DFS Herald Sheriff's poll. Who has your vote?

Fair enough

You came through. I just replied to J. Sconier's post that was placed today. Great job supporting your friend. Thanks for getting him involved.

You came through. I just replied to J. Sconier's post that was placed today. Great job supporting your friend. Thanks for getting him involved.

Thank you for taking the time to read his post. Hopefully you will get to hear more from him in the upcoming months.

Thank you for taking the time to read his post. Hopefully you will get to hear more from him in the upcoming months.

Fair Enough

Hello everyone,

Been following the poll and found this site. It appears Adkinson is doing very well, and Johnson is not.

Yet I see what appears to be a lot of commentary concerning why Adkinson should not be elected. From both here, and the NWF Daily News comment board (referred to in an earlier post) it seems this falls into two groups -

1 - lack of experience
2 - baggage (family, etc)

I for one don't know much about his experience, but I understood him to have experience with both the County Sheriff's department (Leon?) and City police in Tallahasse. Not sure what 'experience' people are saying he does not have, but before we dismiss a viable candidate, lets get some facts. He may be the right man for the job.

As for baggage, it is funny that so many people will attack him on the fact of who his family is. This man is running for sheriff...not his uncle or anyone else. If that is the baggage, then we all need to take a breather.

I have met Mike Adkinson, and think he has done a great job in Defuniak. Unless someone finds some substance to these arguments, he sounds like the best man for the job.

Hello everyone,

Been following the poll and found this site. It appears Adkinson is doing very well, and Johnson is not.

Yet I see what appears to be a lot of commentary concerning why Adkinson should not be elected. From both here, and the NWF Daily News comment board (referred to in an earlier post) it seems this falls into two groups -

1 - lack of experience
2 - baggage (family, etc)

I for one don't know much about his experience, but I understood him to have experience with both the County Sheriff's department (Leon?) and City police in Tallahasse. Not sure what 'experience' people are saying he does not have, but before we dismiss a viable candidate, lets get some facts. He may be the right man for the job.

As for baggage, it is funny that so many people will attack him on the fact of who his family is. This man is running for sheriff...not his uncle or anyone else. If that is the baggage, then we all need to take a breather.

I have met Mike Adkinson, and think he has done a great job in Defuniak. Unless someone finds some substance to these arguments, he sounds like the best man for the job.

To address your two questions, the second of which is a bit confusing, who is this uncle and why does that matter? As for his experience, I am waiting for him as well as the others to post us their qualifications much as both Dennis Wise and Josh Sconiers have done (although J. Sconiers did not post as much as Wise, at least he gave an explanation and some background).

I have only heard of Adkinson and the biggest issue seems to be how he obtained his current position in the first place. Maybe you can shed some light on this? Also, invite him to educate those of us, south of the bay, as to who he is. We will make our decisions on his qualifications then.

I have only heard of Adkinson and the biggest issue seems to be how he obtained his current position...

There was an election. Any city resident could have qualified to run. He was elected at around 67% if I am remembering the count. 17%-1 more than he needed.

There was an election. Any city resident could have qualified to run. He was elected at around 67% if I am remembering the count. 17%-1 more than he needed.

As I understand it, the election was for his second term or something like that. What?s this I hear about his first term? I have heard people talking about how he is supposed to be ?connected? up North and that this uncle is some high dollar attorney. That?s all we need is more ?good old boys? nonsense and an attorney. Oh please say it isn?t so.

After some quick research I found several very interesting posts on Northwest Florida Daily News. See if you can access this string of comments ?

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/11117/comments/#readComments

If you can?t get to it, just look for the article on DeFuniak Chief filing for pre-qualification or something similar to that. It would appear to me that many people do not like him, at least those on the site. Maybe he can post something for us here on this site?

As I understand it, the election was for his second term or something like that. What?s this I hear about his first term? I have heard people talking about how he is supposed to be ?connected? up North and that this uncle is some high dollar attorney. That?s all we need is more ?good old boys? nonsense and an attorney. Oh please say it isn?t so.

Adkinson is a long time family of Walton County. They have had many businesses, held many public offices, and on and on. This is nothing new in a small rural community. The city council had to hire a new city marshal to finish out the unexpired term of the previously elected marshal. They advertised the position, conducted interviews, and hired who they believed was the best candidate for the job.

Then there was an election. This is where the people get to hire the individual. Again more than one candidate applied for the job, interviews were conducted, and the citizens chose who they thought would do the best job.

Adkinson is a long time family of Walton County. They have had many businesses, held many public offices, and on and on. This is nothing new in a small rural community. The city council had to hire a new city marshal to finish out the unexpired term of the previously elected marshal. They advertised the position, conducted interviews, and hired who they believed was the best candidate for the job.

