Sheriff race expands

If I am not mistaken he ran several years ago also. I think he was a deputy or captain under McMillan.

Never heard of him. I googled him and found nothing, and I looked up his name in the tax roll and found nothing, with maybe one exception for a lot in Freeport, which there was no middle initial "S." There are several listings for Richard Brown, but none with an "S." I also looked in the phone book, but found nothing.

All we've heard is that he's supposed to be from Freeport, and I've heard rumors that he either is with the SO, or was. But Fuzz doesn't know him. Maybe he was with the SO during the three years Fuzz wasn't.

All we've heard is that he's supposed to be from Freeport, and I've heard rumors that he either is with the SO, or was. But Fuzz doesn't know him. Maybe he was with the SO during the three years Fuzz wasn't.

Stationed in Freeport. Current employee unless he resigned.

I see that a Richard S. Brown has entered the race. Anyone know who that is?

Ricky Brown. He is a current WCSO Deputy. He was stationed in Freeport but has now been placed in the South End, SRB, Blue Mtn area. He has prior investigative and leadership experience from either Niceville or Crestview PD, not sure which. Hope that helps.

If I am not mistaken he ran several years ago also. I think he was a deputy or captain under McMillan.

You are thinking of Bill Chapman. He is now with DeFuniak PD.

Ricky Brown. He is a current WCSO Deputy. He was stationed in Freeport but has now been placed in the South End, SRB, Blue Mtn area. He has prior investigative and leadership experience from either Niceville or Crestview PD, not sure which. Hope that helps.

Well, maybe they will meet then. It's entirely possible to work with people and not have a clue who they are. And that's sad.

(Of course, I only know about 10 - 15 of the folks that work at the courthouse in DFS...I know names, but not the faces that go with them.)

Richard S. Brown is a WCSO Deputy, lives just off Hwy 3280 in Freeport. He came to WCSO immediately after retiring from FWB PD. He was a Sgt for over 10 years. He worked there for 28 years and has extensive invetigative, supervisory, administrative experience . Call the FWB PD for more information on him.
He was just moved to South Walton area working days. He was working in the Freeport/Bruce area.

I wonder if he lives on the land off of 3280 (Fluffy Landing area) listed as a vacant lot, and owned by Richard Brown (with no middle initial) by the Tax Appraiser's website. If so, I wonder if he should be taxed on the improvements to the land, in addition to the lot. Let's get the Sheriff on this matter right away.

He lives in a house on Happy Hollow (just off 3280).
He has experience, integrity and strongly believes in ALL deputies being treated fairly.
Ooooh, what must Sheriff Ralph think???
Guess you are right, better get Rick out of the race too!

Darn, I was hoping he would have some dirt, but Richard's house checks out as his homestead property. I guess Sheriff Johnson won't bust him on that. I wonder if the Deputy will catch flack at the office, by the boss man, now that he is fighting for the boss's job.

Darn, I was hoping he would have some dirt, but Richard's house checks out as his homestead property. I guess Sheriff Johnson won't bust him on that. I wonder if the Deputy will catch flack at the office, by the boss man, now that he is fighting for the boss's job.

I would think that since he is going to try to get elected to the highest office in the department he must be more than just a deputy. He has to at least be a lt or captain, correct?

I would think that since he is going to try to get elected to the highest office in the department he must be more than just a deputy. He has to at least be a lt or captain, correct?

Incorrect. Anyone who raises the number of signatures required can run for office. It is up to us, the citizens of Walton County, to decide who is or is not qualified.

Just because someone is currently assigned to a ?Deputy? position does not mean they are not qualified to run and/or win. Further, just because someone is a ?Chief? or other high ranking title, does not automatically qualify them. You need to look at the character and background of the individual. Need we not forget, the current administration took an evidence technician, and over a few months time, promoted him to several high ranking positions, to include Captain over Patrol? Does that mean they are Qualified? No, far from it. I still question whether they (E.T.) were/are Florida State Certified or not? Another example would be an individual who was with the Highway Patrol for 20 or 25+ years. Do they have qualifications based on time spent, to be sheriff? Apparently so, as the current sheriff holds this and very few other accolades to his credit. Let?s not make the same mistake in 2008.

