Who is this group? Anyone know?

This comment is from T. Anderson Facebook page...(It's a portion of what he said on June 15, 2016 and has not been taken out of context)

The BCC did the right thing last night in passing Commissioner Jones' amendment to the Beach Activities Ordinance, to remove ropes, chains and other obstructions from the beach.

The next step in cleaning up our beaches must be: immediately passing a customary use policy to protect public beach use rights, strengthening our beach rules to ensure appropriate behavior, and provide more funding for enforcement.

When pressed to give his thoughts on the vendor issue as @Dave Rauschkolb stated...there was radio silence!! It should also be noted, there are NO private beaches in Walton County. Someone else asked Mr. Anderson the same question and stated they received a well written response that never answered the question!

I also just love (I'm being a smart ass) how he croons over what he perceives as Commissioner Jones' amendment which would not have happened at all without Cindy Meadows and Sara Comander.

On June 14, 2016 Tony Anderson chatted...

Tonight, the BCC will discuss an amendment to county ordinances, sponsored by Commissioner Jones, to prevent obstructions on the beach, including signs, chains, fencing, and ropes.

More crooing about C. Jones but NOTHING about the vendor issue.

On June 13, 2016 Someone speaking for Mr. Anderson wrote...

The last few years have seen an unprecedented number of signs, ropes, and chains blocking our beaches – all designed to prevent Walton County residents and visitors from enjoying our natural resources.

But said nothing about the number of vendor chairs that also prevent residents and visitors from enjoying OUR beaches.

It was also the closest whoever is handling that site came to the issue of customary use commenting...

Tony will take a stand in favor of customary use, which protects the public's right to use and enjoy our beaches. Tony knows that we must strengthen our beach rules, but he also believes that it should never be a crime to take a peaceful walk on a beach in Walton County. We're better than this.

That comment was amended on June 15, 2016 by the comment from Mr. Anderson himself that "The next step in cleaning up our beaches must be: immediately passing a customary use policy to protect public beach use rights"

Just guessing, but maybe this PAC just sees Mr. Fletcher and Ms. Nipper as constructive, thoughtful political "outsiders" and feel that Walton County needs some new perspectives in the BCC. Given many of the comments that end up on this forum and other social media, that may have some appeal to many.

Just guessing, but maybe this PAC just sees Mr. Fletcher and Ms. Nipper as constructive, thoughtful political "outsiders" and feel that Walton County needs some new perspectives in the BCC. Given many of the comments that end up on this forum and other social media, that may have some appeal to many.

If that's true, I'd like to know Mr. Fletcher's position on customary use and the over abundance of vendor chairs on our beaches. He is posting here and is acutely aware of these threads!

How do you get that? I don't see anything about customary use on the mailings.

Not everything is viewed through a camera lens.

Dawn I think people are connecting dots and taking a guess. Customary use is the most controversial issue of this campaign cycle and people want to know an answer. These mailers are fairly innocuous but they make no mention of a position on customary use. So, combine that with other candidates stated positions, the fact that no District 5 candidate was awarded a mailer and both of them have stated unequivocal support for customary use and the rather tepid support Mr. Fletcher and Ms. Nipper have given to customary use and people have drawn conclusions. I don't know if they are right or not but I still would like to know why a Washington PAC cares about a Walton County Commission race. But I cannot fault Mr. Fletcher or Ms Nipper for "accepting" this gift. Legally they cannot coordinate with a PAC and they cannot stop a group from liking them.

I don't think is is safe to assume the PAC is actually from Washington. Anyone can get a Washington DC address to prop up a business or organization.

Just guessing, but maybe this PAC just sees Mr. Fletcher and Ms. Nipper as constructive, thoughtful political "outsiders" and feel that Walton County needs some new perspectives in the BCC. Given many of the comments that end up on this forum and other social media, that may have some appeal to many.

A PAC that just supporting candidates "because they are political outsiders" is a very shallow agenda.

If that's true, I'd like to know Mr. Fletcher's position on customary use and the over abundance of vendor chairs on our beaches. He is posting here and is acutely aware of these threads!

"Radio Silence"

If that's true, I'd like to know Mr. Fletcher's position on customary use and the over abundance of vendor chairs on our beaches. He is posting here and is acutely aware of these threads!

A PAC that just supporting candidates "because they are political outsiders" is a very shallow agenda.

Note that I said constructive, thoughtful political outsiders. Did you see the candidate forum? Have you talked to them? They both seem like very genuine people with a good grasp of the issues. Most of the local candidates seem very approachable. Seems to me that voters have a fairly good slate of candidates to talk to about their various concerns and then vote for the candidate that lines up best with their beliefs.

Note that I said constructive, thoughtful political outsiders. Did you see the candidate forum? Have you talked to them? They both seem like very genuine people with a good grasp of the issues. Most of the local candidates seem very approachable. Seems to me that voters have a fairly good slate of candidates to talk to about their various concerns and then vote for the candidate that lines up best with their beliefs.