Then there was an election. This is where the people get to hire the individual. Again more than one candidate applied for the job, interviews were conducted, and the citizens chose who they thought would do the best job.

What happened to the #2 guy in the DFS PD? Why was he passed up for the job? He was qualified, very qualified and very well liked. Why bring in a guy from Tallahassee?

Adkinson is a long time family of Walton County. They have had many businesses, held many public offices, and on and on. This is nothing new in a small rural community. The city council had to hire a new city marshal to finish out the unexpired term of the previously elected marshal. They advertised the position, conducted interviews, and hired who they believed was the best candidate for the job.

Then there was an election. This is where the people get to hire the individual. Again more than one candidate applied for the job, interviews were conducted, and the citizens chose who they thought would do the best job.

Who were/is the "they" you reference? Any close connections to the uncle I keep hearing about? Just seems too "good old boys" for me.

Watcher, I spoke with my editor about the idea of a town forum with a set selection of voter questions and then maybe a debate between the last men left standing. He like the idea.
I am concerned as well about the time to do something like this as one poster mentioned prior and turnout, but it is something we might be able to put together if enough people work on it.

The Taxpayer's Association used to do this. They called it Candidate Forums. In past years some were well attended, some were not. I assume they are still doing them?

The Taxpayer's Association used to do this. They called it Candidate Forums. In past years some were well attended, some were not. I assume they are still doing them?

They did them last election but opted not for the actual debate. This was changed after the Sheriff's race in 2004. A question would be asked in DeFuniak, one candidate would answer, then 6 more would say 'I agree with him'. Really did not discover anything. Last election they did a candidate fair where people could come and speak one on one with the individual candidates and ask their questions.

Watcher -

I enjoy reading your posts, but the last few here about Adkinson seem to be a regurgitation of the misinformed propaganda on the NWF Daily News board.

WaltonGOP is correct, Adkinson was appointed, and was then re-elected. If your concern is with why the City Police did not just promote the number 2 man, you may want to look at the state of that police department at the time the chief position came open. You had an outgoing chief with numerous misconduct allegations against him, and how far into the department that went we don't really know.

Maybe the city decided to clean house and get the corrupt out and bring in some new blood. Now it is true Adkinson is from here, and has family here, but is that a bad thing? If the improvements made in the city of Defuniak are any indication, he is the kind of man we need to clean up Ralph's mess.

Watcher -

I enjoy reading your posts, but the last few here about Adkinson seem to be a regurgitation of the misinformed propaganda on the NWF Daily News board.

WaltonGOP is correct, Adkinson was appointed, and was then re-elected. If your concern is with why the City Police did not just promote the number 2 man, you may want to look at the state of that police department at the time the chief position came open. You had an outgoing chief with numerous misconduct allegations against him, and how far into the department that went we don't really know.

Maybe the city decided to clean house and get the corrupt out and bring in some new blood. Now it is true Adkinson is from here, and has family here, but is that a bad thing? If the improvements made in the city of Defuniak are any indication, he is the kind of man we need to clean up Ralph's mess.

I was only calling attention to what a quick Internet Search reveals.

As for the #2 man, are there or were there any allegations against him? I have not heard any. Since you reference cleaning house, may I remind you of who the current #2 man is. ?Bill? was #2 under Quinn McMillian, you want to go there? Talk about cleaning house, those were the days, even Ralph Johnson knows that. If he?d stuck to his guns and kept on looking, he?d found what he was looking for.

If I recall, the current #2 was involved with his own ?problems? surrounding his Florida State Law Enforcement Accreditation. As I recall, an ex-employee of DFS Police, blew the whistle on some sort of attempt to falsify documents. I also recall an agent of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that was somehow involved, was terminated (or asked to resign, I?m not sure). So the #2 guy was let go and not appointed as part of ?house cleaning? but the guy whose accreditation was the focus of the investigation is uninvolved and unknowing. Please clarify this bit of history for me.

Also, please tell me of all the improvements in DFS and please don't forget the qualifications...;-) I will reserve any political opinions of Mr. Adkinson until then.

As I stated, I don't truly know what the #2 man's issues were. Just pointing out that when you have organizational changes, everybody does not move up a rung automatically. Certain reasons (e.g. 'housecleaning') often require restructuring at the top.

My understanding is that a fellow named Mark Weeks (?Captain?) is the current #2 at the city police. Not Bill Chapman. I certainly understand your concerns about Chapman, a lot has been said about that. I don't know much about him or what he was involved in, so I won't be able to comment much on that. On this issue...i was under the impression chapman was serving under both Adkinson and Weeks.

