Redistricting Walton County

On Monday, June 6th, the BMBCA (Blue Mountain Beach Community Association) will hold a board meeting at the Coastal County Library meeting room. At 5:30 PM, Bonnie McQuiston will explain her position regarding re-districting and answer questions from all who attend. Everyone is welcome. BMBCA is a community association and is not a political enity.

They say if you keep spouting conspiracy theories long enough, eventually they will take hold and people will remember them as the truth. I know I repeatedly stated that I stored 20K of absentee ballots under my bed and ultimately was the subject of investigations from Walton County to Tallahassee. Black Crown Vics would follow me around, I even had a guy call me and offer a deal if I would cooperate with the FBI and turn everyone involved in that was helping me. People can be pretty gullible at times.

Beureaucrat Bill is not out of bounds because he went to the meeting as an agent of our COE. Just realize that there are two sides of the story, and Brenda Rees was invited to give a presentation to the committee. She had to improvise (entertain?) while waiting for faulty audiovisual equipment the committee wanted her to use (not her stuff, and not her plan to use the equipment, but the committee's) was fixed. His snippy comments aimed at a private taxpayer who has amazing enthusiasm for Walton County are uncalled for, however.

She could have used any equipment, audio visual aids, handouts that she wanted to use. The meeting was a bit confusing because what was being said was not matching what we were handed or shown. I have seen a printed map and now have a better understanding of what she was saying.

I would hope that the original plan was to hold meetings in all the geographical parts of the county: Nowal, DFS, Freeport and Sowal. Paxton would be the logical place in the northend. If you think more needs to be added from the Sowal area then why not ask for an additional meeting instead of deciding that an entire area does not have input or does not need it? No one with a sense of public spirit would oppose that. But cutting off input from one group of people so you can have an additional crack at the committee is unfair.

The exact original plan as put forth at the FIRST meeting which had no public attendance. In fact, Bonnie McQuiston was the one that insisted that we hold meetings all over the county as the process was being done. One of those maps makes significant changes to representation in the Paxton area so I would think that there will be a presence at the meeting. I imagine they are practicing patience and just awaiting their turn, but I can assure you, that group is just as passionate about things that affect them as they are anywhere else in Walton County.

Regardless of your thoughts regarding where the next meeting should be held, it's still ridiculous for most people to attend a 2pm meeting. I'm sure that just as many residents of Paxton work a normal job they can't just walk away from to attend a meeting as people in the south end.

I agree with you. I was surprised those meetings are being held at that hour. Just never expected it. But the meetings where the actual adoption of the plan by the BCC and the WCSB will be in the evenings, and it is going to be their decision.

She could have used any equipment, audio visual aids, handouts that she wanted to use. The meeting was a bit confusing because what was being said was not matching what we were handed or shown. I have seen a printed map and now have a better understanding of what she was saying.

I believe she didn't know that she was going to present anything prior to the meeting and thus her only visual was the wrong map, which took time to correct.

On Monday, June 6th, the BMBCA (Blue Mountain Beach Community Association) will hold a board meeting at the Coastal County Library meeting room. At 5:30 PM, Bonnie McQuiston will explain her position regarding re-districting and answer questions from all who attend. Everyone is welcome. BMBCA is a community association and is not a political enity.

It'd be nice if she'd answer questions at the public hearings too.

The exact original plan as put forth at the FIRST meeting which had no public attendance. In fact, Bonnie McQuiston was the one that insisted that we hold meetings all over the county as the process was being done. One of those maps makes significant changes to representation in the Paxton area so I would think that there will be a presence at the meeting. I imagine they are practicing patience and just awaiting their turn, but I can assure you, that group is just as passionate about things that affect them as they are anywhere else in Walton County.