Which candidate forum? The one held by the WCTA? If so, I'm repeating myself here but for health and personal reasons I am not able to attend them which makes the online information I can accurately glean from the Candidates beneficial to me. I'm sure I am not alone...NoWal has a large elderly population, my own father is pretty much house bound and relies heavily on the internet for outside communication as do other personal friends of mine.

Misty,

Your emphatic assertions that there are no private beaches in Walton County is demonstrably wrong as a matter of law and recorded deeds to the contrary. Hundreds of people have legal recorded deeds that state they own their beach by virtue of having paid for them in a voluntary exchange of money for private property in full accord with state and federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in the not distant past that sand seaward of the MHWL belongs to the state and that landward belongs to the deed holder of record. As I imagine you are aware, that case was litigated by Okaloosa Island folks represented by Mr. Seifert.

Under state law, where publicly funded beach restoration has been done, the ECL established in concert with that renourishment supplants the MHWL as the demarcation between public and private property.

Had you been at the candidate forum, watched it on tv, or later viewed it online, you’d have heard the candidates’ answers re customary use. While that may be the hot button issue of the moment, Walton County has and will continue to have other overarching problems than customary use, and as the candidates all acknowledge, that issue is going to be settled by the courts, not the BCC or candidates for that posting. It’s one thing to have an opinion. It’s better to have a well-informed one. If you’ve not been to the beach in many years, you need to try to pay it a visit some weekend about now. It’s a disturbing eye-opener. Walton County has not been and continues to fail at being a good steward of the resources of this county, most especially as relates to the golden goose of the beach, the businesses serving the tourists and locals, and the infrastructure supporting them so inadequately.

The reality of Walton County, your hyperbole aside, is that a major threat to citizens expressing opinions critical of the powers that be is retribution against the interests or person of that citizen. While there are no known gulags in our fair county, I can assure you that at least one of the players behind the officials of our govt has sent armed goons to threaten and intimidate business opponents in the past. Another close friend openly critical of the powers that be had armed thugs show up at my friend’s place of business a couple of years ago, posing as BATF agents, looking for my friend and using a bogus rationale. The threats are sufficient that the FBI has been and likely still is quietly involved, watching for some of these folks to make the slip that impels federal action at last.

Neither of us knows who the agents of the 501c4 putting out the ads are, and neither of us has any knowledge of why they support Bill and Melanie. Those agents’ motivation is entirely beside the point to me. I’m going to vote for the folks whom I believe will bring a fresh perspective and a clean break with the past. I’d love it if they got in and voted for everything I favored, but I’ll settle for folks who are devoted to following the law and trying their dead level best to do what they, after appropriate due diligence, believe to be the best thing for the citizens of Walton County, and doing so in a courteous and respectful manner.

I'm sorry you have health and personal reasons that preclude your attending the candidate forums sponsored by the WCTA. The recent one is available online for your viewing. I believe the link is in the WCTA website, and I'm pretty sure Bob Hudson has posted that link on one of these Sowal forums. I don't know if the upcoming DFS forum will be video and available both on local TV channel 24(?) and later online. but I believe that is planned.

Which candidate forum? The one held by the WCTA? If so, I'm repeating myself here but for health and personal reasons I am not able to attend them which makes the online information I can accurately glean from the Candidates beneficial to me. I'm sure I am not alone...NoWal has a large elderly population, my own father is pretty much house bound and relies heavily on the internet for outside communication as do other personal friends of mine.

Misty, I believe that it was posted in another thread on Sowal. Try this link and see if it works: Walton County Taxpayers Association Commissioner Candidate Forum SWHS - YouTube

Misty, I believe that it was posted in another thread on Sowal. Try this link and see if it works: Walton County Taxpayers Association Commissioner Candidate Forum SWHS - YouTube

Thank you...the one I tried to watch live..I was only able to view sideways. With arthritis in my neck and shoulders I didn't watch long.

lazin&drinkin...would your reference to deeds be those who were issued quit claim deeds? It's unfortunate that so many of the things the County has done in the past have resulted in so many Court cases and decisions that will continue into the future.

The reality of Walton County, your hyperbole aside, is that a major threat to citizens expressing opinions critical of the powers that be is retribution against the interests or person of that citizen. While there are no known gulags in our fair county, I can assure you that at least one of the players behind the officials of our govt has sent armed goons to threaten and intimidate business opponents in the past. Another close friend openly critical of the powers that be had armed thugs show up at my friend’s place of business a couple of years ago, posing as BATF agents, looking for my friend and using a bogus rationale. The threats are sufficient that the FBI has been and likely still is quietly involved, watching for some of these folks to make the slip that impels federal action at last.

