The St. Augustine Airport, which is overseen by the St. Johns County Airport Authority. | St. Augustine Airport
Published on August 8, 2025 at 4:20 pm
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The three members of the St. Johns County Airport Authority Board who were criminally indicted on charges of violating Florida’s privacy laws have all stepped down from their posts to have their charges dropped.
Reba Ludlow, Leonard Tucker and Dennis Clarke all accepted deferred prosecution agreements from the State Attorney’s Office to step down and pay a $120 fine. In exchange, the state dropped the criminal charges against them.
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Ludlow, Tucker and Clarke were all indicted on misdemeanor charges of violating Florida’s Sunshine Law. The law governs when and where elected officials can discuss topics that are meant to be handled in official, public proceedings. Current and former St. Augustine Airport staff accused the elected officials of holding private meetings where they discussed policies they later voted on.
In addition to the misdemeanor charge, Tucker received a felony charge of witness tampering after he was accused of trying to force the airport’s interim executive director, Courtney Pittman, to not comply with state investigators.
Neither Tucker nor Clarke could be reached for comment.
Ludlow maintains that conversations with fellow elected officials are not, on their own, Sunshine Law violations. In response to Jacksonville Today, she said she is saddened to be stepping down from her post.
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In her formal resignation letter, Ludlow said the Airport Authority has what she called an “increasingly toxic atmosphere surrounding operations.”
She blames one particular tenant, who she says has targeted the Airport Authority and her personally.
“Rather than seek resolution or collaboration,” Ludlow wrote, “this individual has chosen to fuel division and contention, ultimately undermining the work and morale of those committed to improving and protecting this vital community asset.”
Ludlow’s letter does not mention the deferred prosecution agreement that she signed with the State Attorney’s Office. Ludlow also did not confirm the identity of the individual whom she claims has targeted her.
It’s up to Gov. Ron DeSantis to select individuals to fill the newly vacant seats on the Airport Authority Board.
