I'd like to expand on InletBeachDweller's response from (Emerald Coast Association of Realtors) ECAR, in post #5 above.
ECAR's endorsements are made by the ECAR Board of Directors. Before the Board determines their endorsements, they have a Screening Committee, made up of concerned members from North and South Walton, and North and South Okaloosa. Please keep in mind that ECAR is made up of two counties, Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The Screening Committee bases its choice of candidates on real estate and Realtor related issues. They could care less about the candidates' choice of political party and they don't even give weight to whether or not a candidate is a Realtor or a broker. (When you consider that they chose to support Robert Nelson (non-Realtor) over a licensed South Walton Realtor, you see proof of this.) ECAR has decided to not endorse candidates in Judicial Races, which would include the Sheriff's Race. They feel that it could potentially cause a conflict of interest if ECAR was donating PAC money to a candidate who wins. Then ECAR members could potentially be asking for favorable consideration in Court cases, which could then be overturned on appeal. They don't want to go there, and I applaud them for that.
Regarding specifically the Walton County BCC, District 5 race, the ECAR Screening Committe initially selected Bob Hudson as their recommendation to the Board for endorsement. The Board was divided 50/50 between Bob Hudson and Alan Osborne. The President, living in Niceville, Okaloosa County, abstained from voting for the Walton County endorsement in this tie. With such a division of choice, the Board didn't feel that they should endorse a candidate for this race. The ECAR Board has to present a unified front, and they weren't unified, so they decided to not to endorse either candidate.
I hope this clears up any rumors. If you would like further explanations from ECAR, I'd suggest you speak with Cliff Long, Government Affairs Director for ECAR.