David Kramer Is running for County Commissioner, Dist. 4

[Andy A]

I note that the Walton Sun says that David Kramer is running for Sarah Comander's county commission seat.
I know very little about this candidate other than he owns tons of land and is a realitor.
What are his qualifications and backround that makes him a good candidate for the commission?

[seagrovegirl]

Wow! Kramer is at every meeting and knows his stuff. I say it's about time! Go David!

[Bob Wells]

Although I like Sarah, but Ro Cuchen bumper stickers are showing up, so I will be interested in more competition. Some of those with go with Ro stickers are realtors, hmm interesting.

[seagrovegirl]

Isnt everyone a realtor? Some wouldnt be surprising.

David is very smart, very knowledgable and no BS kind of man. I am not endorsing anyone at this point, but I think Kramer is an excellent candidate.

[soappedaler]

Kramer is all about Kramer, not the community. A couple of years ago he dug up a cattle dip vat on a piece of property that he owned and thought nobody would notice. He was not truthful at commissioner meeting about doing this. If you’re not familiar with cattle dip vats they are extremely toxic. The ground and ground water near them is believed to have caused d cancer and deaths. This had to be the most heinous act I've seen in Walton County and I've seen a lot. It’s one thing to mess with laws and property for excessive profit another to endanger people's lives and health for excessive profit.

[Jdarg]

Kramer is all about Kramer, not the community. A couple of years ago he dug up a cattle dip vat on a piece of property that he owned and thought nobody would notice. He was not truthful at commissioner meeting about doing this. If you’re not familiar with cattle dip vats they are extremely toxic. The ground and ground water near them is believed to have caused d cancer and deaths. This had to be the most heinous act I've seen in Walton County and I've seen a lot. It’s one thing to mess with laws and property for excessive profit another to endanger people's lives and health for excessive profit.

Do you have an official source about this? I would like to learn more about Kramer as well, but I want to get my info from documented sources.

[Alicia Leonard]

Ah, can you smell the happiness, it's election season............

[scooterbug44]

Is David w/ Isle of View? Hard to keep my realtors straight.

[Lake View Too]

I like David Kramer. He is into bettering South Walton, and, in doing so, building his business. What's so bad about that? This story about cow dipping vat sounds vague at best...

[seagrovegirl]

Is David w/ Isle of View? Hard to keep my realtors straight.

Yes, you have the correct Kramer.

[Bob Wells]

I like David Kramer. He is into bettering South Walton, and, in doing so, building his business. What's so bad about that? This story about cow dipping vat sounds vague at best...

I think the problem with building his business while a county commissioner could cause issues. Think about Ro Cuchens and the seawalls. I am not saying Mr. Kramer is out for himself and until otherwise proved, has only the best interest of the county in his thoughts, but it will be interesting to see where the the support comes from and who is supporting who. As I said, I like Sarah but if Mr. Kramer is going to run I would like to hear from him.

[John R]

Ro wants back in?? Seriously?

A quick search reveals some very interesting reading. I think Ro has had his turn here and doesn't warrant another.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/search.php?searchid=1261940

[soappedaler]

Do you have an official source about this? I would like to learn more about Kramer as well, but I want to get my info from documented sources.

It's in the records of the planning Commission and County Commission meeting, about 2-3 years ago. Ask the County Environmental Officer, if they still have him employed.

[Abby Prentiss]

Kramer is commonly known as a local a$$. He does have a lot of knowledge and attends a lot of meetings and sometimes has good input, but more often just wants to get his own name heard IMO. But soap pedaler is right. He is not a friend of the environment. Over the years whenever you see a lot clear cut, you can more often then not see an Isle Of View Realty sign on it and it is in flood zone ie - wetlands. His company's nickname in the real estate community is "Isle Of Debris" and I am not kidding.

[scooterbug44]

I like David Kramer. He is into bettering South Walton, and, in doing so, building his business. What's so bad about that? This story about cow dipping vat sounds vague at best...

I think the issue is that opinions vary on what "bettering South Walton" and "building your business" can mean in practice.............and shady deals or environmentally questionable actions come back to bite you when you want to become the fox in charge of the henhouse.

As with all politicians running, I will be taking a long hard look at his history, where his $ is coming from, and exactly what his vision for our community is.

My current big question is: "How will he avoid conflicts of interest?" Real estate/development/construction is a very interwoven business in Walton County.