I'm sure part of your reference is in regard to Suzanne Harris and the hell she went through. I'm all too aware of what the powers that be have done in the past and have also been on the receiving end of it. No one was armed thankfully and it didn't involve the FBI but is did involve one dumb, stupid ex-City Marshall whose antics later cost him his job and brought out issues of his honesty and integrity...2 precious commodities that can destroy a career in law enforcement. Proud to have been a part of that little experience in the end but must admit it was a bit disarming when the Sheriff's office showed up at my door. (I lived in the county at the time.) I've also witnessed first hand Jerry Jones (C. Jones' husband) threats and intimidation. He was really sorta comical and it was very difficult to understand what he was spewing in my face but I think it was something to the effect of if I didn't keep my mouth shut, I'd get knocked on my a$$. Neither threats stopped me from having my opinions....obviously.

How do you get that? I don't see anything about customary use on the mailings.

I just don't know of any other issue in this election that would cause someone to spend that much money to promote a candidate. However, I'm not a registered voter in Walton County, so there very well may be some other big money issue I'm unaware of. I do try to keep up with locale politics because I own property in Nowal and Sowal.

Customary Use affects everybody, whether you own property in SoWal or whether you visit once a year. It affects the cash flow of a whole lot more people that aren't registered voters in Walton, than it does the humble few that live here and give a damn.

Customary Use affects everybody, whether you own property in SoWal or whether you visit once a year. It affects the cash flow of a whole lot more people that aren't registered voters in Walton, than it does the humble few that live here and give a damn.

I don't live there( I hope to one day). I have been a regular visitor all my life, and I care very deeply about customary use. I hope to continue to be able to visit the area and enjoy the beaches just as it has been my custom to do since I was born.

We were customarily using it, last night, to view fantastic fireworks on the beach like we have for way over half a century.

Misty,

Your emphatic assertions that there are no private beaches in Walton County is demonstrably wrong as a matter of law and recorded deeds to the contrary. Hundreds of people have legal recorded deeds that state they own their beach by virtue of having paid for them in a voluntary exchange of money for private property in full accord with state and federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in the not distant past that sand seaward of the MHWL belongs to the state and that landward belongs to the deed holder of record. As I imagine you are aware, that case was litigated by Okaloosa Island folks represented by Mr. Seifert.

Under state law, where publicly funded beach restoration has been done, the ECL established in concert with that renourishment supplants the MHWL as the demarcation between public and private property.

Had you been at the candidate forum, watched it on tv, or later viewed it online, you’d have heard the candidates’ answers re customary use. While that may be the hot button issue of the moment, Walton County has and will continue to have other overarching problems than customary use, and as the candidates all acknowledge, that issue is going to be settled by the courts, not the BCC or candidates for that posting. It’s one thing to have an opinion. It’s better to have a well-informed one. If you’ve not been to the beach in many years, you need to try to pay it a visit some weekend about now. It’s a disturbing eye-opener. Walton County has not been and continues to fail at being a good steward of the resources of this county, most especially as relates to the golden goose of the beach, the businesses serving the tourists and locals, and the infrastructure supporting them so inadequately.

The reality of Walton County, your hyperbole aside, is that a major threat to citizens expressing opinions critical of the powers that be is retribution against the interests or person of that citizen. While there are no known gulags in our fair county, I can assure you that at least one of the players behind the officials of our govt has sent armed goons to threaten and intimidate business opponents in the past. Another close friend openly critical of the powers that be had armed thugs show up at my friend’s place of business a couple of years ago, posing as BATF agents, looking for my friend and using a bogus rationale. The threats are sufficient that the FBI has been and likely still is quietly involved, watching for some of these folks to make the slip that impels federal action at last.

Neither of us knows who the agents of the 501c4 putting out the ads are, and neither of us has any knowledge of why they support Bill and Melanie. Those agents’ motivation is entirely beside the point to me. I’m going to vote for the folks whom I believe will bring a fresh perspective and a clean break with the past. I’d love it if they got in and voted for everything I favored, but I’ll settle for folks who are devoted to following the law and trying their dead level best to do what they, after appropriate due diligence, believe to be the best thing for the citizens of Walton County, and doing so in a courteous and respectful manner.

I'm sorry you have health and personal reasons that preclude your attending the candidate forums sponsored by the WCTA. The recent one is available online for your viewing. I believe the link is in the WCTA website, and I'm pretty sure Bob Hudson has posted that link on one of these Sowal forums. I don't know if the upcoming DFS forum will be video and available both on local TV channel 24(?) and later online. but I believe that is planned.