Yeah and Sarah Palin's vacationing in a campaign bus. :funn:

They say if you keep spouting conspiracy theories long enough, eventually they will take hold and people will remember them as the truth. I know I repeatedly stated that I stored 20K of absentee ballots under my bed and ultimately was the subject of investigations from Walton County to Tallahassee. Black Crown Vics would follow me around, I even had a guy call me and offer a deal if I would cooperate with the FBI and turn everyone involved in that was helping me. People can be pretty gullible at times.

Asserting that yoga and meditation in the public schools as a conspiracy to inject evil into the WALCO youth comes to mind!

It'd be nice if she'd answer questions at the public hearings too.

Its an open invitation, SWGB. Even you can attend. BTW, we all know you support Brenda Rees's map. Some of us do not. Accept it!

Its an open invitation, SWGB. Even you can attend. BTW, we all know you support Brenda Rees's map. Some of us do not. Accept it!

I'm just curious as to why?

Its an open invitation, SWGB. Even you can attend. BTW, we all know you support Brenda Rees's map. Some of us do not. Accept it!

I too am curious as to why you favor 3D, assuming that is your pick.

I too am curious as to why you favor 3D, assuming that is your pick.

I have not made a firm choice as yet. I am leaning toward 3D as I believe there is strength in numbers. That is why Bonnie is making a presentation to our board on Monday. It is to explain the position taken by her and, I believe, most members of the re-districting committee. I don't have a vote in this thing and am only seeking information. As I have said many times previously, it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference IMO as long as we continue to vote for our Commissioners at-large.

Its an open invitation, SWGB. Even you can attend. BTW, we all know you support Brenda Rees's map. Some of us do not. Accept it!

Wouldn't it be a better meeting with more than one viewpoint represented? Unless of course the people in your group have already made up their mind.

I too am curious as to why you favor 3D, assuming that is your pick.

Why not 3A? I spent a lot of time and effort working on that map.

Why not 3A? I spent a lot of time and effort working on that map.

OK, 3A, and to cut through the clutter, can we count on you to make a motion to throw out 3D at the next meeting and maybe narrow it down to 3A and Brenda's map, with an opportunity to tweak either? You can do it..."I motion we remove 3D from consideration", cmon Robert.

I have not made a firm choice as yet. I am leaning toward 3D as I believe there is strength in numbers. That is why Bonnie is making a presentation to our board on Monday. It is to explain the position taken by her and, I believe, most members of the re-districting committee. I don't have a vote in this thing and am only seeking information. As I have said many times previously, it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference IMO as long as we continue to vote for our Commissioners at-large.

Andy, what do you mean by 'strength in numbers'? Does it not concern you just a bit that there is a condescending attitude among those who are hell bent on 3D toward us coasties (reference the COE generated email above).

Let me be as honest as I can. I really have no strong opinion on the re-districting maps offered nor do I know enough about the situation to draw a firm opinion at this time.
We have a board meeting on Monday night of a community association. The board members were curious enough to want to know what the fuss is about, if there is one. I have been told that 3D will allow those living on the beach or near it, the input from 3 county commissioners vs. 1. Hence, the "strength in numbers" statement. Once again, as I've said many times, IMO, it is irrelevant as long as we continue to vote at-large and hopefully that will not change anytime soon. The board meeting will be open to all who wish to hear what is presented at 5:30 PM on Monday night, the 6th of June.

OK, 3A, and to cut through the clutter, can we count on you to make a motion to throw out 3D at the next meeting and maybe narrow it down to 3A and Brenda's map, with an opportunity to tweak either? You can do it..."I motion we remove 3D from consideration", cmon Robert.

It will either be a motion to remove or a motion to approve. I can promise you that much. But I plan on making at least one, if not many motions at the next meeting. 8-)

Andy, what do you mean by 'strength in numbers'? Does it not concern you just a bit that there is a condescending attitude among those who are hell bent on 3D toward us coasties (reference the COE generated email above).