[totally]

Mr. David Kramer presented Reinhart SSA 2007-10 a request to change 10 +/- acres from state land/undesignated to coastal center, or any less dense or intense category. The parcel is located south of Choctawhatchee Bay within the Point Washington State Forest, approximately 1,000 feet north of Gulf Hill Estates unrecorded subdivision in Blue Mountain Beach. (Exhibits # 8, 9, 10 and 11) Staff determined that a future land use designation of Conservation Residential either 1:2.5 or 2:1 would be consistent with the Walton County Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioner Meadows exited the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
Mr. Kramer stated the staff’s recommendation would require a 90% conservation of vegetation and thereby would not give the 30 feet of defensible space to protect homes from potential forest fires. He stated this was the reason the applicant applied for Coastal Center/Infill. He felt that conservation only would present a fire hazard.
Mr. Stacy Golden, President GiroTrack and conservationist, stated that a fire hazard is possible with the designation as presented by staff. He stated that everything would be done to prevent possible fires to homes.
Mr. Kramer felt that the designation as requested by the applicant meets the compatibility analysis, meets the requirements of the comprehensive plan, and meets the requirements of the LDC’s definition of Infill. He stated that the uses planned for this property would be beneficial for the public as well as the county.
Commissioner Jones exited the meeting at 9:01 p.m.
Ms. Blackshear stated that the staff report reflects that Infill is not appropriate for this parcel. She stated that the Cattle Dipping Vat (CDV) was still an environmental issue that needed to be dealt with.
Commissioner Jones entered the meeting at 9:08 p.m.
Mr. Kramer stated that the CDV was a hog vat and used different chemicals. Ms. Blackshear stated that the environmental assessments will tell what type of vat and chemicals were once there.
Commissioner Brannon asked if the property to the south was undesignated. Ms. Blackshear stated it was. She stated that these were the only two parcels surrounded by State Forest. Mr. Kramer stated the applicant’s position is that the parcel was zoned as development in 1992 and the designation has not been changed. Ms. Lois La-Seur, Growth Management, stated that the parcel may have been erroneously designated as State land. Mr. Kramer asked that the application fee to correct the error be reimbursed to the applicant.
Commissioner Brannon asked if there were any objections from the property owner to the south. Ms. Blackshear stated the opposition relates to the property being designated as something other than conservation/residential and the CDV. Mr. Kramer stated that Staff Report did not show public comment against the project.
Mr. Carl Hammonds, Walton County Planning Department, stated that at both the July 12 Planning Commission Meeting and July 24 BCC meeting public comment was made against the proposed land use change unless the environmental issues were properly addressed. Mr. Kramer stated that he had attended the meeting with the Forestry Department. He stated that Forestry provided no evidence.
Commissioner Pridgen stepped down as Chairman to make the motion.
Motion by Commissioner Pridgen, second by Commissioner Comander, to approve the land use change to Conservation/Residential, 2:1 with conditions that future development proposal would require a Phase II Environmental assessment due to a recently removed cattle dipping vat.
Mr. Kramer withdrew the application.

[koilikjid]

I note that the Walton Sun says that David Kramer is running for Sarah Comander's county commission seat.

[soappedaler]

It was at the Planning Commission meeting that he denied a vat existed on the property, then when photographic evidence showed there had been one he had to change his story.

[Bob Wells]

Ro wants back in?? Seriously?

A quick search reveals some very interesting reading. I think Ro has had his turn here and doesn't warrant another.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/search.php?searchid=1261940

Very Seriously, there are bumper sticker on quite a few vehicles in Freeport. It would not be the first time he has vacated a seat and then run for reelection after 4 years. I would venture to guess he is not politicing in the South end much. Before long we won't have a rep from the south end. Oh wait, that happened last election.

[wrobert]

I think the issue is that opinions vary on what "bettering South Walton" and "building your business" can mean in practice.............and shady deals or environmentally questionable actions come back to bite you when you want to become the fox in charge of the henhouse.

As with all politicians running, I will be taking a long hard look at his history, where his $ is coming from, and exactly what his vision for our community is.

My current big question is: "How will he avoid conflicts of interest?" Real estate/development/construction is a very interwoven business in Walton County.

Why would you not want someone who is an expert in those fields since that is the industry thta is building this county?

[wrobert]

Kramer is all about Kramer, not the community. A couple of years ago he dug up a cattle dip vat on a piece of property that he owned and thought nobody would notice. He was not truthful at commissioner meeting about doing this. If you’re not familiar with cattle dip vats they are extremely toxic. The ground and ground water near them is believed to have caused d cancer and deaths. This had to be the most heinous act I've seen in Walton County and I've seen a lot. It’s one thing to mess with laws and property for excessive profit another to endanger people's lives and health for excessive profit.

