In the 6 decades I've been around I find myself moving away from identifying myself as a Republican. I'm still a fiscal conservative and I'm a strong believer in the values that my parents taught me, including traditional Judeo-Christian values. If I need to put a label on my 'political party' it would be 'conservative, consitutional libertarian'. In Walton County there is rampant corruption within the Republican establishment. One need look no further than the campaign finance reports to see that most of Walton County's elected officials receive funding from the same sources. And some of these 'sources' aren't even residents of Walton County and I assume that they aren't registered to vote here. I've met some good people who are registered Democrats who would make much better public servants than some of the trash we now have holding public office. I often ruffle a lot of feathers with my views but my only agenda is that public officials act with integrity and are accountable to all the citizens, not just the ones who give them campaign money. If enough voters look past party affiation, we'll be in a better place.
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Admin
Good post - we get more and more partisan every day. I guess it's good for ratings and votes sometimes.
I don't know much about politics but it seems that Walton County's politicians are nearly all Republican, no matter what they really are. If you want to get elected here then you (almost always) have to run as a Republican. I guess you have to be in the same club as everyone else. And the same religion apparently.
If we had a balance of the two parties in our local politics, don't you think the same contributors you are worried about would be contributing to both campaigns? Isn't that the way it works in America and isn't that the real problem?
I don't know much about politics but it seems that Walton County's politicians are nearly all Republican, no matter what they really are. If you want to get elected here then you (almost always) have to run as a Republican. I guess you have to be in the same club as everyone else. And the same religion apparently.
If we had a balance of the two parties in our local politics, don't you think the same contributors you are worried about would be contributing to both campaigns? Isn't that the way it works in America and isn't that the real problem?
Beach Fanatic
hrumpf x 2
Beach Fanatic
hrumpf x 2So true.
BannedAuthor
The gentlemen have me at a disadvantage. I know not what "hrumpf" means or stands for. My bad. That term means nothing to me either.
Beach Fanatic
Blazing Saddle--- Hedley Lamar, basically we agree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhQ0DibXdHU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhQ0DibXdHU
BannedAuthor
I'm now more convinced than ever that if you want to run for office and expect to win in Walton county you must run as a Republican. That now is the only reason I am a registered Republican. It's amusing that we have registered Democrats holding office in Non partisan offices but that's the way it is.
Beach Lover
It's really sad to me that people are so closed minded. It appears that the majority of Walton county voters enjoy having a corrupt and unethical local government. Why else would they keep putting the "good ole boy" network in our public offices. I particularly feel for the staff working for our school system. I've never heard anything positive about Carlene Anderson from teachers or administrative staff. Keep your eyes open to how staff are treated in the coming year. No doubt there will be retaliation against some employees, we will see what Carlene's true colors are. Thats my opinion, I know the majority around here will disagree, but keep in mind they are the ones putting the untrustworthy people in office. I truly hope things will change in our county, but I'm not very optimistic about it, at least not in the immediate future.
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Beach Fanatic
Let me ask you IT, if sowal or other forums were not here would anyone really know what you were talking about? Really with no more news in the local papers shedding light out what some folks believe is happening and some of the folks who are shouting it from the roof tops do not put it in an orderly and cognitive fashion limiting the emotion it some cases it is difficult to take seriously. Just my opinion
BannedAuthor
Let me ask you IT, if sowal or other forums were not here would anyone really know what you were talking about? Really with no more news in the local papers shedding light out what some folks believe is happening and some of the folks who are shouting it from the roof tops do not put it in an orderly and cognitive fashion limiting the emotion it some cases it is difficult to take seriously. Just my opinion
Nail meet hammer. In Walton County there's a one party system. It's sad but we're like the citizens who live in Jesse Jackson Jr.'s district in Chicago. Those folks will re-elect him regardless of how corrupt he is. And the folks in Walton county will continue voting in the "gang" who are puppets for the power brokers.
Beach Fanatic
So are you saying that all Republicans are corrupt JP?
BannedAuthor
Not all Republicans. But in Walton County, corruption is a Republican problem. Wendy Victoria had a good article in the Daily News before the election that indicated that the best way to send a message was to elect some Democrats. I would hope that we have some elected officials who are people of integrity but the signals I'm getting are very discouraging. I voted for three Democrats on a county level. I also voted for the Libertarian candidate who ran against Jeff Miller.
Beach Lover
I understand your point Bob Wells, the news media around here does a poor job. But, when you have a one party system and people continue voting the same way and expecting different results is sad in my opinion. I don't have the answers to the problems. This much I do know, the Superintendent of Education should be a non-partisan position, this is the first place I have ever lived that it is an elected position. I have always voted for the person I felt had the conviction to to do what is best for everyone and not tow the party line on every issue. Republicans have been in control of this county for the past two decades, they are the ones that should be held accountable for the counties problems.
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Beach Lover
Anybody who votes for a candidate just because they're a Democrat or Republican is really stupid!
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