Ralph Throws Tom Cooper In Race - Coyote Throws Him Out

Many have discounted my "conspiracy theory" concerning candidates in the Walton County Sheriff's Race.

Today Tom Cooper, head of Security at Sandestin pre-filed as a candidate in the Republican Primary.

Not unusual you say ? He's da man you say!

Hogwash !

Cooper is head of Ralphie's Sheriffs Auxilarly, and a one time deputy. He needs to realize that the job entails more than handling bar fights at a Resort.

Once agin he's obviously listening to a bunch of pundits that do not understand the qualifications for the job.

Mr. Cooper - listen and listen closely.

YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED !

YOU CANNOT WIN !

I WILL NOT SUPPORT YOU!

Here is you "Orange Card"

View attachment 8328


I will waste none of my time in this decision concerning who to keep in the pool of candidates.

You are officially "Thrown Out Of The Pool". You did not even last one day!

Tell Ralph it doesn't matter how many more he throws into the pool as "Cannon Fodder" - the Coyote is on to this tactic.

Didn't know Tom was going to run!! Glad to hear it though...he's professional, dedicated, experienced and can manage a large department. I'd be interested to hear his political stance. It's worth a shot and he may get my vote.

Help me out !

Please explain what large department you are talking about ?

How many officers ?

What was the budget ?

Hasn't got a chance.

Help me out !

Please explain what large department you are talking about ?

How many officers ?

What was the budget ?

Hasn't got a chance.

Coyote are you qualified to run? How are you qualified to determine who is or is not qualified to run??? No offense, just curious. You have many valid points and I agree with most of them.

How big of a department does one have to manage to be qualified? And has that mattered in the past? One more question....who would you like to see run? Okay...another question......what qualifications would qualify someone to run for sheriff in Walton Co. and what are you looking for?

Many have discounted my "conspiracy theory" concerning candidates in the Walton County Sheriff's Race.

Today Tom Cooper, head of Security at Sandestin pre-filed as a candidate in the Republican Primary.

Not unusual you say ? He's da man you say!

Hogwash !

Cooper is head of Ralphie's Sheriffs Auxilarly, and a one time deputy. He needs to realize that the job entails more than handling bar fights at a Resort.

Once agin he's obviously listening to a bunch of pundits that do not understand the qualifications for the job.

Mr. Cooper - listen and listen closely.

YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED !

YOU CANNOT WIN !

I WILL NOT SUPPORT YOU!

Here is you "Orange Card"

View attachment 8328


I will waste none of my time in this decision concerning who to keep in the pool of candidates.

You are officially "Thrown Out Of The Pool". You did not even last one day!

Tell Ralph it doesn't matter how many more he throws into the pool as "Cannon Fodder" - the Coyote is on to this tactic.

I have stated before that I "am not qualified" to run for Sheriff.

I vet candidates - not just read their "marketing bio". I think you are just as qualified to vet candidates as I am. I am doing it publicly.

I seek a candidate that is qualified not just in terms of a "law enforcement" background, but look at what that persons skill set have been, what they have accomplished, and waited on them to say something beside "I want to be your Sheriff". I research alot. It's kinda what I enjoy doing.

Mr. Cooper is not who we need !

I have stated before that I "am not qualified" to run for Sheriff.

I vet candidates - not just read their "marketing bio". I think you are just as qualified to vet candidates as I am. I am doing it publicly.

I seek a candidate that is qualified not just in terms of a "law enforcement" background, but look at what that persons skill set have been, what they have accomplished, and waited on them to say something beside "I want to be your Sheriff". I research alot. It's kinda what I enjoy doing.

Mr. Cooper is not who we need !

Who do we need? And is that person going to run??? The only way to have complete experience to "be" sheriff, is to have been a sheriff. Can we steal one from another county????

Who do we need? And is that person going to run??? The only way to have complete experience to "be" sheriff, is to have been a sheriff. Can we steal one from another county????

You have a candidate from another County running, so yes I quess you can steal a candidate from another county. That individual has not been throw from my pool of candidates. Neither has Mike Adkinson. Both of those individuals have no past connection with Ralph Johnson.

Can either one of them be the new Sheriff's. Quite frankly I am not sure. Both have the boots on the ground experience. One has served as the Chief of Police in DeFuniak Springs, the other has been serving as the head of a state department in Panama City - he has about 6 people working under him. Bill Imfeld had it all in my opinion, but regretfully cannot run. Both have strengths, both have weaknesses.

I must admit that it bothers me that a person that does not live in a county can run for Sheriff, County Clerk, Tax Collector, Tax Appraiser, etc and then move here if they elected, but I am still researching his accomplishments.

