Walton County Corrections on Agenda

[wrobert]

I don't know why anybody would run after the debacle in District 5 last time.

You go out, you talk to people, you raise money, you get your name known, and then the powers that be decide at the last minute to run somebody they like better and everyone outside of the district votes for them and you're out several months of your life and several thousand dollars, and the same old gang is just laughing at you.

That is why we need single member districts in Walton County. It is the only way you are ever going to break up the current power structure. The people in the district will then elect their representative like we do in the State and Country.

 

[scooterbug44]

Why? Brannon must be doing something right, no one ran against him when giving the opportunity. Unless you know something you are keeping to yourself.

It's public record that Brannon has had multiple ethics charges brought against him and has plea bargained his way out of 2 of them.

The fact that he ran unopposed is not necessarily because he is doing something right - perhaps it has more to do with someone not wanting their name and their family covered in mud by his political backers.

 

[wrobert]

It's public record that Brannon has had multiple ethics charges brought against him and has plea bargained his way out of 2 of them.

The fact that he ran unopposed is not necessarily because he is doing something right - perhaps it has more to do with someone not wanting their name and their family covered in mud by his political backers.

Civil infractions on the same level as a speeding ticket. You call them plea bargains like he committed a felony. Decisions made when you weigh the costs involved of fighting versus settling.

There was more than enough mud slung during his last campaign to go around for everyone. I do not remember it coming from Scott though.

 

[Here4Good]

That is why we need single member districts in Walton County. It is the only way you are ever going to break up the current power structure. The people in the district will then elect their representative like we do in the State and Country.

And how do we achieve that? Wait, let me guess.... the commission has to bring it up, vote on it and approve it.

Yeah, I'm holding my breath.

 

[scooterbug44]

Sorry, I don't consider honesty to be a relative or sliding scale issue. A liar is a liar and a crook is a crook - even if they haven't been charged with a felony yet.

A politician who has already been caught multiple times playing fast and loose with finance rules and conflicts of interest is not someone I want representing me or my community.

 

[wrobert]

Sorry, I don't consider honesty to be a relative or sliding scale issue. A liar is a liar and a crook is a crook - even if they haven't been charged with a felony yet.

A politician who has already been caught multiple times playing fast and loose with finance rules and conflicts of interest is not someone I want representing me or my community.

Glad to see then that you will no longer be supporting Obama.

 

[wrobert]

And how do we achieve that? Wait, let me guess.... the commission has to bring it up, vote on it and approve it.

Yeah, I'm holding my breath.

There is a citizen's initiative process for municipal government, charter government (if included), and State government. On the surface, it does not appear that there is one for home rule counties, such as Walton, unless you take the tactic of going to a charter then include it.

But I am still researching the process for an interested group of citizens, trying to see if there is a way that this can be done. Otherwise to get on the ballot, you need three votes. So far, I have not been able to count that high.

If I can find a way, would you be interested in seeing it done? Probably going to take approximately 4,000 verified elector signatures to get it on the ballot. I have the costs covered for verification, getting the people to work to get the signatures is going to be the hard part.

 

[idlewind]

I read most of the report, and most of the response, and honestly, it sounds just like another p***ing contest in Walton County government. Which is appropriate, since the BCC got the jail in the first place because of a similar contest.

It's no surprise that Brannon's in the middle of it - he seems to fancy himself as a behind-the-scenes guy who "makes things happen" without leaving his fingerprints. He clearly thinks we're all idiots.

I wish that once, just once, the BCC would do something based on a well thought out process with valid reasons for their actions. Instead, it feels like we're living in a soap opera, and we're funding it.

After looking at these it seems the report is nothing more than someone trying to build a case to justify a hostile takeover. And the vehemence of the response suggests that the root cause for the effort is probably personalities and politics instead of what is best for the taxpayers.

 

[Here4Good]

Well, whatever was going on, they've forced Danny Glidewell out:

Walton jail director retires two weeks after controversial report | retires, controversial, springs - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

Again, we have a situation where no one outside of the chosen few will ever know what actually is going on, and we have absolutely no idea whether the jail should be run by the BCC or the Sheriff. It will never come up for discussion, there will never be a true review of the budgets, it will all stay under the covers again.

I am guessing that Brannon will hand the jail over before the ink is even dry on Glidewell's retirement papers.

What a banana republic.

 

[choctawjesse]

Well, whatever was going on, they've forced Danny Glidewell out:

Walton jail director retires two weeks after controversial report | retires, controversial, springs - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

Again, we have a situation where no one outside of the chosen few will ever know what actually is going on, and we have absolutely no idea whether the jail should be run by the BCC or the Sheriff. It will never come up for discussion, there will never be a true review of the budgets, it will all stay under the covers again.

I am guessing that Brannon will hand the jail over before the ink is even dry on Glidewell's retirement papers.

What a banana republic.

"Banana Republic" is a good description of our county right now. Notice how many long-time high officials have "retired" in the last few months beginning with Ronnie Bell. People who have devoted their lives to the county. I am sure the "real story" will come out but in the meantime we all suffer. Whatever we are the real bosses and we need to start by voting all of them out and starting over. It can't be any worse.