I do not know R. Brown, but do not count anyone out based solely on their current rank or position. Do the research, learn about the candidate(s). Bill Imfeld provided his bio to the public and the public responded. People could, still can, see that Bill Imfeld is the most qualified candidate for the job. His support and momentum was able to strike a cord with the current administration, as they were bold enough to use our tax dollars :angry: to hire the attorney to research how to eliminate the number one competition. That to me is just not thinking straight, it is an uneducated knee jerk reaction to a threat, a costly reaction which will send many a wave crashing into the office of the sheriff over the next several months.

Walton County is in need of new law enforcement leadership and only educated voters will save us. Otherwise, we are facing more ignorance from our elected officials.

WaltonGOP, I agree with The Watcher about qualifications being open to any ranking. I'm sure the high annual salary of $100,000+ makes it a very attractive Office. With Sheriff Johnson being the competition, I think anyone will have a decent shot at winning, if they are even half-way qualified regarding experience.

Ricky was a sheriff in Fort Walton for years I think- great reputation there.

WaltonGOP, I agree with The Watcher about qualifications being open to any ranking. I'm sure the high annual salary of $100,000+ makes it a very attractive Office. With Sheriff Johnson being the competition, I think anyone will have a decent shot at winning, if they are even half-way qualified regarding experience.

Granted. Sometimes I do seem to forget that rank does not equal qualifications in Bizarro world. lol! The high salary does draw out quite a few people trying to get that position.

As for voters educating themselves before making a decision, someone please provide me an example of where that actually occurs with the majority.

As for what it takes to run, 343 signatures on petition forms, not spiral notebooks, is all you need to run for any local office in this county. Which reminds me, I got to get busy.

Well, maybe they will meet then. It's entirely possible to work with people and not have a clue who they are. And that's sad.

(Of course, I only know about 10 - 15 of the folks that work at the courthouse in DFS...I know names, but not the faces that go with them.)

Where else does this happen? :scratch:

Where else does this happen? :scratch:

LOL...it's the story of my life in SoWal. Work at the branch office, cause consternation at the main office. :roll:

Granted. Sometimes I do seem to forget that rank does not equal qualifications in Bizarro world. lol! The high salary does draw out quite a few people trying to get that position.

As for voters educating themselves before making a decision, someone please provide me an example of where that actually occurs with the majority.

As for what it takes to run, 343 signatures on petition forms, not spiral notebooks, is all you need to run for any local office in this county. Which reminds me, I got to get busy.

The Majority? (No example to give, I hope you were being sarcastic) Why go with the flow? Why not try to have an educated voter base so that our County's Law Enforcement does not end up in the toilet for the next four years? Bring your plunger.

The Majority? (No example to give, I hope you were being sarcastic) Why go with the flow? Why not try to have an educated voter base so that our County's Law Enforcement does not end up in the toilet for the next four years? Bring your plunger.

I am open to suggestions as to how you transfer voter education into actually winning an election. Winning elections has absolutely nothing to do with voter education from my experience. As SJ says, it is all politricks.

Ricky was a sheriff in Fort Walton for years I think- great reputation there.

I understand that Ricky has gotten a letter stating that he may be in violation of the Hatch Act and must now resign to run for office.

Is the sheriff's race a partisan election? I thought most county elections were non-partisan.

Is the sheriff's race a partisan election? I thought most county elections were non-partisan.

The only non-partisan races in Walton County are the judges and the school board at the couty level. The city races depending on their charters, and some of the special districts, again depending on their charter.

The only non-partisan races in Walton County are the judges and the school board at the couty level. The city races depending on their charters, and some of the special districts, again depending on their charter.

So no one working for the Sheriff's office, and no one working in local government in any capacity, can run for sheriff? :shock:

How can we expect to have an experienced candidate if the Hatch Act applies? How much of the sheriff's budget comes from the federal government? The Hatch Act predates Homeland Security, so it seems this is an unintended consequence. Perhaps the sheriff's race should be non-partisan, for the same reason the school board is non-partisan -- so those who are most knowledgeable are not disqualified as a matter of course.

If the employee / deputy of the Sheriff's office is in violation of the Hatch Act, wouldn't the Sheriff be as well? Oh wait, he hasn't filed to run yet.