We have a "first" in the D5 Comission Race!

Again. Name a direct example. Development. Or project.

No. I nor Misty don't owe you anything and don't have to post anything to your satisfaction. The simple fact is that some shady crap has gone down over the years in this county under the direction supervision of our planning department. All of that is verifiable by numerous investigations and lawsuits.

No. I nor Misty don't owe you anything and don't have to post anything to your satisfaction. The simple fact is that some shady crap has gone down over the years in this county under the direction supervision of our planning department. All of that is verifiable by numerous investigations and lawsuits.

Easy to make accusations and then present no evidence.
Also easy to blame builders & developers. When those point fingers probably have zero experience with the development approval process.

Easy to make accusations and then present no evidence.
Also easy to blame builders & developers. When those point fingers probably have zero experience with the development approval process.

You demand evidence and then make accusations based on no evidence.

Oh goodie. Look, Misty has given me my 1st negstive rating.
After making broad accusations and challenged to back them up.
Woo-Hoo

You demand evidence and then make accusations based on no evidence.

I've made no accusations.

Ok, here's a developer give away for Lars... A Seagrove Business was given a Land Use they weren't entitled too(short by 20 acres) and couldn't prove when it happened either. Their architect sits on the zone board of adjustment and waived a 250' buffer for them that even the BCC couldn't waive. I have the email showing that too. The project on 395 and 30A, it's DO was given in 2007 and good for 1 extension, it received 2 or 3. It eliminated their requirements for informing the community of their plans of which it is a disaster IMO! Thus, 10 yr old traffic, environmental and other reviews were accepted as good on an expired DO filed by a defunct LLC. The deal made for that parcel forgave them $58K in traffic fees, let them forget(?) to build a PARK on an expensive parcel and put a restaurant and condos on it and let palm trees be planted where they said none would allowed. And finally they have been given a Fast Food DO so that they can open up while the rest of the space is still under construction with maybe no parking lot. This is a give away by Planning to a developer. Dir. Dyess and Planner Brown should be fired.

lazin & drinkin, thank you for the run down on the candidates, especially Ms.Nipper. It was much appreciated.

You are welcome, my friend. My experience for a number of decades now is that the United States military trains its people well, that those people who are in uniform and those who have made a career of wearing it with honor are among our best and brightest. Their values, their courtesy, their competence, their devotion to duty, their selflessness should inspire us all to do better and to point out to our children and their children how these attributes contribute so much to what has made and still makes our country the best in the world. Imperfect it has been, is, and will always be, but still the brightest shining light in the history of mankind. One does not have to have served to have those attributes and to live them every day, but military folks seem to embody them to a greater extent than most. I imagine that most people reading this blog are aware of your uniformed service to our country. I salute you and all your fellows, including but not limited to Melanie Nipper, for your and their service to our country and to mankind. My personal exposure to Melanie has been of short duration, but she has impressed me as one of the best of the best, a really fine citizen motivated to serve her country in a new way as an elected official. While she may have lots to learn about politics, she knows the essence of what a public servant should be, and she has lived that essence for at least a quarter century now as a military leader.

This is a give away by Planning to a developer. Dir. Dyess and Planner Brown should be fired.

Sounds like government corruption. Of course, I have not reviewed the facts and documents. And I'm not a legal professional, so I would be unqualified to make judgement.
I can say, I'm not a fan of the project you noted.

But then, I think Seaside is a mistake in density as well. But that developer is heralded regularly.

You are welcome, my friend. My experience for a number of decades now is that the United States military trains its people well, that those people who are in uniform and those who have made a career of wearing it with honor are among our best and brightest. Their values, their courtesy, their competence, their devotion to duty, their selflessness should inspire us all to do better and to point out to our children and their children how these attributes contribute so much to what has made and still makes our country the best in the world. Imperfect it has been, is, and will always be, but still the brightest shining light in the history of mankind. One does not have to have served to have those attributes and to live them every day, but military folks seem to embody them to a greater extent than most. I imagine that most people reading this blog are aware of your uniformed service to our country. I salute you and all your fellows, including but not limited to Melanie Nipper, for your and their service to our country and to mankind. My personal exposure to Melanie has been of short duration, but she has impressed me as one of the best of the best, a really fine citizen motivated to serve her country in a new way as an elected official. While she may have lots to learn about politics, she knows the essence of what a public servant should be, and she has lived that essence for at least a quarter century now as a military leader.

