Who Finances A Better South Walton?

I will use 2 political subdivisions to help determine South Walton. The South Mosquito Control District which runs from county line to county line east and west, south of the intracostal waterway and an area in Steelfield that is currently accessible by going to Hwy 79 and driving down Steelfield Rd. I am sure the South Walton Mosquito Control District could define it better. Also the South Walton Fire District provides coverage from county line to county line and to the Clyde B Wells Bridge. As both of the mentioned enities are established by the residence of their respective areas and by the Florida Legislature I feel pretty confident in what the boundries contain. Now south Walton is located south of I-10 and south of Hwy 20 but I do not consider either of the areas south Walton, but of course that is just my opinion.

Sound familiar?

LETTER: Why did we incorporate?


I lived in Destin for several years before the date of incorporation. Pundits for the movement came by and described the benefits of incorporation. We would have control of the growth of what Destin was to become. Now this was after the Marlbrough Marina was destroyed to allow the removal of all the old oaks that existed on the top of the landing leading to the marina. These oaks had been there for hundreds of years and were categorically what Destin was at the time.

The advent of Destin was to control the expansion of outside influence into OUR town. This was the premise that the folks promoting incorporation gave to the property owners. It seemed a win-win situation. Keep the county out of our business. It was passed. We became the City of Destin.


But there was only Grow, Grow, Grow and Build, Build, Build that we faced day in and day out until we are at the point we are today. Traffic is at a standstill because the TDC has promoted this area as the acme of destinations to go to.

Now, 30 years later, the city still looks to expand its base at the expense of the local people by adding more taxes. I have lived here for times that the city did not exist and have paid my taxes every year. It seems the City of Destin doesn’t give a hoot about the people who supported them in the beginning, only the more prosperous folks that come to be in MY town today.

In this town today the more you have the more influence you have. I regret my vote to incorporate.

The county could have done no worse than the City of Destin has accomplished.

- RON HARDY, Destin

The only part he left out is that the TDC is controlled by the county not the city. He makes it sound as though incorporation led to a TDC that over marketed.

I think the conclusion is bad government is bad government if it's at the county or city level.

It appears that many of the donors who aren't highly thought of would fall within the area of incorporation. Politics being what they are, who is to say those folks wouldn't dump large sums of cash to get folks elected as is currently happening. I know, I am a cynic. I will give ask a question, did Commissioner Jones win the vote in those polling places south of the bay?

I will give ask a question, did Commissioner Jones win the vote in those polling places south of the bay?

Are you giving or asking?

If I remember correctly (someone correct me if I'm wrong) C. Jones didn't fair well in the district she is supposed to represent but did well in SoWal.

Are you giving or asking?

If I remember correctly (someone correct me if I'm wrong) C. Jones didn't fair well in the district she is supposed to represent but did well in SoWal.

Asking. I thought that also, which leads me to believe that those folks who want incorporation may find themselves in the same situation as they are currently.

Actually, Cecelia Jones did well throughout the County. You can asked Commissioners Brown, Glidewell and Pridgen about the results.

Actually, Cecelia Jones did well throughout the County. You can asked Commissioners Brown, Glidewell and Pridgen about the results.

Mike

Actually she lost in the North but won by a wide enough margin in the 4 south precincts to win.

She won several precincts within her district. The other precincts within her district were won variously by other candidates. I'm not sure about the relevance. Do votes within a district count more? I thought it was a county-wide election, no?

The purpose of my comment was that she won in the south end precincts which could lead me to believe that those who spend money supporting a candidate for a city commission seat could very well throw enough money you sway the vote and really dash the hopes of those to want more of a say in how a city could operate.

Mike

Actually she lost in the North but won by a wide enough margin in the 4 south precincts to win.

Thank you Bob!
Some folks should stick to arguing about things they think know...like Trump.

Mike

Actually she lost in the North but won by a wide enough margin in the 4 south precincts to win.

As I recall she won because of the votes of people that didn't really know her.

As I recall she won because of the votes of people that didn't really know her.

Oh they knew her alright...maybe not across the bridge but in Freeport and the Blue Crew campaign to get her elected.

C. Jones campaigned hard in Sowal. I do remember someone here posting that she went door to door down there with her HUSBAND lurking in the background and a few also said they didn't know her and he was very intimidating. Anyone who had recently moved here between 2012-2013 and 2014 may well have not known of her. Anyone who has lived here any length of time should have as her reputation and that of her HUSBAND proceeds her.

Actually Grayton Beach Guy the 2014 election was a tale of two distinct areas with two very different results. Fact is Ms. Jones finished 3rd in the district and 2nd north of the bay. I happened to win both. Ms. Jones received 27% of the vote in the district, 30% North of the bay and 52% of the votes South of the bay. So it is clear that the South vote was crucial to her election. I might also point out that Ms. Jones spent $68,342 or $19.02 per vote while I spent $14,265 or $5.92 per vote. I won 8 precincts while she won 10 but 4 of her precinct wins were south of the bay. So I think it is plain that Ms. Jones would not be commissioner today without the south voting heavily for her. But you are right, we have county wide voting and she won fair and square.

One of two things will happen:

1) Meadows will win re election and the Incorporation movement will slow down or possibly phase out.

Or

2) Anderson will win and spark new life into the Incorporation movement with Meadows eventually getting back in the game as "city council person".

Those are my predictions.

Bob Wells is on to a good theory.

One of two things will happen:

1) Meadows will win re election and the Incorporation movement will slow down or possibly phase out.

Or

2) Anderson will win and spark new life into the Incorporation movement with Meadows eventually getting back in the game as "city council person".

Those are my predictions.

Bob Wells is on to a good theory.

The people trying to put Anderson in office OPPOSE efforts to incorporate South Walton.

Thus my prediction.