Maybe there was a meeting I missed, but I don't think so. I am not sure you know how 3D even came about. At the second meeting, the first meeting after numbers were gotten, the only map we really had was 3A. I had gone to GIS and worked with Kevin to come up with that map mainly because I had worked in GIS before and wanted to see what data he had and how the process was going to work this time versus last time, just because of the difference in technology. Everyone seemed to like the map, but wanted some little things changed, which we worked on at the meeting. It then became obvious that due to the weird way the Fed had done these census blocks, there was not a way to make minor changes in population. Seemed like everything you did affected hundreds instead of dozens. Ronnie Bell then had the idea of trying to bring a third district south, which several members seemed adamantly against. The district was going to go down 331, into Grayton, Pt. Washington, around that area. But again, census blocks just would not make it feasible, and it did not appear to have much support. Then it was thought it might be done over in Mirarmar. Well the first block you come to on the north side of the bay actually runs north of the road and east and west to the county line, basically along the north shore. So after trying a few things the discussion changed to Kevin going back and seeing what other census blocks he could find for boundaries and running the numbers to see if a third district could be extended across into south Walton. At that meeting, more than one member commented that they would not support three districts south of the bay no matter what the map looked like. 3D is what came out of that. I do not know if Kevin did that all on his own or if someone helped him with it.

Now considering that the boundaries do nothing more than decide where someone lives that is going to run for office, and that there is a larger population in 3Dsouth than there is in 3Dnorth, and for thirty years all I have ever heard is the south end needs more representation, and so far the ones I have heard that are against it are not even affected by that change, I can tell you the map has my interest.

I have seen a lot of good ideas for this county posted on these forums. There are a lot of services and amenities that I believe should be offered and are not for whatever reason or priority. And I fully understand how the tax funding formula works. I think, in order for these things to ever come into being, it is going to take governing bodies that are comprised of a majority of like thinking individuals. I believe you will never get there until you have three districts south of the waterway. 3D is certainly not a perfect solution, but it appears to me that is is the path that will have to be taken to ultimately move forward.

But, then listening to everyone, my thoughts are that maybe change is not something everyone is prepared for, so maybe we do need to wait another ten years or so and see what happens.

I have found that although everyone says they are in favor of change babies are the only one's that truly enjoy it.

3A - Just do it.

Andy, when you see the maps you'll understand it better.

3D would leave south walton with 1 commissioner. While the claim that the other two pittances that run through swamps, federal land, and bays would give the "potential" for the south end to have three commissioners. I find that hard to believe as the north end has fought long and hard to prevent a majority south of the bay. When you consider that there is also an effort to get single district voting on the ballot south walton could potentially end up with one district. I find it very hard that they would even come close to risking a south end majority.

Andy, when you see the maps you'll understand it better.

3D would leave south walton with 1 commissioner. While the claim that the other two pittances that run through swamps, federal land, and bays would give the "potential" for the south end to have three commissioners. I find that hard to believe as the north end has fought long and hard to prevent a majority south of the bay. When you consider that there is also an effort to get single district voting on the ballot south walton could potentially end up with one district. I find it very hard that they would even come close to risking a south end majority.

I'll be happy to take your comment to our board meeting on Monday evening. Anybody without enough common sense to vote for single district voting will deserve what they get. I don't think that is the main intent of most, if any, on the re=districting committee. I don't think most sitting on the re=districting committee want to set Walton County back to the really good ol' boy era. You are welcome to attend and present you point of view during the question and answer period.

Andy, when you see the maps you'll understand it better.

3D would leave south walton with 1 commissioner.

How is that any different than what you have now? The sad thing is the south end has the numbers to make a difference, just too indifferent to show up at the polls. This weeks Herald had a letter from a south walton business threatening to band together and vote the commissioners out if they did not vote her way on the wedding issue, interesting thing, since the person making the threats rarely shows up at the polls. Maybe the group she is going to band together has a better record. Problem is under the current system, most is decided in the primary and south Walton is not made up of primary voters.