Green Cove Food Truck Friday Savior Has a Controversial Past
Michael Kerekes Made News for Alleged Bullying Behavior
Michael Kerekes has rescued Food Truck Friday in Green Cove Springs. Kerekes is the son of former school board member Janice Kerekes. He also recently bought the Neighbor to Neighbor newspaper.
Food Truck Friday became the focal point of the recent Green Cove Springs City Council elections. Ed Gaw, the incumbent, was also one of the event's sponsors. While campaigning against Tom Centracchio, Gaw threatened to shut down the event if he lost the election. And that’s exactly what he did.
This past week, Kerekes stepped in and gained approval from the Green Cove Springs City Council to take over the beloved event.
Hailed as a hero for saving Food Truck Friday, Kerekes has a less-than-heroic past. In 2016, Addison Davis defeated Charlie Van Zant for the position of Superintendent of Clay County Schools.
The Kerekes family was bitter enemies of Van Zant and fought behind the scenes to elect Davis. Once in office, Davis hired Michael Kerekes as the “coordinator of community and strategic partnerships” for the Clay County School District.
Janice and Michael used their positions to bully, harass, and intimidate school district employees who supported Van Zant in the election. Per a report from Folio Weekly, at least three employees reported Michael’s inappropriate behavior.
Michael Kerekes was accused by the former public relations director, Rebecca Van Gyseghem, who alleged that in 2016, Kerekes physically blocked her camera and aggressively confronted her at a press conference. A witness told police she was visibly shaking and crying afterward.
Former assistant superintendent of human resources Toni McCabe alleged that Kerekes confronted her alone in a parking lot in 2014 after a school board meeting, screaming profanities at her.
A third woman, speaking anonymously, also claimed she was harassed by Kerekes and reported it to then-Sheriff Rick Beseler.
Eventually, Michael Kerekes was ushered out the door under the guise of a “leave of absence.” That leave never ended, and Michael never returned to his position.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and Janice Kerekes is no stranger to controversy herself. During her 12 years on the school board, which many people described as a “reign of terror”, Janice created a long resume of headaches, controversies, and bullying.
Janice is most recently known for her unsubstantiated allegations in 2022, in which she accused her opponent, Erin Skipper, of stealing her campaign signs.
Janice just so happened to have an AirTag and a trail camera set up on the very sign that was stolen during the campaign. Despite making a big fuss on social media and local news stations, the real bandit of the Kerekes’ signs was a random, disgruntled man from Keystone Heights.
This new iteration will be the first version of Food Truck Friday in which the organizer is not a resident of the city.
Per the voter rolls from the Supervisor of Elections Office, Michael is still registered to vote at his mother’s address in Fleming Island. Michael Kerekes is not listed as the owner of any property in Green Cove either.
When speaking to the Green Cove Springs City Council on May 19th, Kerekes gave an address of 1100 Idelwild Avenue. That address belongs to Pelican’s Snoballs, which is operated under an LLC registered to Michael Kerekes, Cold Comfort LLC.
The property itself is owned by Lynne Chaffee, not Michael Kerekes. In 2018, Lynne Chafee ran for the Clay County School Board at the behest of Janice Kerekes.
Chafee was recruited to oust Ashley Gilhousen from the board, as Gilhousen was a friend and supporter of Charlie Van Zant. But Chafee’s bid for the school board soon fell apart, as it was discovered that she could not legally run for Gilhousen’s seat because she did not live in District 5.
The revived Kerekes’ version of Food Truck Friday will kick off on July 3rd, 2026.
The Kerekes have been great advocates for an adolescent group I have run for 14 years. They have been silent about their numerous donations. They have also assisted in my Tad’s Toys not for profit event. I started this event in honor of my son’s memory. It provides Christmas for many parents around the county. They have never tried to gain recognition for their kind acts. I had the honor of working with Lauren Chafee in her position as a Guardian Advocate. The case was one of the most harrowing cases of my career. This is politics at it’s worst.
The local politics are just crazy as the national. I don’t know what they could do to screw up a food truck event?