Green Cove Candidate's Brother Tries To Have Him Arrested Here
The Bad, the Mad and the Ugly of the City Council Race
Mr. Dan didn’t come to town for a beer and a campaign pep talk. He came to have his brother arrested.
Just when folks figured the Gaw vs. Centracchio race for the Green Cove Springs City Council Seat-1 couldn’t get any messier—it did.
The Thou Shalt Nots just keep piling up as neighbors are fussing with neighbors, friends are fussing with friends and tall tales and bald-faced lies—dressed up like scripture—are slapped across Facebook like wallpaper.
Clay News & Views doesn’t have a dog in the fight, a bone to pick or rings to kiss. So, we decided we’d use real documents and in person interviews to clear up a few things even though it’s going to make some folks real uncomfortable—even us.
We’ll stick to just the latest blowups—because at this point chronicling everything that has happened in this race might require several large volumes and a lot of Bible verses.
The Bad
Mr. Dan Gaw came to GCS from Memphis, Tennessee late last month. He’s the brother of Mr. Ed Gaw, sitting council member running for reelection.
The facts about Mr. Dan’s visit got a little lost as conjecture on Facebook and the rumor mill has been full of creative interpretations. Hence, CN&V interviewed Mr. Dan directly on March 21 and obtained documents to separate the real from the ridiculous.
Mr. Dan didn’t come to town for a beer and a campaign pep talk. He came to have his brother arrested.
Documents sent to the Florida’s Attorney General on August 6, 2005 held that Mr. Dan, a certified public accountant and notary public, came from California to Pompano Beach, Florida in 1995 to help Mr. Ed, his brother, with his business, Hi-Liner Fishing Gear and Tackle. Mr. Dan had obtained a Florida Notary to assist with the legal issues to start the business. He left in 1997 and never renewed his notary license.
During the interview, Mr. Dan made it real clear that he holds his Notary Commission as a sacred trust. He noted that notaries play an important role in preventing fraud to ensure that documents are executed properly and hold real legal weight. Mr. Dan (and Google) said if you aren’t honest on your notary application, felony charges of “perjury, fraud and filing a false instruction” can be lodged. The punishment include fines, probation and jail time.
Last July, Mr. Dan checked on the status of his notary license. To his surprise, he saw his Florida Notary had been alive and well, living in Florida without him for 15 years, only expiring in 2012.
He said he had never renewed his license after 1997, but obviously somebody had. Mr. Dan said he panicked because any improper notarization could put both his CPA and notary license in jeopardy and put him in legal trouble. He asked for all documentation of the applications and renewals and was provided with two applications and licenses in 2003 and 2008.
Mr. Dan shared the documents with CN&V. The applications and licenses had his name on them, but Mr. Ed’s then home and business address in Broward County, along with Mr. Ed’s home and business phone numbers in Broward. The place of business was listed as Hi-Liner Fishing Gear and Tackle, his brother’s business.
The applications included a notarized “surety bond,” which guaranteed if Daniel Gaw incorrectly notarized something the insurance company would pay the injured party $7,500. It also included an “Affidavit of Character” signed by Ron Morgan swearing that Mr. Daniel Gaw was “of good character.”
Ron Morgan was Mr. Ed’s employee in Broward at Hi-Liner, moved to GCS at the same time Mr. Ed relocated his business there, and is still an employee of Hi-Liner. The supervisor of elections also listed Morgan as Mr. Ed’s campaign manager for this election.
CN&V attempted to call Mr. Morgan, but he was not available. His wife did offer that neither she, nor her husband, had any knowledge of Ron Morgan’s signature on a notary application.
Mr. Dan said the signatures on the applications were definitely not his and said he’s pretty sure they were forged by his brother. Although CN&V does not have a hand-writing expert on staff, his signature appeared different than the ones on the applications.
In a letter dated July 23, 2025, Mr. Derrick Huckleberry, from the insurance division of the Florida Notary Department, suggested that Mr. Dan consider filing an identity crime report with law enforcement where Ed Gaw and Ron Morgan presently live, then file a claim with Travelers Insurance.
Huckleberry said this would prompt Travelers to “pursue further action.” He also suggested the Attorney General’s Office (AG) be notified because of the identity theft.
Mr. Dan did notify the AG’s office and they responded on August 28, 2025. They noted that Florida’s theft statute allows cases to be investigated and prosecuted either where the victim lives or “where any element of the crime occurred.”
Since Mr. Ed’s business is now in Green Cove, and he and Morgan both live there, Mr. Dan went to the Green Cove Springs Police Department to file a criminal complaint. He said the police didn’t appear too eager to take a criminal complaint against one of their bosses on the council and instead said he had to file in Broward County where the alleged crime occurred.
