Looking For District 2 Candidate

[ShallowsNole]

I've got news for you, you're being walked all over right now with county wide voting. I would also bet the bank that the districts will not be redrawn after the census.

Possibly, but 3 1/2 commissioners from north of the bay vs. 1 1/2 from south of the bay...who would be getting outvoted?

We did go to single-district voting for one, possibly two, elections back in the early '90s (I think - it may have been the '80s). This was when SoWal had only one commissioner, and that commissioner also served Freeport. Sure, we got to pick who it was. However, we had no input as to who else got elected - worse yet, the other 4 members of the BCC didn't have to answer to anyone from down here. We don't have anything now even resembling the good-ol-boy days of that era.

Even if SoWal as a whole can't yet swing an election - and I think last time proved that it can - do we really want commissioners who don't have to account for their actions to all the voters of a county?

 

[Matt J]

Lets use a hypothetical.

We elect a commissioner in the south who wants to spear head a recreational/arts complex (see other thread), but after a few calls from the north complaining about extravagances for the south they back down so as to get re-elected.

How does that scenario benefit South Walton or Walton as a whole?

We don't have statewide voting for our State Representatives.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I long for the days when each District elects its own representative.

Lets use a hypothetical.

We elect a commissioner in the south who wants to spear head a recreational/arts complex (see other thread), but after a few calls from the north complaining about extravagances for the south they back down so as to get re-elected.

How does that scenario benefit South Walton or Walton as a whole?

We don't have statewide voting for our State Representatives.

Enough said.

 

[Andy A]

I've got news for you, you're being walked all over right now with county wide voting. I would also bet the bank that the districts will not be redrawn after the census.

I'll just say this. I totally disagree. But then, you attend BCC meetings and should know.

 

[Smiling JOe]

AndyA, I hear what you are saying, but politely disagree. IMO, we currently don't have any commissioners representing the interests solely of South Walton. District 1 and 5 are split between north and south walton, and even though one commissioner may reside in south walton, she wasn't elected by south walton voters. You can look at the voting records to see that. South Walton should have two Commissioners, designated solely in South Walton, and they should be elected solely by the people in their own districts.

 

[wrobert]

AndyA, I hear what you are saying, but politely disagree. IMO, we currently don't have any commissioners representing the interests solely of South Walton. District 1 and 5 are split between north and south walton, and even though one commissioner may reside in south walton, she wasn't elected by south walton voters. You can look at the voting records to see that. South Walton should have two Commissioners, designated solely in South Walton, and they should be elected solely by the people in their own districts.

Look at her typical months travel form. Spends just as much time in the north, if not more, that the south.

 

[Bob Wells]

Whoa, you are not saying that a politician that is representing us is not representing us, are you? Robert, even though she may spend as much time up North, she suppose to represent the interest of Walton County.

 

[ShallowsNole]

This ain't the state. And there is not a division in the State the way there is in Walton County.

With single-member districts, I am afraid there would be nothing to keep the commissioners elected by the other districts from publicly laughing their butts off at some of the things that we think to be important - surely you know that is what the citizenry of the rest of the county does.

I just remember when everyone wanted the single-member voting, and after it happened, the cry to change it back (by many of the same people who originally wanted it) was deafening.

 

[Miss Kitty]

This ain't the state. And there is not a division in the State the way there is in Walton County.

With single-member districts, I am afraid there would be nothing to keep the commissioners elected by the other districts from publicly laughing their butts off at some of the things that we think to be important - surely you know that is what the citizenry of the rest of the county does.

I just remember when everyone wanted the single-member voting, and after it happened, the cry to change it back (by many of the same people who originally wanted it) was deafening.

SN...can you tell us why? How about single-member voting commissioners and a commisioner or two at large?

 

[Smiling JOe]

...

I just remember when everyone wanted the single-member voting, and after it happened, the cry to change it back (by many of the same people who originally wanted it) was deafening.

Were most of the people wanting it, residing in North Walton?

Maybe South Walton needs two district commissioners and one At-Large Commissioner, to balance out the north Walton districts (3). It is true that Walton County Commissioners represent all of Walton County, but each should also represent his or her own District. The District lines for 1 and 5 are ridiculous. Black Creek area, located north of the Bay is completely different than the area around Rosemary and Alys Beach, and the people living in each of those areas, need to be represented. Their needs are unique. Same for Bay Loop Rd (north of the Bay) compared to Miramar Beach, which are represented (supposedly) by one Commissioner. A better District division would be putting the areas north of the Bay in District 1 and 5, into one District, while having two Commissioners' Districts being solely in South Walton.