"The reality of Walton County, your hyperbole aside, is that a major threat to citizens expressing opinions critical of the powers that be is retribution against the interests or person of that citizen. While there are no known gulags in our fair county, I can assure you that at least one of the players behind the officials of our govt has sent armed goons to threaten and intimidate business opponents in the past. Another close friend openly critical of the powers that be had armed thugs show up at my friend’s place of business a couple of years ago, posing as BATF agents, looking for my friend and using a bogus rationale. The threats are sufficient that the FBI has been and likely still is quietly involved, watching for some of these folks to make the slip that impels federal action at last."

Dear Lazin&drinkin,

The above paragraph is shocking, disturbing and disgusting that this is the way, by any means, certain people use to get what they want in our county. I have heard stories but few first hand accounts. Is there anyone actively documenting such activity?

Misty,

I'm not referring to quit claim deeds. And I've certainly heard the stories, lots of them, over the years about Jerry Jones from a number of different folks. Witnessed one of his threatening moves toward a friend one evening in Sandestin. I was pointing my finger at him and shaking my finger and my head in warning to him. For whatever reason, he elected to call off his charge around his truck toward us. Probably all the witnesses present.

Dave,

I mentally catalog these things as I witness and hear of them. Other citizens do the same. The FBI is keeping score, but lots of luck getting them to tell you what they are doing. I can tell you they have had and continue to have an interest in this stuff in our county. Another friend with an intense interest in political goings on in Walton was warned by the FBI to quit asking questions about a certain powerful entity in our county, that people could die for doing stupid things like that. The fellow in question told me this face to face.

Where there is the opportunity for quick riches, there lies a feeding trough for the greedy and unethical of the world. Watching them feed is ugly. You are obviously an idealistic man. There are lots of folks who are as cynical and dishonest as you are idealistic. There are more than a couple of those types in our little nirvana by the sea, and they will do what they have to do to win.

Misty,

I'm not referring to quit claim deeds. And I've certainly heard the stories, lots of them, over the years about Jerry Jones from a number of different folks. Witnessed one of his threatening moves toward a friend one evening in Sandestin. I was pointing my finger at him and shaking my finger and my head in warning to him. For whatever reason, he elected to call off his charge around his truck toward us. Probably all the witnesses present.

Dave,

I mentally catalog these things as I witness and hear of them. Other citizens do the same. The FBI is keeping score, but lots of luck getting them to tell you what they are doing. I can tell you they have had and continue to have an interest in this stuff in our county. Another friend with an intense interest in political goings on in Walton was warned by the FBI to quit asking questions about a certain powerful entity in our county, that people could die for doing stupid things like that. The fellow in question told me this face to face.

Where there is the opportunity for quick riches, there lies a feeding trough for the greedy and unethical of the world. Watching them feed is ugly. You are obviously an idealistic man. There are lots of folks who are as cynical and dishonest as you are idealistic. There are more than a couple of those types in our little nirvana by the sea, and they will do what they have to do to win.

I haven't had any dealings with Mr Jones and as for the FBI, well I will believe when I see it. I think some of these stories are a little like urban myths and they just get perpetuated and become larger and grander with every telling. Wish we had Snopes for Walton

Bob,

Ask Scott Brannon if the FBI's interest is urban legend.

Bob,

Ask Scott Brannon if the FBI's interest is urban legend.

Why? This story has been ongoing since he was in office, correct? Has he been arrested for anything? Did I miss him being convicted for anything that he has been accused of? I don't know Mr Brannon and never voted for him so where would I find him?

Why? This story has been ongoing since he was in office, correct? Has he been arrested for anything? Did I miss him being convicted for anything that he has been accused of? I don't know Mr Brannon and never voted for him so where would I find him?

Scott Brannon was found guilty of ethics violations in 2008 and did not run again when his term expired by his own admission because of his despicable behavior.

“Under these circumstances … I have not handled myself in a way befitting of someone elected to serve the people of Walton County,” Brannon said in a 10-page statement he read at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting.

“My behavior, at times erratic, and things I have said and done are unacceptable, and I truly regret those,” he said. “To anyone whom I have insulted, offended or caused problems, I sincerely apologize. The stress and pressure I was under is not an excuse.”

If jail were the consequence for despicable behavior and or lapses in ethical conduct the Walton County Jail would be full of ex county commissioners The irony of that is that when citizens act despicably or have lapses of ethical judgment in public, they are generally arrested.

Scott Brannon was found guilty of ethics violations in 2008 and did not run again when his term expired by his own admission because of his despicable behavior.



If jail were the consequence for despicable behavior and or lapses in ethical conduct the Walton County Jail would be full of ex county commissioners The irony of that is that when citizens act despicably or have lapses of ethical judgment in public, they are generally arrested.

Excellent point, still not FBI related.

Excellent point, still not FBI related.

That should have read, If jail were the consequence for despicable behavior and or lapses in ethical conduct the Walton County Jail would be full of *current* and ex- County Commissioners.

Are you asking if the FBI was in Walton County and if Scott Brannon and C. Jones were being looked at? The answer is yes they were.