An inside law enforcement source told CN&V that local police could have opened a case and investigated the crime.
When CN&V talked with Mr. Ed, he said his brother’s claims were false. He maintained that Mr. Dan was angry about a family matter and started the rumor about his notary theft of identity. Mr. Ed said he had documents from his attorney to disprove the contention and said he would share them to CN&V. He didn’t and after two attempts to remind him, he decided not to provide anything.
“You can take something that happened 20 years ago and make a story out of it, if you like, but I’m done.” countered Mr. Ed.
Facebookers suggest Mr. Tom Centracchio started the whole notary mess for campaign reasons. Centracchio said he didn’t even know Mr. Ed had a brother and he was not in the race when Mr. Dan started his legal inquires and complaints last July.
Mr. Dan said he did request a meeting with Centracchio when he came to town to file charges and spoke to Centracchio about his allegations against Ed Gaw.
“When someone lies and commits a crime, should he be elected to a position of trust?” Mr. Dan asked.
Centracchio said he’s been keeping his mouth shut about the whole thing.
The Mad
The whole brouhaha started when Mr. Ed’s council seat was up for reelection.
Documents show and residents regularly bemoan that GCS is in a real financial mess and many millions in debt. Those in charge of Green Cove’s money for the past ten years seem to have made more bad decisions than a squirrel trying to outrun a pickup truck. And utilities and taxes are skyrocketing to pay for the mishandlings.
Several new council members were shocked into dizziness at some of the 5-0 decisions made on the council dais. Consequently, former members of the council who were there back when the town had a balanced budget and little debt got together with a couple of the newest members. They told CN&V they began to look for someone who had financial knowledge, was willing to run for council and would stop foolish spending so folks could afford meat and medicine again. They found Centracchio.
Centracchio said he intially refused the plea.
“Then God was kicking me in the pants,” remembers Centracchio. “He’d given me good health and happiness and reminded me it was time to give back.”
Centracchio finally agreed to run for the city council.
The Ugly: The Great Food Truck Kerfuffle
Tom Centracchio’s campaign platform has been to bring back financial accountability to GCS with a zero-based budget. Ed Gaw’s is to save Food Truck Friday. Ed Gaw and local realtor and entrepreneur, Van Royal, are the proud founders of FTF.
Centracchio said he’s really confused about Ed Gaw’s campaign promise since he loves FTF and had no idea it needed saving.
Mr. Ed’s not saying anything to CN&V, except “have a good day,” before he hangs up.
The claim that FTF has been hijacked grew legs and is still running naked of facts at council meetings, Spring Park Coffee and the local Winn Dixie, soon to be Aldi. The rumors started after Van Royal sent a letter to council members on March 17.
Royal wrote that Centraccio had spoken of his support of FTF in the past, yet had filed an Ethics compliant with the state regarding the event. Royal said FTF was suspended “for the month of April pending the outcome of the Ethics Complaint filed by Tom Centraccio.” He said he would be notifying the “social outlets” and sponsors to inform them about the cancellation.
Centracchio insisted he didn’t have anything to do with the complaint, but Ed Gaw’s supporters were having none of his denials.
“This is why we can’t have nice thing in Green Cove,” bemoaned one of Mr. Ed’s supporters on Facebook.
CN&V contacted the Florida’s Ethics Commission. A complaint was nowhere to be found.
Centracchio said he phoned Royal to assure him of his support for FTF and that he had made no complaint.
On March 19, Royal sent another letter to the council stating Centracchio denied filing a complaint—but the event was still cancelled.
Van Royal did not return calls from CN&V.
Centracchio said he did complain to the Clay County Supervisor of Elections that Gaw’s signs were in violation of Florida law as they had no disclaimers stating who paid for the signs. Florida statutes say disclaimers must be on both sides of campaign signs.
Centracchio said the elections supervisor agreed Gaw was sideways of Florida’s law and advised him to make a complaint, so he did. The elections office has no punitive power, and simply advises a candidate of an infraction.
Ed Gaw did attach a disclaimer—to one side of some of his signs.
The election is next Tuesday. But with all the fussing, feuding and Facebook fighting, this last week may feel like a whole season.
Centracchio is talking about dollars and good sense. Ed Gaw seems to be keeping his head so low he might as well be looking for lost change. And the Facebook wars continue.
Still, lots of Green Cove folks just hope they make it to the ballot box next Tuesday without having to witness anything that involves crime scene tape.