As for improvements in the City, I am not trying to run Mr. Adkinson's campaign. But from a general observation there are more officers, better equipment, and a more well received (by many, not all) police force than was in that city for years. City police in small towns are usually glorified watchmen, and from what I hear, Defuniak now has a well trained group of officers who are well liked. For specifics, I will let Adkinson state his improvements if he posts on here.

Likewise, I will defer to him on his qualifications. A post was made on the NWF Daily News site that listed certain things. Could be an unofficial plant made by a supporter, but regardless, if accurate, it does list some solid qualifications, imo.

As I stated, I don't truly know what the #2 man's issues were. Just pointing out that when you have organizational changes, everybody does not move up a rung automatically. Certain reasons (e.g. 'housecleaning') often require restructuring at the top.

My understanding is that a fellow named Mark Weeks (?Captain?) is the current #2 at the city police. Not Bill Chapman. I certainly understand your concerns about Chapman, a lot has been said about that. I don't know much about him or what he was involved in, so I won't be able to comment much on that. On this issue...i was under the impression chapman was serving under both Adkinson and Weeks.

As for improvements in the City, I am not trying to run Mr. Adkinson's campaign. But from a general observation there are more officers, better equipment, and a more well received (by many, not all) police force than was in that city for years. City police in small towns are usually glorified watchmen, and from what I hear, Defuniak now has a well trained group of officers who are well liked. For specifics, I will let Adkinson state his improvements if he posts on here.

Likewise, I will defer to him on his qualifications. A post was made on the NWF Daily News site that listed certain things. Could be an unofficial plant made by a supporter, but regardless, if accurate, it does list some solid qualifications, imo.

Thanks for the correction on Chapman. Regardless of his position, he still has one and it is under the Adkinson administration. This really needs to be looked at. I am not buying the house cleaning. I have also heard the old #2 in DFS now works for WCSO, any truth there? Maybe he too can run for sheriff.

As for the rest, maybe someone will clear that up. I just could not believe all the anti-Adkinson people who listed on NW FL Daily. It would seem to me that Adkinson, of the candidates that have been discussed on this site, carries the most baggage and dislike against him. That does not sit too well. A bit of additional research also would lead me to believe that the current sheriff has issue with him as a chief (not sure of the issues). Either way, Adkinson would appear to be just another good old boy, making friends the old fashioned way.

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to say thanks for participating in the poll.
I will be writing up a short summary for this weeks issue. It will be interesting to look back at the numbers in June when the real race starts.

Thanks again,
AL

Thanks for the correction on Chapman. Regardless of his position, he still has one and it is under the Adkinson administration. This really needs to be looked at. I am not buying the house cleaning. I have also heard the old #2 in DFS now works for WCSO, any truth there? Maybe he too can run for sheriff.

As for the rest, maybe someone will clear that up. I just could not believe all the anti-Adkinson people who listed on NW FL Daily. It would seem to me that Adkinson, of the candidates that have been discussed on this site, carries the most baggage and dislike against him. That does not sit too well. A bit of additional research also would lead me to believe that the current sheriff has issue with him as a chief (not sure of the issues). Either way, Adkinson would appear to be just another good old boy, making friends the old fashioned way.

Dennis Ward was rehired by the SO, after being rejected by the DFS City Council, and like so many others before him, fell victim to a demotion and lost rank.

Now anyone can go to Rick Brown's web site and email him directly or call him.
the web site is members.cox.net/vote4rickbrown/
On it you can find his email address of vote4rickbrown@cox.net
His days off are Tues/Wed/Thurs and he can be reached by cell after 5PM every day and all day on his days off.
Cell is (850)974-0638

Dennis Ward was rehired by the SO, after being rejected by the DFS City Council, and like so many others before him, fell victim to a demotion and lost rank.

Do we know any reasons for the City Council to reject him? It is my understanding that he was well respected and well liked. I do not recall him having been involved in Chapman's Florida State Standards incident. How was/is Mr. Adkinson better qualified for the Chief position? Was D. Ward guilty by association?

Do we know any reasons for the City Council to reject him? It is my understanding that he was well respected and well liked. I do not recall him having been involved in Chapman's Florida State Standards incident. How was/is Mr. Adkinson better qualified for the Chief position? Was D. Ward guilty by association?

Maybe you know something I don't but these guys interviewed the applicants then voted to hire whom they felt was most qualified. I have never seen them give much information as to why they did not hire someone.

Maybe you know something I don't but these guys interviewed the applicants then voted to hire whom they felt was most qualified. I have never seen them give much information as to why they did not hire someone.

I would think that they would have some criteria to which measurements of qualifications and ability would be assessed against. One would (should) have specific reasons as to why one person is qualified and the other is not. I am asking if anyone knows what their decision was based off of. Was it made based on qualifications or was it made based on political favors (thus, enter the uncle situation).