Mr. Cooper has a "public record" of service - he served on the South Walton Fire District Board. Nothing there to show leadership, vision or people skills or Fiscal responsibility or due diligence skills(the budget exploded during his term).

Seems like a really nice guy that has listened to people only telling him what he is seeking.

Who do we need? And is that person going to run??? The only way to have complete experience to "be" sheriff, is to have been a sheriff. Can we steal one from another county????

Isn't Tom the Lt. over the Auxiliary dept at the Sheriff's Dept?

Yes

I believe it is a department of 1

See post 1 of thread.

I have found that Mr. Cooper is very professional and certainly administering a department that protects the largest concentration of wealth in Walton County with the largest staff next to the Sheriff's Dept. makes one worthy of consideration. I would group him with Cornman and Adkinson as possibilities. I agree that Wise and Brown probably have no business in the race, although they certainly have the right to run, and ralph is an embarrassment, but you are off-base so cavalierly dismissing Mr. Cooper.

I have now been asked by the requisite number of voters to "Jump in The Pool" for Sheriff. Seems ithat the qualifying number is two and I now have had three. Guess I will listen to them and "Jump In The Pool".

Ralph called and told me he would make me a "Captain".

Do ya'll really think I could win ?

Should I really run and help ole' Ralphie out in his quest for re-election ?

You Tell Me !

I have now been asked by the requisite number of voters to "Jump in The Pool" for Sheriff. Seems ithat the qualifying number is two and I now have had three. Guess I will listen to them and "Jump In The Pool".

Ralph called and told me he would make me a "Captain".

Do ya'll really think I could win ?

Should I really run and help ole' Ralphie out in his quest for re-election ?

You Tell Me !

I think you should go for it. You can compete with wise and brown for the bottom of the feeding frenzy. Projection: 200 votes

I did not do it cavalierly !

I did it with flare !

I did it swiftly !

He is Not Qualified !

He Cannot Win !

He Will Not Get My Support !

He is a third tier candidate.

A very nice misguided individual.

Wise and Brown are already Out Of The Pool.

I predict a current candidate will withdraw tomorrow.

Any takers ?

just for information's sake, why is Cornman and Adkinson "qualified" and Cooper isn't? If you cannot answer that question, then if cavalier rides in, climb on with him.

Idelwild -

I think you prove my point. I would definitely be a bottom rung candidate. Collectively all of the botttom rung candidates will each get 200-400 votes. In a 8 man race guess who would win.

RALPHIE

Only 3200 people are going to vote? I thought there were like 30,000 registered voters in this county. We need some serious citizenship classes in our schools if a 10% turnout is all we can muster.

Yes

I believe it is a department of 1

See post 1 of thread.

I'm sorry WC I missed that earlier

Wise and Brown are already Out Of The Pool.

I predict a current candidate will withdraw tomorrow.

Any takers ?

Well....
Adkinson-no
Cornman-no
Sconiers-no
Ralph-dreaming, but no
Cooper-just got in for pete's sake
Macon-no reason to
Wise-not wise enough to

so I guess Brown......am I right?

Good evening. My name is Tom Cooper and I am a candidate for the Office of Sheriff for Walton County. I would like to take a few moments of your time and tell you a little about myself.
I have been a resident of Santa Rosa Beach for nearly 20 years and proudly call Walton County my home. I began my career with the Sheriffs Department in 1987 as a Communications Officer and was promoted to Deputy in December of that year. In 1989 I relocated to Ocala, Marion County, Florida for a brief time to be closer to family in South Florida. In 1990, I returned to Walton County and continued my service to the citizens.
In 1995 I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and was appointed to head the newly created Beach Patrol Unit in 1997. In 1998 I resigned after accepting a business proposition in the private sector.
I September 1999, I was hired as Director of Security for the Sandestin Owners Association, a position of which I am still employed. In 2000 I was appointed by Sheriff Johnson to lead his Reserve Division and have served at the Rank of Lieutenant.
I am currently employed by the Sandestin Owners Association, where I am responsible for personnel management of a staff of 40 Security Officers, budget management, policy and protocol management, and the public safety of the community, which consists of 5000 residential dwellings and many thousands of visitors each year.
I earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Miami Dade Community College, attended the University of West Florida and Graduated with Honors from Southeast Florida Institute of Criminal Justice in Hialeah, Florida. Through out my career I have received countless hours of training in law enforcement, personnel, financial, and emergency management.
I have served leadership roles on the South Walton Fire District, in the Sandestin Lions Club, and on the Board for Crime Stoppers of Walton County.
The Office of the Sheriff is more than an elected position. It is your employee. It takes a level headed, people person, that possesses common sense, and the knowledge to employ staff with expertise in the areas where he or she may fall short, but the ability to identify those areas.
I have watched the County and the Sheriffs Department grow. I have witnessed first hand the morale within its ranks decline. I have seen the good become bad and I want to make a positive change. I want to surround myself with positive, goal-oriented people that are qualified and empowered to handle the tasks they are given. Doing this will provide Walton County with a committed, dedicated and professional law enforcement service, that will communicate with you.
Once elected, I have many goals for the community and the office, but foremost we must have priorities. With the help of the Citizens, we can achieve these priorities and began meeting our goals. A sound financial department is a must, and this will be our first priority. Secondly we must repair the infrastructure and rebuild the trust of the Office from within. Finally, we will re-open the communication lines between the Office and the Community. None of these will take priority over another; they are all of equal importance and will be addressed simultaneously. Most important, I want to build a proactive department today to meet the needs of the community tomorrow.
I pride myself on treating people fairly and equally, and I will demand the same from our team when elected.
As our campaign takes off, I would welcome the opportunity discuss your concerns in person and identify what you feel the needs of the community may be now and in the future.

