Walton Co. School Board Meets about Blithe Spirit!!

for all the complaining that I read on these boards, the people of south Walton have one of the poorest records of participation in something as simple as voting that I have ever seen. General elections are not that bad. But primary and special elections are dismal.

Could you comment further on the "good ole boy" system that you refer too? I consider myself pretty well connected to most of the elected officials in this county. A majority I consider more than just acquaintances. And for all the times I am around them and interact with them I have never stumbled upon or been involved with this "good ole boy" system. People who participate in the process and try to work out solutions do seem to have a better relationship and are more likely to get things done than those that just gripe all the time from what I have seen.

Perhaps you are afflicted with what is known as "nonconciousness"...the behavior is so much a part of your "normal" that you don't recognize it.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has ever sat through a commission meeting; tried to get a permit for an addition to his house (if he's not a developer); tried to make sense of turn lanes on Highway 98; or the schedule for paving roads in this county; or private sea walls on public beaches; allowing tourists to be arrested on the beach; or ongoing drainage problems in Driftwood Estates; or approval for developments; or ...the list goes on and on, could honestly say there is not a "good old boy" system in place.

I totally agree with you that attending meetings, voting, and getting organized are vital to success...but not to recognize the situation for what it is, is to ignore the obvious.

Since I don't believe that the party system gives us the best candidates for all of the people, I choose not to side with a party. Being unaffiliated with a political party kicks me out of the primaries. Maybe other people feel the same way, hence the low turnout. I'm not trying to turn this into a political thread, but just pointing out that this highly involved person (me) is not able to have a voice in the primaries as long as the system is screwed up.

Could you comment further on the "good ole boy" system that you refer too? I consider myself pretty well connected to most of the elected officials in this county. A majority I consider more than just acquaintances. And for all the times I am around them and interact with them I have never stumbled upon or been involved with this "good ole boy" system. People who participate in the process and try to work out solutions do seem to have a better relationship and are more likely to get things done than those that just gripe all the time from what I have seen.

Perhaps you are afflicted with what is known as "nonconciousness"...the behavior is so much a part of your "normal" that you don't recognize it.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has ever sat through a commission meeting; tried to get a permit for an addition to his house (if he's not a developer); tried to make sense of turn lanes on Highway 98; or the schedule for paving roads in this county; or private sea walls on public beaches; allowing tourists to be arrested on the beach; or ongoing drainage problems in Driftwood Estates; or approval for developments; or ...the list goes on and on, could honestly say there is not a "good old boy" system in place.

I totally agree with you that attending meetings, voting, and getting organized are vital to success...but not to recognize the situation for what it is, is to ignore the obvious.

Just not much of a conspiracy person. They all seem to be really trying to do the best that they can. They are hampered in that they have to stay within certain rules. I am sure that there is an amount of payback that occurs. But that occurs in everyday life, not just government. Some of the things that you mention I have tried and have not run into the level of frustration that appears to have blocked your way. Maybe I am the one being naive here.

WaltonGOP, reading the WCTA website, I see the list of financial contributers to the County Commissioners. I also notice several deveoplers and engineering companies who often represent the developers at the Planning Comm and BCC meetings. For you to say it isn't a good ole boy network around here, I encourage you to reread those lists of contributors.

WaltonGOP,

I have only lived in the area for a little over a year. In that time, my family has tried to become active in the community. I think we have been largely successful at getting involved. Our first opportunity to vote was a couple of weeks ago, but it just happened that nothing was on the ballot. We were busy searching the county websites and searching for roadside signs to see if we were missing something. As for public meetings, we have found ourselves greatly limited in attending some of the meetings because of the one-hour drive time to Defuniak Springs--the folks in Sandestin have an even further drive. I think it is a great step in the right direction to hold at least the school board meetings at floating locations. I am sure that the folks in Paxton probably have similar issues; part of the problem of having such a large and diverse county. From what I have seen when meetings are held south of the bay attendance is much greater.

We are still adjusting to not having a daily newspaper that covers our area, having moved from a larger city. The Walton Sun does a good job, but being a weekly, it is hard to cover everything in a timely way. The Northwest Daily captures some news but is not focused on Walton County. Of course radio and television news coverage are essentially absent from the county, only covering Walton County issues on rare occasion.

With 90% of the tax base living south of the bay, either the politician?s focus of attention will change, or the people?s frustration will eventually bring about greater participation. I would say that this should be especially so after fiasco such as this group of fundamentalist outsiders attacking our children, their education and their play. I do know that I was not the only one who took notes last week so that I can vote properly the next round of elections.

So you are assuming that because they take monetary contributions from these people, that they are endeared to them? I see them vote for things that I feel favor these individuals as well as things that do not favor them. Developers are the industry in all of Florida. They give money to the process to try to get people elected that favor their way of thinking. Unless we institute some sort of public financing system, this is the one we have to live with. Rather right or wrong, it takes a lot to get elected. And you have to get elected to be where you can affect change.

But a well organized grass roots group could change things.

And here is where we need all suggestions- how do we organize? How do we get everyone together? The school is a good example. There is not a parent organization, like a PTA, so there is not a way to keep parents informed.

The BCC meetings have been between the two county facilities for quite a while. It is really sad that it took six years for the school board to start meeting in south Walton again. The last meeting I remember was with the Bay Elementary Charter stuff. Also some pretty interesting meetings when they were trying to get south Walton high school built. But then they quit meeting in the area for some reason. Never really understood why. Paxton is 20 minutes from DeFuniak Springs. About the same as Red Bay or Freeport. I have a meeting once a month in south Walton. Took awhile but I got them to hold every third meeting in DeFuniak Springs just to make it easier on people in the area.

As for fairness, Freeport seems to be about the most fair place for anyone to meet. Nice auditorium at the school also. But not complaining. Now I will just have to pay attention as to where a meeting is if I wish to attend for the school issues.

What election was a couple of weeks ago in Walton County?

Election Day was a couple of weeks ago. It took a lot of looking to confirm that there was nothing on the ballot.

So you are assuming that because they take monetary contributions from these people, that they are endeared to them?... They give money to the process to try to get people elected that favor their way of thinking. Unless we institute some sort of public financing system, this is the one we have to live with. Rather right or wrong, it takes a lot to get elected. And you have to get elected to be where you can affect change.

But a well organized grass roots group could change things.

WaltonGOP,


With 90% of the tax base living south of the bay, either the politician?s focus of attention will change, or the people?s frustration will eventually bring about greater participation. I would say that this should be especially so after fiasco such as this group of fundamentalist outsiders attacking our children, their education and their play. I do know that I was not the only one who took notes last week so that I can vote properly the next round of elections.

does anyone remember the big controversey about 10-12 years ago when a group was pushing to "incorporate" Santa Rosa Beach, to form a city government? I don't remember details of how far this went, it was probably a little ahead of its time... but someday it may be an excellent way to address many local services, issues, etc.

I remember now. I did get a couple of calls asking what that was because it showed up on some calendars. You are correct, we did not have anything to vote on at that particular time.

But we did have a special election on May 15, 2007 that had a turnout of around 7-9% if I remember correctly. The issue was taking .5 mills of the capital outlay budget and shifting it over to the general budget for the school district. This was to allow additional operating funding for things like salaries, art, drama, sports, and such.

And did it pass?

85% yes. But what would one expect. More money in the general fund is more money for salaries, so the union made sure those affected voted. Seemed few others bothered.

I agree with your sister, IBD. I would also bet that there is copyright of the plays which don't allow it to be altered.

My personal opinion is that one's mind will absorb only that information which he or she already knows. Everything else is ignored.