Thrusday night Sheriff's candidates Forum..update.

**Alicia Leonard** · 06-11-2008, 07:42 AM

Upcoming forum this Thursday evening at 6 PM at the Freeport Auditorium.
All the Sheriff candidates have been invited to a two hour question & answer program on how they plan to address the drug problem in our schools and with our children.

Hope to see everyone there.

update!!!!!!!!!

Walton County Sheriff�s candidate forum

The Walton County Prevention Coalition and DeFuniak Herald-Beach Breeze present a candidate forum to allow candidates for the Walton County Sheriff's Office to discuss their views on preventing teens and adults from experimenting with drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The forum will be held at Freeport High School, 12615 U.S. 331 South in Freeport on Thursday. This will be a non-partisan educational forum for the community that does not promote any candidate over another.
The first half of the forum will involve discussion of substance abuse. The second half will focus on general law enforcement issues.
Invited participants include Michael A. Adkinson Jr., Richard S. Brown, Thomas M. Cooper, Tony Cornman, Dennis Wise, Jimmy L. Macon, Danny H. Griffith, and Sheriff Ralph L. Johnson.
The Walton County Prevention Coalition is a nonpartisan group that is working to prevent drug use in the community. All candidates were invited to participate in this event. They will be asked how they plan to address substance abuse issues if elected and will allow community members to ask them questions in an open forum.
A number of agencies and organizations are supporting the forum and will distribute informations to guests, including YMCA Freeport, Boys and Girl�s Club of Emerald Coast, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), Walton County Health Department, Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco, Department of Juvenile Justice, United States Army Cadets of Ft. Rucker, COPE Center Inc., Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), West Florida AHEC, Okaloosa and Walton Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the North American Family Institute.
The event is planned for Thursday, June 12, 2008, from 6�8 p.m. at the Freeport High School. Everyone is invited.
www.defuniakherald.com

**Jdarg** · 06-11-2008, 08:41 AM

I think this specific issue format is good and will keep the candidates and audience members on topic (hopefully). I am looking forward to hearing what the candidates say - AL, will you be covering this forum? I have a prior commit and can't attend.

Sadly, I doubt as many parents will attend that need to attend. There are A LOT of drugs here, as confirmed by students and school personnel that I have spoken with, but parents seem to be either turning a blind eye or completely oblivious. From what I am hearing, it is not as much a problem at SWHS as it is outside of school- lots of night and weekend partying.

I am learning as I go just like other parents, but here is what I have learned from friends who have traveled the high school road before me and ended up with some really awesome kids-- the parents are involved and around, kids are busy with activities and jobs and sports, and families do stuff together- also know who your kids are hanging out with, and their parents too.

**Andy A** · 06-11-2008, 09:12 AM

While I, too, am concerned with drug usage among teens, I am wondering if they will address any issues other than the drug problem. Since my children are long raised and parents themselves this format, if it is the only issue discussed, would not benefit my attending. If there are to be more of these "town hall" type meetings on other subjects I would definitely like to attend if possible. Any definitive answer would be appreciated.

**Smiling JOe** · 06-11-2008, 09:16 AM

where is the Freeport Auditorium? Are you talking about the Freeport High School Auditorium?

**Alicia Leonard** · 06-11-2008, 10:41 AM

Hi Guys,

I will be covering this and it will be at the Freeport High School. As soon as my editor sends me the official release this morning, I will post it here with the specifics. The Herald is co-sponsoring this event.

**Alicia Leonard** · 06-11-2008, 11:50 AM

Bump........

**Alicia Leonard** · 06-12-2008, 08:30 AM

Doing the bump

**Jdarg** · 06-12-2008, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by aleonard

Doing the bump

Looking forward to your coverage of this!

**Alicia Leonard** · 06-12-2008, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by jdarg

Looking forward to your coverage of this!

Thanks, Jdarg........lets kick it up a notch.

