Jim Bagby has stepped down as the executive director of the Walton County Tourist Development Council.
He will leave the job he has held for two years Oct. 16 and departs with a severance package that pays 20 weeks salary plus accrued vacation and sick leave.
Bagby announced his decision to resign Tuesday at the Walton County Commission meeting. Commissioner Cecilia Jones had requested an item be added to the meeting agenda to allow her to call for Bagby’s immediate termination, but his spot in the meeting sequence came first.
Jones has argued for a month that Bagby should be forced out of his job. She claimed that he went around the commission’s back to provide a substantial unauthorized raise to one of his TDC employees. Others on the board had expressed agreement.
The vote to allow Bagby to resign was 3-1, with Jones voting against. Commissioner Cindy Meadows was not present at the meeting.
Jones said she believed issues surrounding incoming Restore Act funds, economic development issues and anticipated changes to the way the TDC operates required “a quicker transition” than Bagby’s October departure will allow.
Though he may have lost the confidence of a majority of the county’s governing board, Bagby obviously remained popular with county staff. He exchanged handshakes and hugs with several county staffers on his way out the door.
“This is a good outcome for the county and for my family,” said Bagby. “If I had wanted to stay, I would have fought. I negotiated a severance because it was in everybody’s best interest.”
He said if he had any regrets about his sometimes turbulent run at TDC director it was that he hadn’t communicated his successes well enough.
“We need to communicate better with the citizens of Walton County about the things we are doing,” he said. “The citizens of South Walton tell us all we do is bring too many people here and we don’t do anything for the infrastructure. That’s the furthest thing from the truth and I wish I could have communicated that better.”
He cited the TDC’s work to add hiking and biking opportunities, improve beach access, increase the amount of available parking and conserve and protect the environment as sometimes overlooked achievements.
Bagby said he leaves with some regret, but is also proud of what the Walton County TDC was able to accomplish in his time there. Assistant County Administrator Stan Sunday was appointed to help the TDC transition to new leadership in the time before Bagby leaves.
“I’m a firm believer that every time a door closes another one opens,” Bagby said. “I believe another door will open for me.”