The bottom line is this. I may not have my finger directly on the pulse of the politics up north, but from what I have heard and what I know, putting all of it together, all Mr. Adkinson is, is another good old boy, just a bit younger then the old stable. If elected sheriff he will be no better than any prior administration, he'll just have a different agenda.

The time has come for this county to look at where it is in 2008. We have untrained deputies patroling our communities, we have radio equipment that is substandard and causes a safety risk, we have an influx of illegal aliens (many of whom are criminals) and no plan to protect ourselves, we have a sheriff who fires pregnant women, mishandles public funds, promotes based on incompetetance (the more you screw up the more you get strips/bars), we have little if any cooperation between other surrounding agencies, we have drugs infesting the Sandestin area (Baytowne), we even shoot a whale here and there. The old system has got to go.

We need fresh new leadership, at least a few individuals have responded to the "request" to produce their qualifications and some have gone further and given a list of goals. This county needs to move forward, please help it. No Ralph Johnson, no Mike Adkinson, no good old boys.

Watcher -

I agree we need to move the Sheriff's department forward. But to call Mike Adkinson a "good old boy" on the basis of what appears to be a small, yet vocal segment of the population is something I would hold off on.

I hear the complaints, mainly based on who he is family is. No doubt they have have been here for a long time. But to dismiss a person completely for those reasons is a bad idea.

You talk about the problems with the current office, several items you mention (radio equipment, drug problems, etc) are issues Adkinson has addressed in the city police department. The upgrades in equipment in that city seem to be drastic (a bad sign for how things used to be). Likewise, numerous drug arrests, including some recent federal drug cases were reported in the herald coming out of the city.

Once again, not syaing that Adkinson is the best candidate, just that his "fresh new leadership" has done wonders for a city police unit that was about a decade behind the times (and some would say much worse). If Mike Adkinson has followed the alleged good old boy agenda (which I am still unclear on), I am not sure what he has done that is bad. If it is a factor that he has family here who have been successful or active in the county, then he has a strike against him.

I just get frustrated hearing how one's family is an indication of how one will act. Do we really think our current president is cut from the same mold as his father (or his brother)? Not supporting the Bush family, just saying look at the differences between those 3 men. Take some time to hear the candidate, and then decided. Don't dismiss people based on a good old boy label that may not really apply.

Watcher -

I agree we need to move the Sheriff's department forward. But to call Mike Adkinson a "good old boy" on the basis of what appears to be a small, yet vocal segment of the population is something I would hold off on.

I hear the complaints, mainly based on who he is family is. No doubt they have have been here for a long time. But to dismiss a person completely for those reasons is a bad idea.

You talk about the problems with the current office, several items you mention (radio equipment, drug problems, etc) are issues Adkinson has addressed in the city police department. The upgrades in equipment in that city seem to be drastic (a bad sign for how things used to be). Likewise, numerous drug arrests, including some recent federal drug cases were reported in the herald coming out of the city.

Once again, not syaing that Adkinson is the best candidate, just that his "fresh new leadership" has done wonders for a city police unit that was about a decade behind the times (and some would say much worse). If Mike Adkinson has followed the alleged good old boy agenda (which I am still unclear on), I am not sure what he has done that is bad. If it is a factor that he has family here who have been successful or active in the county, then he has a strike against him.

I just get frustrated hearing how one's family is an indication of how one will act. Do we really think our current president is cut from the same mold as his father (or his brother)? Not supporting the Bush family, just saying look at the differences between those 3 men. Take some time to hear the candidate, and then decided. Don't dismiss people based on a good old boy label that may not really apply.

He is a good old boy until he proves otherwise. I have spoken with far too many people who have this shared belief. I invited him, along with other candidates to post their qualifications on this very site. Some have taken us up on that and provided some great info. Where is Mr. Adkinson? Does he think that he can win this election with only the support of DFS? Think again..., the South Walton Vote will decide this election in 2008.

I have not dismissed him for anything, he is just under the microscope.

He is a good old boy until he proves otherwise. I have spoken with far too many people who have this shared belief. I invited him, along with other candidates to post their qualifications on this very site. Some have taken us up on that and provided some great info. Where is Mr. Adkinson? Does he think that he can win this election with only the support of DFS? Think again..., the South Walton Vote will decide this election in 2008.

I have not dismissed him for anything, he is just under the microscope.

He has been out of town I believe. Do you know that he reads this site? I only did from time to time for the last couple of years and finally joined and started posting in November. I would imagine that him, as well as the other candidates will be doing a level of politicking in south Walton before it is over with.

South Walton is certainly a factor in any election, but elections can be won without winning those precincts, just ask Scott Brannon.