Huckabee denies ties to Our Generation campaign
The carefully concealed trail leading to the Walton County origins of a group called Our Generation winds awfully close to the doorstep of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
But Huckabee, a Blue Mountain Beach resident, says he has no involvement with Our Generation, an organization that has been playing an oversized role in two Walton County Commission races.
Our Generation’s ad campaign, which has been heaping criticism on incumbent commissioners Bill Imfeld and Bill Chapman, is being run through a business known as The Wickers Group.
Bryan Sanders, a partner in The Wickers Group, is Huckabee’s son-in-law.
Huckabee responded to questions about the family connection in an email from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
“Wasn’t even aware the agency my son-in-law works for was doing ad placement until I got an email from (Walton Sun reporter) Deb Wheeler yesterday,” Huckabee said. “Wickers does ad placement all over the country. ... I can assure you I’m not funding. I’m still recovering from my own campaign!”
Carolyn Barber, another partner in The Wickers Group, is believed to be handling the Our Generation campaign in Walton County. An email she sent to WZEP AM radio in DeFuniak Springs on July 5 requests “spots” to run between July 7 and July 29.
“Attached are orders and paperwork for my client, Our Generation,” the email said.
Barber did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Imfeld and Chapman say they are being targeted by wealthy South Walton beachfront homeowners for their stance on customary use of local beaches.
“It seems all they’re focused on is an attempt to do a take-out strike for people in favor of customary use of the beaches,” Imfeld said.
Many coastal homeowners contend they should control the plot of beach they purchased with their residences.
Imfeld and Chapman have taken the stance that because Walton County’s 26 miles of beaches have always been available for public use, they should, to some extent, remain so.
While attacking Imfeld and Chapman, the Our Generation ads have promoted the candidacies of Melanie Nipper and Bill Fletcher.
Nipper is running against Imfeld in District 3. Fletcher is running against Chapman in District 1. All the candidates are seeking office as Republicans.
Huckabee, who owns a beachfront home in South Walton and has advocated for private property rights, has contributed $1,000 to Nipper’s campaign. His wife contributed another $1,000.
Both Nipper and Fletcher say they know nothing about Our Generation or who is behind it.
“I don’t know anything in the world about them,” said Fletcher, who Our Generation calls “a proven business leader.”
“I don’t think anybody believes that,” Fletcher added.
Both Imfeld and Chapman have filed complaints against Our Generation with the First Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Elections Commission.
The State Attorney’s Office is reviewing information provided by the commissioners, according to Greg Marcille, the Judicial Circuit’s chief assistant state attorney.
The Florida Elections Commission does not comment on complaints filed or ongoing investigations.
Fliers sent out in Walton County by Our Generation originated from the Georgetown Business Center at 1101 30th St. in Washington, D.C.
Company paperwork lists Dennis Hoffman, Rosie Johnston, Dan Perrin and Mark Murphy as officers in Our Generation, a nonprofit “social welfare organization.”
The Wickers Group’s home office lists a San Francisco address.
The carefully concealed trail leading to the Walton County origins of a group called Our Generation winds awfully close to the doorstep of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
But Huckabee, a Blue Mountain Beach resident, says he has no involvement with Our Generation, an organization that has been playing an oversized role in two Walton County Commission races.
Our Generation’s ad campaign, which has been heaping criticism on incumbent commissioners Bill Imfeld and Bill Chapman, is being run through a business known as The Wickers Group.
Bryan Sanders, a partner in The Wickers Group, is Huckabee’s son-in-law.
Huckabee responded to questions about the family connection in an email from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
“Wasn’t even aware the agency my son-in-law works for was doing ad placement until I got an email from (Walton Sun reporter) Deb Wheeler yesterday,” Huckabee said. “Wickers does ad placement all over the country. ... I can assure you I’m not funding. I’m still recovering from my own campaign!”
Carolyn Barber, another partner in The Wickers Group, is believed to be handling the Our Generation campaign in Walton County. An email she sent to WZEP AM radio in DeFuniak Springs on July 5 requests “spots” to run between July 7 and July 29.
“Attached are orders and paperwork for my client, Our Generation,” the email said.
Barber did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Imfeld and Chapman say they are being targeted by wealthy South Walton beachfront homeowners for their stance on customary use of local beaches.
“It seems all they’re focused on is an attempt to do a take-out strike for people in favor of customary use of the beaches,” Imfeld said.
Many coastal homeowners contend they should control the plot of beach they purchased with their residences.
Imfeld and Chapman have taken the stance that because Walton County’s 26 miles of beaches have always been available for public use, they should, to some extent, remain so.
While attacking Imfeld and Chapman, the Our Generation ads have promoted the candidacies of Melanie Nipper and Bill Fletcher.
Nipper is running against Imfeld in District 3. Fletcher is running against Chapman in District 1. All the candidates are seeking office as Republicans.
Huckabee, who owns a beachfront home in South Walton and has advocated for private property rights, has contributed $1,000 to Nipper’s campaign. His wife contributed another $1,000.
Both Nipper and Fletcher say they know nothing about Our Generation or who is behind it.
“I don’t know anything in the world about them,” said Fletcher, who Our Generation calls “a proven business leader.”
“I don’t think anybody believes that,” Fletcher added.
Both Imfeld and Chapman have filed complaints against Our Generation with the First Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Elections Commission.
The State Attorney’s Office is reviewing information provided by the commissioners, according to Greg Marcille, the Judicial Circuit’s chief assistant state attorney.
The Florida Elections Commission does not comment on complaints filed or ongoing investigations.
Fliers sent out in Walton County by Our Generation originated from the Georgetown Business Center at 1101 30th St. in Washington, D.C.
Company paperwork lists Dennis Hoffman, Rosie Johnston, Dan Perrin and Mark Murphy as officers in Our Generation, a nonprofit “social welfare organization.”
The Wickers Group’s home office lists a San Francisco address.
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