THURSDAY..............THURSDAY...........THURSDAY

ONE NIGHT ONLY...........WATCH THE SHERIFF'S CANDIDATES JUMP OVER A CAR........STAND ON ONE HAND.........AND ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU.............BE THERE...........BE THERE .......BE THERE...............

disclaimer: No candidate will actually jump over a car or stand on one hand but may answer your questions.

**scooterbug44** · 06-12-2008, 08:43 AM

This meeting is a great idea. Hope it produces some great results and information!

I am constantly amazed about how blase people are about the amount of drugs around here!

**wrobert** · 06-12-2008, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by aleonard

Thanks, Jdarg........lets kick it up a notch.

THURSDAY..............THURSDAY...........THURSDAY

ONE NIGHT ONLY...........WATCH THE SHERIFF'S CANDIDATES JUMP OVER A CAR........STAND ON ONE HAND.........AND ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU.............BE THERE...........BE THERE .......BE THERE...............

disclaimer: No candidate will actually jump over a car or stand on one hand but may answer your questions.

I do not believe this is a general q/a forum but rather one concentrating on their plans for controlling drugs and program for youth fighting drugs.

**Alicia Leonard** · 06-12-2008, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by wrobert

I do not believe this is a general q/a forum but rather one concentrating on their plans for controlling drugs and program for youth fighting drugs.

All I have is the press release that states.
The first half of the forum will involve discussion of substance abuse. The second half will focus on general law enforcement issues.

**wrobert** · 06-12-2008, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by aleonard

All I have is the press release that states.
The first half of the forum will involve discussion of substance abuse. The second half will focus on general law enforcement issues.

Thank goodness I should be able to make it to the second half. Now I know I am going. Thanks.

**ckhagen** · 06-13-2008, 12:15 AM

bummer. how did I miss this? I've been sitting around waiting for a date to be announced and I somehow totally missed it.

**Alicia Leonard** · 06-13-2008, 01:26 AM

Wow........if you guys didn't get to come you missed a great opening forum for the Sheriff's race. Turn out was a little low but I think all of the candidates did well. I walked away having a clearer view of what type of office each gentleman wants and I think it was a good start. Hope we get to have a few more of these.

**The Watcher** · 06-13-2008, 09:11 AM

I too was in attendance last night, this was a great event to showcase the candidates. It also further supports my post, calling for the "exit" of several of the candidates who, quite frankly, are not even running a campaign.

Either way, it was good to hear everyone (sans Ralph) speak and express their views. As eluded to in a prior post, R.J.'s campaign is going to be over. With him out of the picture, we can focus on the couple of candidates that can effectively lead this counties law enforcement.

I felt that the last question of the night; "would you fire a pregnant deputy?" was very telling of the sad state of law enforcement leadership we have here in this county. To actually, in serious light, have that question asked of candidates for the office of sheriff (be it very funny) is actually very sad.

Maybe someone should have asked; "Would you cheat, lie and steal, while serving as sheriff..." Just for good measure.

be seeing u.

**doGooD** · 06-13-2008, 09:45 AM

Was this forum recorded? Wish I could have been there. Looking forward to hearing more specific comments from those who were there...

**seagrovegirl** · 06-13-2008, 10:10 AM

Was Ralph there???

**The Watcher** · 06-13-2008, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by seagrovegirl

Was Ralph there???

NO, he was absent, go figure...

**seagrovegirl** · 06-13-2008, 10:27 AM

I want to go to a forum that he shows up for.......the entertainment value.....priceless.

**idlewind** · 06-13-2008, 11:46 AM

I understand that Mr. Cornman and Mr. Cooper did very well. Was everyone except the cook in attendance?

**The Watcher** · 06-13-2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by idlewind

I understand that Mr. Cornman and Mr. Cooper did very well. Was everyone except the cook in attendance?

Agreed. I felt Cooper stood out the most, as all did well. The cook was out cooking (for whom???) and the Demo Candidate was also absent, not sure if he was invited. Maybe some of those clogging up the race can jump parties? We've seen that before too...