Thank you for trying to get this thread back on its intended track. I appreciate your insights.

Misty, Bob Wells and others,

While I don’t know who is behind the group that developed the posted ads advocating for Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Nipper, I think it’s likely safe to say that the individuals involved are not Mr. Blue or Commissioner Jones. That probability in and of itself should be a third reason for you to favorably view Bill Fletcher, not to mention Melanie Nipper.

Bill Fletcher is a retired CEO of a company with about 60 mil a year in revenues. He entered the race 4 years ago late in the game with little time and less money, and nearly beat Commissioner Chapman. He is a tireless volunteer worker for various organizations in this county. Board member and very active fundraiser for the Childrens’ Advocacy Center in DFS. Board Member and tireless fundraiser for the Freeport Kiwanians. Officer and Board member in local Republican Clubs, and I believe a local delegate to the Florida Republicans. Member of the Institute of Senior Professionals and perhaps the most important factor in recruitment of Love’s to Mossy Head. I believe he remains on the Board of Adjustments. Please contact Bill if you want a more complete listing, or check out his web site.

Bill is a good, solid citizen and a contributor to the good of the community for years now, and that would be true no matter where he lived. He’s that kind of guy. Smart, educated, and his own man. He and I don’t always see eye to eye, but he is a man who listens, thinks, decides, and if that decision is to disagree with me, I can depend on his having a reasoned position, not an arbitrary one, and a disagreement couched in agreeable and reasonable terms. He has the courage of his convictions and is beholden to no special interest than the public good. If you take the time to check that statement out, you will agree with me. Bill’s record is there for all to see if you do your own due diligence. Take the time to go to the WCTA candidate forum in DFS in 2 ½ weeks and talk to the man yourself. Bill is accepting his responsibilities as a citizen in the fullest terms. We would do well to try to emulate his example by at least taking the time to inform ourselves firsthand. Bob Wells was present at the first WCTA forum. All the rest of you who are obviously interested in local politics should be present at the next one.

In light of the laws governing campaign contributions and allowable activities, I find it puzzling that you and others would be critical of Bill (or anyone else, Melanie in this case) for some advocacy group to back him and then berate him for not disclosing the identity of people he does not know. There no requirement that a group advocating for or against someone in an election ask that person’s permission or otherwise advise them of their activities. It is in fact illegal for there to be coordination between non-profit advocacies and campaigns. They don’t have to ask his permission, and he has absolutely no obligation to try to discern the identities of people who have legally placed them beyond his or our view. Could it be because they fear retribution by Walton County or the forces of evil in this county? Stranger things have happened.

For all we know, this is a Machiavellian plot by the forces of evil in Walton County to discredit those two candidates who threaten to be independent voices disposed to judge proposals in light of the public good and not beholden to the forces of evil. Farfetched? Well, how farfetched was it that Tony Who? would raise $100,000 to run against public enemy number one (Cindy Meadows) of the forces of evil? Or that Cecilia would be escorting Mr. Who? around as she has, apparently provoking the ire of her husband in so doing. Stranger things can happen.

In the more likely event the ads were run by people who favor kicking out Mr. Imfeld and Mr. Chapman, that these folks should choose to remain anonymous for their own reasons is perfectly legal and should not be used against people who have neither input in nor control over such ads and decisions made far removed from their knowledge and control. Both Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Nipper should be judged for who they are, their records, and what they stand for, not for the actions of others who answer neither to them nor to you or me.

Bill Fletcher’s positive attributes I have mentioned. Let me mention what I know of Melanie Nipper for those who have not as yet taken the time to inform themselves about her. Melanie and her husband are career military, residents of N. Walton, farm owners there, and operate a helicopter service in conjunction with their farm. Melanie remains in the Army Reserve as a helicopter pilot. She has 3 combat tours in Iraq, perhaps one of those in Afghanistan as I believe I recall. As lead pilot for her flights, she is responsible for the lives of about 100 souls aboard those combat choppers. You want a concrete reason for supporting her out of general principle? Walton County is suing her after failing to shut her business down. To have Walton County suing an individual citizen is almost a badge of honor for that citizen, and we both know it. She ain’t one of us, Boys! Git’ er! And git ‘er husband, too!