If Kramer is all about Kramer then more people should be like him. The guy gives endless hours to bettering the community and does it while working within the current rules, and when he sees a rule he does not like, instead of going onto a message board and complaining about it, he works to change it. Putting his money where his mouth is, something you rarely see.

[totally]

It was at the Planning Commission meeting that he denied a vat existed on the property, then when photographic evidence showed there had been one he had to change his story.

One only needs to request the evidence package (of that date) from the clerk of courts to verify this.

[scooterbug44]

Why would you not want someone who is an expert in those fields since that is the industry thta is building this county?

Someone who directly benefits from or has direct business with individuals/businesses he is voting on is a cause for concern IMO.

For example, should he recuse himself if his company sold the person/company property?

Or if he has an LLC with one of the people bringing an item before the BCC?

[Just Curious]

Is there a link to the Walton Sun article?

[NorthCounty]

Kramer suffers from Little Man Syndrome.

[Bob Wells]

Kramer suffers from Little Man Syndrome.

Why would you say something like that and then not back it up. Unless you know from experience. hmmm

[NorthCounty]

Why would you say something like that and then not back it up. Unless you know from experience. hmmm

I suffer from a lot of things but at 6'3" and 240#'s, little man syndrome is not one of them.

[bent T]

If Kramer is all about Kramer then more people should be like him. The guy gives endless hours to bettering the community and does it while working within the current rules, and when he sees a rule he does not like, instead of going onto a message board and complaining about it, he works to change it. Putting his money where his mouth is, something you rarely see.

Apparently, if you put your money where your mouth is it would be in Kramer's wallet, or very near his wallet. If he keeps it in his back pocket that, is. Oh well, you get my drift i'm sure.

Kramer is all about Kramer. Going to meetings with your own agenda in a small town is so transparent. Do you really think small town boys go to small town meetings because they are so enthralled by the machine? Or because they want the machine to dispense them a candy bar?

[Smiling JOe]

Kramer shows up at meetings only when he has a dog in the hunt. He used to come more frequently, because he had more dogs in the hunt, but it's been a while since I've seen him attend a county meeting. I have heard some reasonable suggestions out of his mouth in public meetings.

I'll refrain from bashing him as a political candidate at the moment, but I will NOT be voting for D Kramer.

[bent T]

Kramer shows up at meetings only when he has a dog in the hunt. He used to come more frequently, because he had more dogs in the hunt, but it's been a while since I've seen him attend a county meeting. I have heard some reasonable suggestions out of his mouth in public meetings.

I'll refrain from bashing him as a political candidate at the moment, but I will NOT be voting for D Kramer.

Candidates are fair game. Spill it.

[sunspotbaby]

[Bob Wells]

I suffer from a lot of things but at 6'3" and 240#'s, little man syndrome is not one of them.

What does that mean? It seems you made a comment about someone else and the only comeback is your 6'3" and weigh 240 pounds. You own a BIG TRUCK too? Sounds as though you are compensating?

[sunspotbaby]

I know when the Sun ran that story and Kramer's pic from the commission meeting was in the paper, he came unglued. That he spent X amount of dollars advertising with us every week should have kept reporters and his 'issue' out of the paper. I'm pretty sure he pulled all his ads.

[Andy A]

I know when the Sun ran that story and Kramer's pic from the commission meeting was in the paper, he came unglued. That he spent X amount of dollars advertising with us every week should have kept reporters and his 'issue' out of the paper. I'm pretty sure he pulled all his ads.

Does this mean he isn't running? If so, this thread is moot but if it isn't we will continue on until the election. Why be so close mouthed about it if it has already been announced or leaked? Come on, Mr. Kramer, what are your intentions?

[shellak]

Someone who directly benefits from or has direct business with individuals/businesses he is voting on is a cause for concern IMO.

For example, should he recuse himself if his company sold the person/company property?

Or if he has an LLC with one of the people bringing an item before the BCC?

i don't know kramer so i wouldn't pass judgment on him personally but i would not be thrilled with someone who is a developer being on the commission. i would think there would be a lot of issues that would create a conflict, thereby requiring the person to recuse himself/herself. it's always good to have knowledgeable people working for your county. however, if someone is truly still active in an area such as development, would prefer that person not be a commissioner.

as an aside, i am not a big fan of developers. the ones i've known of are always taking huge risks, frequently end up bankrupt or in trouble because they have misappropriated funds. i'm sure there are good ones just like in any profession.

[SWGB]

So basically he changed parties to avoid a primary or run off election.

Wroberts spin:

He's saving the county tax payers by not requiring a primary or run off election.

[Just Curious]

Now I'm confused. Is he running? and what party is he, not sure if that really matters, though? Mostly just confused about whether or not he is running.