and municipalities. Do you support the proposed reform, how do you believe it would affect homeowners, businesses, renters, and local government services, and what steps should Nassau County take to prepare while continuing to fund public safety, infrastructure, conservation, and other essential services?
If local governments anticipate reduced revenue, the first response should be improving efficiency, not automatically asking taxpayers to pay more. Government should always look inward before asking taxpayers to contribute more. I have committed to introducing a motion for a comprehensive independent budget analysis so we can identify waste, duplication, and opportunities for savings before considering any future tax or fee increases.
Public safety and essential services should always remain priorities, but responsible budgeting and accountability can help us continue providing those services efficiently.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE & PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
15. Have you ever received, or do you currently receive, compensation, advertising revenue, sponsorship income, monetization revenue, consulting fees, in-kind benefits, or any other thing of value connected to online content in which you discuss local government issues, public policy matters, elected officials, candidates, or campaigns? If yes, please describe the source and nature of the compensation, the issue or candidate involved, and whether the financial relationship was publicly disclosed.
No
CLOSING
16. What specific accomplishment would you hope to achieve during your first term?
My first priority will be introducing a motion for a comprehensive independent third-party analysis of Nassau County’s budget. Residents deserve a complete understanding of how their tax dollars are being spent before government considers asking them to contribute more.
This will also give all of the commissioners a better understanding of whether the current tax base is being taxed appropriately. That information will be critical when it comes time to set future millage rates, ensuring those decisions are based on facts not assumptions.
I would also like to strengthen transparency, improve public engagement, and ensure growth truly pays for growth. Success isn't just completing a budget review. It's helping residents feel confident that their county government is making thoughtful decisions, spending taxpayer dollars wisely, and listening before it acts.
17. Is there anything else you would like Nassau County's business community to know?
A healthy business community and a high quality of life go hand in hand.
I support responsible economic growth, fiscal accountability, and a predictable regulatory environment that treats businesses fairly while protecting taxpayers and existing neighborhoods.
My decisions will be guided by communication with the people doing the work, transparency, data, and what is in the long-term best interest of the people and businesses that call Nassau County home.