Tony Anderson has now raised over $100,000 with two months to go. That is an insane amount of money for a local commission race. Someone is trying to "buy" this race !The previous high was the Scott Brannon run in 2004 when he raised 73k.
We have a "first" in the D5 Comission Race!
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Tony Anderson has now raised over $100,000 with two months to go. That is an insane amount of money for a local commission race. Someone is trying to "buy" this race !The previous high was the Scott Brannon run in 2004 when he raised 73k.
I have long been dismayed by the direction of national and state politics due to the obscene amounts of money needed to run for office and the lack of choices among candidates. Those problems are now exhibited in local politics and we are not made better by these developments. Whether you are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, new resident or “good old boy,” rich or poor, or any other demographic category, this is a threat to you and a threat to good government.
Today it was announced that a candidate for a Walton County Commission seat had raised $100,000 in reported money with 2 months to go. That is an insane amount of money to fund a local county commission race. In 2014 I ran for county commissioner in District 2 and finished 2nd among four candidates. One of those was the incumbent and the other was a former commissioner. I spent about 1/10 th of $100,000 and ran a good race with many signs, newspaper ads, TV ads and other literature. My opponents raised and spent much more but nowhere near $100,000. You do not need to raise or spend that much money to get your message out. But now that one has done it, everyone will be trying to compete and raise similar amounts or prospective candidates will just not run. The “pundits” will tell anyone and everyone that a candidate is not “viable” if they do not raise these huge sums as well.
We have already witnessed this phenomenon in our local government. 2 of the 3 “big 3” constitutional officers went unopposed this cycle and the other drew 3 candidates in a race without an incumbent. 2016 is the first time in 189 years that the Walton County Sheriff’s race was not contested. I have heard many good, qualified people say they would like to run but could not raise enough money to compete. The huge amounts of money combined with political tricks like last minute write-in candidates and the resulting disenfranchisement of around 1/3 of our county electorate causes a chilling effect on local government.
The long-term consequences of this reduction of choice brings complacency to elected officials who only must keep their donors happy to remain in office and grants an inordinate amount of influence and power to those with the ability to donate these huge amounts of money. It undermines the confidence of the ordinary citizen in their government and causes a sense of hopelessness that anyone can effect real change in the direction we are heading.
Folks, the only way to fix things is look at who is raising these huge amounts of money and “just say no.” Vote for candidates who are not owned by those who seek to gain advantage through the government and who will represent you instead of those with deep pockets.
Today it was announced that a candidate for a Walton County Commission seat had raised $100,000 in reported money with 2 months to go. That is an insane amount of money to fund a local county commission race. In 2014 I ran for county commissioner in District 2 and finished 2nd among four candidates. One of those was the incumbent and the other was a former commissioner. I spent about 1/10 th of $100,000 and ran a good race with many signs, newspaper ads, TV ads and other literature. My opponents raised and spent much more but nowhere near $100,000. You do not need to raise or spend that much money to get your message out. But now that one has done it, everyone will be trying to compete and raise similar amounts or prospective candidates will just not run. The “pundits” will tell anyone and everyone that a candidate is not “viable” if they do not raise these huge sums as well.
We have already witnessed this phenomenon in our local government. 2 of the 3 “big 3” constitutional officers went unopposed this cycle and the other drew 3 candidates in a race without an incumbent. 2016 is the first time in 189 years that the Walton County Sheriff’s race was not contested. I have heard many good, qualified people say they would like to run but could not raise enough money to compete. The huge amounts of money combined with political tricks like last minute write-in candidates and the resulting disenfranchisement of around 1/3 of our county electorate causes a chilling effect on local government.
The long-term consequences of this reduction of choice brings complacency to elected officials who only must keep their donors happy to remain in office and grants an inordinate amount of influence and power to those with the ability to donate these huge amounts of money. It undermines the confidence of the ordinary citizen in their government and causes a sense of hopelessness that anyone can effect real change in the direction we are heading.
Folks, the only way to fix things is look at who is raising these huge amounts of money and “just say no.” Vote for candidates who are not owned by those who seek to gain advantage through the government and who will represent you instead of those with deep pockets.
But the question is "Why?"
How much does that position pay again?
Raising more to run for a position than it pays is a huge red flag!
Raising more to run for a position than it pays is a huge red flag!
Hampton Inn?
Someone wants to be sure they own the 3 votes needed to get whatever they want approved and passed. The real questions are why is Cecilia Jones showing up everywhere day and night to events with Tony? How could it make Jerry Jones so mad he told people he was voting for Cindy and he even tried to qualify to run in the race against Tony? Who got control of him to stop him? Who will write the Walton County scandal tell all book and make millions. Will it be Jerry Jones???????