Melanie has spent her adult life defending our Constitution and absolutely believes in the rule of Constitutional law. Not a little — 100%. She is smart as you might expect such a leader to be —VERY! She is thoughtful, calm, and has spent her life making reasoned, informed decisions knowing full well that they on many occasions have been life or death ones for her and her charges. Considering the dangers of flying a chopper under any conditions, most all her decisions in that role even in routine training have been life or death ones. She promises to bring that integrity and analytical ability to bear on the problems Walton County government faces.

Honor and integrity need not be considered disqualifiers for public office, nor should the opinions and actions of outside political advocacy groups unknown to and unanswerable to those candidates. Bill and Melanie are exemplary people. While they are not the only good people in the race, they are the two I see as being unjustifiably attacks in this forum, and I happily and enthusiastically support them both, knowing full well that each has at least one opponent who seems honorable, too. We have some good alternatives in these two races. I choose to support Bill and Melanie, and I hope that after each of you examines them for who and what they are and what they stand for, you will, too. They're good people.

Not sure how I earned a spot up here but as I have I will say something. I have had the opportunity to meet with both Mr Fletcher and Ms Nipper and ask questions relevant to my interest, Mr Fletcher was thoughtful even when some of what we discussed he wasn't familiar with. He asked appropriate questions to learn about what our issues and concerns were. I wouldn't say we agreed on everything and that's ok. Most of the time it is just the opportunity to keep an open door for communications purposes. There were no promises asked for or given as far as I was concerned except for the opporrunity to communicate. Because of that he has earned my vote.
I also had an opportunity to meet with Ms Nipper. To me, unlike Mr Fletcher she seemed as though she was out of place and not prepared. She deflected and was asking what we believed instead of telling us what her beliefs were. I appreciate her service and she stoodd up to run where many on this board are prone to b**ch and moan and cry out for change but not do anything except that. So please don't think I am trying to bash her because I am not, I am trying to give an honest assessment based on my visit with her. I also looked her up on Clerk of Courts website and seems there was an action brought by her. I swore I read something on one of the forums on SoWal about her being sued by the County, which wasn't the case, as I read it she was the plantiff. I am still personally looking for who I will vote for in the District 3 race and Ms Nipper is still a viable candidate.
That being said I have had the opportunity to meet with all the non incumbents in this race except for the late entries and found they have all put themselves out there for us to nitpick and in some cases trash their good names. Obviously based on my comments here I still have 2 races to pick a candidate and am still open to the incumbents. That is just my take.

People don't have to run for public office to have an opinion...critical or otherwise. It's one of the things that makes America great!

Thank you for trying to get this thread back on its intended track. I appreciate your insights.

[Translation] I've made broad based accusations against an entire industry (possibly the lifeblood of the community), and when challenged I could not back up my position with facts. So thanks for changing the subject.

[Translation] I've made broad based accusations against an entire industry (possibly the lifeblood of the community), and when challenged I could not back up my position with facts. So thanks for changing the subject.

If anything I've said affects your wallet personally....holla!

If anything I've said affects your wallet personally....holla!

for your concern. We are good. Not living the yacht life...but wouldn't want to anyway.

Misty, Bob Wells and others,

While I don’t know who is behind the group that developed the posted ads advocating for Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Nipper, I think it’s likely safe to say that the individuals involved are not Mr. Blue or Commissioner Jones. That probability in and of itself should be a third reason for you to favorably view Bill Fletcher, not to mention Melanie Nipper.

