No minority has ever served Okaloosa, Santa Rosa or Walton counties on its county commissions or as sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections or clerk of courts.
“It seems an African-American can only make it to the city council level. There is a color barrier to be broken,” said Charles Baugh, who won election to the Crestview City Council but lost a 2014 bid to succeed Don Howard as the Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts.
To be sure, African-Americans and other minorities face some very real obstacles to being elected in this area of Northwest Florida. Blacks make up less than 10 percent of the total population of all three counties, while other ethnic groups compose percentages significantly lower than that.
www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20170429/in-minority-diversity-lacking-among-areas-elected-officials
Edited
Replies
6
Beach Fanatic
Wayne Graham just beat out Mac Carpenter in DFS City Council Election. 
I hear that some residents are still upset about that...
At least Mr. Graham wasn't the second in charge of the Walton County Planning Department during the time that the "Grand Jury" found all its "Problems", both factual and fictionalized...
Mr. Hughes is a very good person and will be a good Superintendent. He may get a shock or two (or three) about political life, but I see him doing the right thing and being very professional, regardless of the circumstance.
Sad that in this day, an article like this was written and Walton County was included in it.
I hear that some residents are still upset about that...
At least Mr. Graham wasn't the second in charge of the Walton County Planning Department during the time that the "Grand Jury" found all its "Problems", both factual and fictionalized...
Mr. Hughes is a very good person and will be a good Superintendent. He may get a shock or two (or three) about political life, but I see him doing the right thing and being very professional, regardless of the circumstance.
Sad that in this day, an article like this was written and Walton County was included in it.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Wayne Graham just beat out Mac Carpenter in DFS City Council Election.
I hear that some residents are still upset about that...
At least Mr. Graham wasn't the second in charge of the Walton County Planning Department during the time that the "Grand Jury" found all its "Problems", both factual and fictionalized...
Mr. Hughes is a very good person and will be a good Superintendent. He may get a shock or two (or three) about political life, but I see him doing the right thing and being very professional, regardless of the circumstance.
Sad that in this day, an article like this was written and Walton County was included in it.
The reference was about County Government...BCC, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser.
DFS has had other black leaders on the board. School Board has as well.
Beach Fanatic
The reason for the "lack of diversity" is that most minorities are Democrats and this area is a Republican stronghold. Russell Hughes is a Republican and was elected. Had he been a Democrat that would not have been the case. He was just as qualified either way but party was the determining factor, race had nothing to do with it.
Beach FanaticAuthor
The reason for the "lack of diversity" is that most minorities are Democrats and this area is a Republican stronghold. Russell Hughes is a Republican and was elected. Had he been a Democrat that would not have been the case. He was just as qualified either way but party was the determining factor, race had nothing to do with it.
Party affiliation shouldn't either.
Beach Fanatic
No, the principles, ideas and goals of a candidate should be what determines whether to vote for that candidate. What they have accomplished and the content of their character. But people use party affiliation as a short cut do determine the above criteria. It does not always work. Truly, you really do not know what someone will do until they have a little power. It tends to make some better but most get worse.
Beach FanaticAuthor
No, the principles, ideas and goals of a candidate should be what determines whether to vote for that candidate. What they have accomplished and the content of their character. But people use party affiliation as a short cut do determine the above criteria. It does not always work. Truly, you really do not know what someone will do until they have a little power. It tends to make some better but most get worse.
In Walton County's case its historically NOT worked.
I agree with you though.
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