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Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973
There was rather vigorous conversation on several FB group pages, there were several candidate forums (some were "pre-loaded" against us), we had a great website with lots of information. Those who actually talked to either us about the issue or took the time to learn about how the majority of other districts hire the superintendent had their questions answered and pre-conceived assumptions debunked. I guess we anticipated more people to be like the 25% who voted YES, many who said "who elects a superintendent?" It seemed like such a no-brainer. Clearly this county was not ready for a change. That's OK. There are 25% of us that aren't ready to keep things the same. That number will continue to grow- ya gotta start somewhere.

A thought occurred to me as I heard one of the candidate's discuss economic development. Good luck with that- who moves a business to a small rural county that can't understand that we need to catch up to 2014 or we are going to be left behind. Yeah, they are just lining up at the borders to move companies here.

I was super disappointed in the media. This referendum had more people voting on it than the next voted-on race (county commissioner), which means there were people who showed up just to vote on the referendum, and didn't mark anything else on the ballot. That's kind of sad, and tells me that those voters were completely disengaged in anything else that affects the county like commissioners and school board members. Anyway, it was the biggest issue that started the biggest debate I have seen in almost 9 years of living here, and deserved way more coverage than it received. I really didn't appreciate being contacted by WJHG the afternoon before election day, wanting an immediate interview, or calling me back at 5:00 on election day wanting an interview- in DeFuniak. They should have done a story over a month ago or at least give us several days advance notice to work around our work schedules. Northwest Florida Daily had a small article several weeks, ago, but nothing in depth, and in depth discussion is what is required on issues that will be not only controversial, but game-changing. My favorite was a FB request from a Walton Sun reporter that I received at 6:30 am this morning wanting my "reaction" to the election results. Really? A FB request for comment on an huge issue that was never covered by the Sun in the first place? Sorry, but it sounded like they were looking for entertainment value, not anything resembling news. Thankfully the DeFuniak Herald/Beach Breeze did print lots of letter, pro and con. I am so naive that I thought the con letters would help us as they kept being about politics and not the point of the referendum.

There was also the weird email request from 30A TV, that looked like porn spam in my email box, as it was from a "Ms. Fancy Hands", who was asking for answers to very biased interview questions (the 30A TV owner is on the board of the Walton County Small Business Association, who formed a PAC to oppose us, and had one $10,000 contribution to do it). Sorry, but I am too busy between my family and job to screw around with half ass or silly media efforts.

A lot of very busy people worked on the Kids Before Politics campaign. People with families (and all the running around and obligations), jobs, and lives outside of playing the Walton County politics game, which was very present in all races on the ballot, and sad and embarrassing for all of us. You might not agree with the YES team's take on the issue, but we worked as hard on it as busy people with real lives could possibly work. I challenge any of you, especially the ones who hide behind screen names, to tell us what it is YOU do to try and make this county a better place to live, as it seems you contribute very little except for criticism on a message board.

Once again, thanks to SoWal.com for a place to have mostly respectful discourse.
 
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DaleDalbey

Beach Fanatic
Nov 1, 2011
281
152
Misty,

You are right that there are not good jobs in the north end of the county. It is not the South's fault that there is terrible poverty in the North. The fault lies in the simple fact that we have absolutely no leadership in this county... Anywhere. The biggest reason we have no manufacturing companies who might consider locating here is because they look for cooperative government, an educated, trained workforce and good school systems that are attractive to the executives that would be running the plant. We have none of those things. The even more pitiful comparison is to look at the manufacturing jobs Alabama has gained. Most of the plants are in once distressed areas. State leaders, business leaders, local leaders and educational interests worked together in those areas to make a difference. In Walton County, our "leaders" would probably agree that they all should get bribes, but would let the deal die as they fought over how to split the money.
 

Misty

Banned
Dec 15, 2011
2,769
752
I challenge any of you, especially the ones who hide behind screen names, to tell us what it is YOU do to try and make this county a better place to live, as it seems you contribute very little except for criticism on a message board.

THERE'S THAT LOVELY AIR OF SUPERIORITY AGAIN!

You're right you have no clue what others have done and you're to busy patting your own self on the back for it to matter.

As much as we disagree on this particular issue we are agreed about the media in this "neck of the woods". Their unwillingness to engage should have been an indication to you as to where they actually stood on the issue. People including the media were not interested in this "sudden change".
 

Misty

Banned
Dec 15, 2011
2,769
752
Misty,

You are right that there are not good jobs in the north end of the county. It is not the South's fault that there is terrible poverty in the North. The fault lies in the simple fact that we have absolutely no leadership in this county... Anywhere. The biggest reason we have no manufacturing companies who might consider locating here is because they look for cooperative government, an educated, trained workforce and good school systems that are attractive to the executives that would be running the plant. We have none of those things. The even more pitiful comparison is to look at the manufacturing jobs Alabama has gained. Most of the plants are in once distressed areas. State leaders, business leaders, local leaders and educational interests worked together in those areas to make a difference. In Walton County, our "leaders" would probably agree that they all should get bribes, but would let the deal die as they fought over how to split the money.

And had we had this discourse prior to the vote you might have won me over. I agree!!
 

Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973
THERE'S THAT LOVELY AIR OF SUPERIORITY AGAIN!

You're right you have no clue what others have done and you're to busy patting your own self on the back for it to matter.

As much as we disagree on this particular issue we are agreed about the media in this "neck of the woods". Their unwillingness to engage should have been an indication to you as to where they actually stood on the issue. People including the media were not interested in this "sudden change".

Actually they are all so short-staffed that investigative journalism is completely non-existent here. There are several reporters in TV and print with whom i have had some interesting conversations with off record.

I love my lovely air of superiority. It is one of the things that keep me from sinking into the abyss of giving up hope that our kid might be educated in a school system that can compete with the rest of the country, not just northwest Florida. A school system that supports its teachers and values its families, instead of looking at them as problems. A school system that can really academically compete on a national level. A girl can dream.
 

Danny Glidewell

Beach Fanatic
Mar 26, 2008
725
914
Glendale
Shame on you WaltonParent for plagiarizing my campaign speeches. (Just kidding) I just wish I had been better at articulating that message south of the bay.
I am probably the candidate Jdarg is talking about. I also recognize that our refusal to move forward is a hindrance to growth. I just want us to find and implement solutions. But they must be Walton County solutions, not north or south solutions. Somehow we must find a way to end the division that has hindered us for years.
I am also one of the candidates that Misty refers to often who would not publicly state a position on the referendum. It was not a BCC issue and I had much to lose and nothing to gain by stating a position. Truth is I felt that the continuing land use mess at the BCC level, failure to develop/maintain infrastructure including parking, broadband, roads etc. were the issues I should be talking about.
 

Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973
[FONT=&amp]There are many of us who live here and who have either ACTIVELY CHOSEN to make Walton County our homes, and we want to work to make it an even better place. Just because we may live south of the bay and haven't lived here as long does not mean we can't have opinions. Our votes county just like yours do. Accusing us of trying to force on us a 'sudden change' THAT NEARLY EVERY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MADE, is ludicrous.[/FONT]

We need to keep up or get left behind.
 

Andy A

Beach Fanatic
Feb 28, 2007
4,389
1,738
Blue Mountain Beach
You know, Jdarg, you and I may disagree on certain political issues but we certainly agree on the usage of common sense.
 

Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973
You know, Jdarg, you and I may disagree on certain political issues but we certainly agree on the usage of common sense.

Andy, my new friendship with you is one of the best things that came out of this campaign. :)

I'm looking forward to some vigorous debate this fall regarding the November elections!
 
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