St. Johns County Republican Party Chairman Denver Cook is urging residents and candidates to combat rising vitriol in political discourse, cautioning that escalating hostility could have deadly consequences.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, Cook reflected on his recent political efforts in New Jersey, where he and other volunteers contacted tens of thousands of voters ahead of this week’s elections.
He cited reports of bomb threats at several New Jersey election sites and recent arrests in St. Johns County involving threats against local officials as evidence of rising tensions.
“This needs to stop,” Cook said. “We have seen threats of harm, both during elections and after them and for public officials, and it is going to cost someone their lives in our community, and it’s inappropriate, and it’s happening across our country.”
Cook emphasized that policy disagreements are a element of democracy but urged voters and political candidates to reject personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric.
He called on the community to “make an oath” to disagree respectfully and to speak up when they witness inappropriate behavior, regardless of political affiliation.
The warning comes amid a recent arrest highlighting the concerns Cook described.
A 44-year-old St. Augustine man, Nathan James Keyes, was charged with corruption by threat against a public servant after authorities say he posted a violent image on social media targeting Commissioners Ann Taylor and Krista Joseph.
The image depicted a sword and an axe striking the commissioners, along with threatening text, and was linked to Keyes through digital tracking.
A St. Augustine woman was also arrested for making a social media threat to shoot up a local Charlie Kirk memorial.
“If you’re in a political race and someone’s attacking your opponent in a way that’s inappropriate, you should be calling it out,” he said. “The behavior needs to stop.”
Cook noted that St. Johns County will have elections next year, heightening the issue’s urgency.