Good evening. My name is Tom Cooper and I am a candidate for the Office of Sheriff for Walton County. I would like to take a few moments of your time and tell you a little about myself.
I have been a resident of Santa Rosa Beach for nearly 20 years and proudly call Walton County my home. I began my career with the Sheriffs Department in 1987 as a Communications Officer and was promoted to Deputy in December of that year. In 1989 I relocated to Ocala, Marion County, Florida for a brief time to be closer to family in South Florida. In 1990, I returned to Walton County and continued my service to the citizens.
In 1995 I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and was appointed to head the newly created Beach Patrol Unit in 1997. In 1998 I resigned after accepting a business proposition in the private sector.
I September 1999, I was hired as Director of Security for the Sandestin Owners Association, a position of which I am still employed. In 2000 I was appointed by Sheriff Johnson to lead his Reserve Division and have served at the Rank of Lieutenant.
I am currently employed by the Sandestin Owners Association, where I am responsible for personnel management of a staff of 40 Security Officers, budget management, policy and protocol management, and the public safety of the community, which consists of 5000 residential dwellings and many thousands of visitors each year.
I earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Miami Dade Community College, attended the University of West Florida and Graduated with Honors from Southeast Florida Institute of Criminal Justice in Hialeah, Florida. Through out my career I have received countless hours of training in law enforcement, personnel, financial, and emergency management.
I have served leadership roles on the South Walton Fire District, in the Sandestin Lions Club, and on the Board for Crime Stoppers of Walton County.
The Office of the Sheriff is more than an elected position. It is your employee. It takes a level headed, people person, that possesses common sense, and the knowledge to employ staff with expertise in the areas where he or she may fall short, but the ability to identify those areas.
I have watched the County and the Sheriffs Department grow. I have witnessed first hand the morale within its ranks decline. I have seen the good become bad and I want to make a positive change. I want to surround myself with positive, goal-oriented people that are qualified and empowered to handle the tasks they are given. Doing this will provide Walton County with a committed, dedicated and professional law enforcement service, that will communicate with you.
Once elected, I have many goals for the community and the office, but foremost we must have priorities. With the help of the Citizens, we can achieve these priorities and began meeting our goals. A sound financial department is a must, and this will be our first priority. Secondly we must repair the infrastructure and rebuild the trust of the Office from within. Finally, we will re-open the communication lines between the Office and the Community. None of these will take priority over another; they are all of equal importance and will be addressed simultaneously. Most important, I want to build a proactive department today to meet the needs of the community tomorrow.
I pride myself on treating people fairly and equally, and I will demand the same from our team when elected.
As our campaign takes off, I would welcome the opportunity discuss your concerns in person and identify what you feel the needs of the community may be now and in the future.

and thanks for speaking up. PM me when you have a press release together.

This race will be determined in a local Republican and Democratic primary election.

These are the major offices that will be on the ballot:

Republican Candidates
Clerk of Courts - Martha Ingle - unopossed
Tax Collector - Rhonda Skipper - unopossed
Property Appraiser - Patrick Pilcher - unopossed
Commisssioner - Cindy Meadows - unopossed
Commissioner - Scott Brannon - upopossed
Commissioner - Larry Jones - upopossed
Supt of Education - Carlene Anderson - unopossed
Sheriff - 9 candidates

Non-partisan
School Board - Mark Davis - unopossed
School Board Wilkerson/Nelson/Yarndell

No real issues to drive a large turnout

Sorry but the turnout will be very light.

In this race top vote receiver is the winner - no runoffs.

hmmmmmm, coyote, he sure sounds well qualified. Educated, experienced, maybe he can come back in the pool after all?