Bill Fletcher is a retired CEO of a company with about 60 mil a year in revenues. He entered the race 4 years ago late in the game with little time and less money, and nearly beat Commissioner Chapman. He is a tireless volunteer worker for various organizations in this county. Board member and very active fundraiser for the Childrens’ Advocacy Center in DFS. Board Member and tireless fundraiser for the Freeport Kiwanians. Officer and Board member in local Republican Clubs, and I believe a local delegate to the Florida Republicans. Member of the Institute of Senior Professionals and perhaps the most important factor in recruitment of Love’s to Mossy Head. I believe he remains on the Board of Adjustments. Please contact Bill if you want a more complete listing, or check out his web site.

Bill is a good, solid citizen and a contributor to the good of the community for years now, and that would be true no matter where he lived. He’s that kind of guy. Smart, educated, and his own man. He and I don’t always see eye to eye, but he is a man who listens, thinks, decides, and if that decision is to disagree with me, I can depend on his having a reasoned position, not an arbitrary one, and a disagreement couched in agreeable and reasonable terms. He has the courage of his convictions and is beholden to no special interest than the public good. If you take the time to check that statement out, you will agree with me. Bill’s record is there for all to see if you do your own due diligence. Take the time to go to the WCTA candidate forum in DFS in 2 ½ weeks and talk to the man yourself. Bill is accepting his responsibilities as a citizen in the fullest terms. We would do well to try to emulate his example by at least taking the time to inform ourselves firsthand. Bob Wells was present at the first WCTA forum. All the rest of you who are obviously interested in local politics should be present at the next one.

In light of the laws governing campaign contributions and allowable activities, I find it puzzling that you and others would be critical of Bill (or anyone else, Melanie in this case) for some advocacy group to back him and then berate him for not disclosing the identity of people he does not know. There no requirement that a group advocating for or against someone in an election ask that person’s permission or otherwise advise them of their activities. It is in fact illegal for there to be coordination between non-profit advocacies and campaigns. They don’t have to ask his permission, and he has absolutely no obligation to try to discern the identities of people who have legally placed them beyond his or our view. Could it be because they fear retribution by Walton County or the forces of evil in this county? Stranger things have happened.

For all we know, this is a Machiavellian plot by the forces of evil in Walton County to discredit those two candidates who threaten to be independent voices disposed to judge proposals in light of the public good and not beholden to the forces of evil. Farfetched? Well, how farfetched was it that Tony Who? would raise $100,000 to run against public enemy number one (Cindy Meadows) of the forces of evil? Or that Cecilia would be escorting Mr. Who? around as she has, apparently provoking the ire of her husband in so doing. Stranger things can happen.

In the more likely event the ads were run by people who favor kicking out Mr. Imfeld and Mr. Chapman, that these folks should choose to remain anonymous for their own reasons is perfectly legal and should not be used against people who have neither input in nor control over such ads and decisions made far removed from their knowledge and control. Both Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Nipper should be judged for who they are, their records, and what they stand for, not for the actions of others who answer neither to them nor to you or me.

Bill Fletcher’s positive attributes I have mentioned. Let me mention what I know of Melanie Nipper for those who have not as yet taken the time to inform themselves about her. Melanie and her husband are career military, residents of N. Walton, farm owners there, and operate a helicopter service in conjunction with their farm. Melanie remains in the Army Reserve as a helicopter pilot. She has 3 combat tours in Iraq, perhaps one of those in Afghanistan as I believe I recall. As lead pilot for her flights, she is responsible for the lives of about 100 souls aboard those combat choppers. You want a concrete reason for supporting her out of general principle? Walton County is suing her after failing to shut her business down. To have Walton County suing an individual citizen is almost a badge of honor for that citizen, and we both know it. She ain’t one of us, Boys! Git’ er! And git ‘er husband, too!

Melanie has spent her adult life defending our Constitution and absolutely believes in the rule of Constitutional law. Not a little — 100%. She is smart as you might expect such a leader to be —VERY! She is thoughtful, calm, and has spent her life making reasoned, informed decisions knowing full well that they on many occasions have been life or death ones for her and her charges. Considering the dangers of flying a chopper under any conditions, most all her decisions in that role even in routine training have been life or death ones. She promises to bring that integrity and analytical ability to bear on the problems Walton County government faces.

Honor and integrity need not be considered disqualifiers for public office, nor should the opinions and actions of outside political advocacy groups unknown to and unanswerable to those candidates. Bill and Melanie are exemplary people. While they are not the only good people in the race, they are the two I see as being unjustifiably attacks in this forum, and I happily and enthusiastically support them both, knowing full well that each has at least one opponent who seems honorable, too. We have some good alternatives in these two races. I choose to support Bill and Melanie, and I hope that after each of you examines them for who and what they are and what they stand for, you will, too. They're good people.

So l@d, is she being sued or did she sue the the county. The reason I asked when I looked up the court records she was the Plantiff. Also I was under the impression from what I was able to gather the county was trying to close her skydiving business because it did not meet the land use code. I appreciate her service to our country but does not mean she will or will not be a good county commissioner.

Bob,

I thought, perhaps incorrectly, that I had read a news article that Walton County was suing the Nippers. It’s entirely possible that it was the other way round. I do know that Walton County has tried to shut down their chopper business. In any event, there is once again litigation between the county and a private citizen. My experience the last decade has been that the county is likely to be in the wrong once again. Witness the numerous cases where the county has lost suits to private citizens.

While I'm no authority on the Land Use Code, I've been to way too many BCC meetings, public hearings, Planning Commission meetings, and such to lend much credence to the county almost certainly selectively trying to enforce the Land Use Code against a citizen. I think we can agree that the county's observance of that Code is in the breach to a much greater extent than other. You may have noticed that some pigs are more equal than others in that regard.

Whether the county is suing the Nippers or vice versa is, I think, a distraction from the more central issues, chief of which is whether Melanie is a better choice for the BCC seat than the incumbent or the other candidate. I think we need new blood in that seat, and I believe Melanie an excellent candidate who would provide the kind of servant mentality so sorely lacking in our county leadership today.

Melanie has the intellect, the integrity, and the enthusiasm to help correct the course of the BCC, something I think many of us believe is sorely needed. I certainly do.

Bob,

I thought, perhaps incorrectly, that I had read a news article that Walton County was suing the Nippers. It’s entirely possible that it was the other way round. I do know that Walton County has tried to shut down their chopper business. In any event, there is once again litigation between the county and a private citizen. My experience the last decade has been that the county is likely to be in the wrong once again. Witness the numerous cases where the county has lost suits to private citizens.

While I'm no authority on the Land Use Code, I've been to way too many BCC meetings, public hearings, Planning Commission meetings, and such to lend much credence to the county almost certainly selectively trying to enforce the Land Use Code against a citizen. I think we can agree that the county's observance of that Code is in the breach to a much greater extent than other. You may have noticed that some pigs are more equal than others in that regard.

Whether the county is suing the Nippers or vice versa is, I think, a distraction from the more central issues, chief of which is whether Melanie is a better choice for the BCC seat than the incumbent or the other candidate. I think we need new blood in that seat, and I believe Melanie an excellent candidate who would provide the kind of servant mentality so sorely lacking in our county leadership today.

Melanie has the intellect, the integrity, and the enthusiasm to help correct the course of the BCC, something I think many of us believe is sorely needed. I certainly do.

You may feel that it is a distraction but you brought it up and thought it needed to be clarified. I guess since it was brought up it made me ask the question why is she running? I know what she has said and have know reason to doubt it. My concern is that we have someone who has taken legal action against the county and if I have read it correctly lost, then decides to run for a County Commission seat. I have to ask myself, why. This is just my opinion and I haven't made a decision on who I will vote for in that race.

You may feel that it is a distraction but you brought it up and thought it needed to be clarified. I guess since it was brought up it made me ask the question why is she running? I know what she has said and have know reason to doubt it. My concern is that we have someone who has taken legal action against the county and if I have read it correctly lost, then decides to run for a County Commission seat. I have to ask myself, why. This is just my opinion and I haven't made a decision on who I will vote for in that race.

And if she had won?

And if she had won?

May have made a difference in my opinion.

May have made a difference in my opinion.

What was the suit about?

What was the suit about?

As I understood it she was contesting the counties Land Use Code.

As I understood it she was contesting the counties Land Use Code.

Lord knows there is enough issues with those.

I really am trying to avoid seeing anything else to this and that her motives are as she has stated.